The one I let get away. . . .

[charlesbearden1]

Went out with a few buddies today and saw a few deer. First we saw one cross the road 80yds from our entrance, got one buddy to his spot and headed over the hill with the other buddy and got him situated. There i was heading down the road through the fog, stood there for about 20 minutes until the thick cloud passed and standing at the bottom of this clear cut I spotted a few does. I was observing them and amazed how big one of the does was and realized a smaller one next to her had 2 little 2-3 inch spikes and thought, man this is the last day of hunting and I could have a halloween buck. But my ethics stopped me and I let the little guy go, the way I see it is shooting something that small, you might as well go deep fry a bald eagle. Late buck here I come.

[Tony 270]

Hopefully you'll come across a good buck during the late season.

[charlesbearden1]

I hope so. too much pressure for the deer to come out of the woods in most places.

[270Shooter]

well, not really seein the bald eage comparison, but good for you on passing on the little guy. I can't say I wouldnt have shot him though

[shedcrazy]

   Man venison is venison...last day, it's meat in the freezer

[Hazmat870]

I think you did the right thing. A couple of years ago I had to throw rocks at a little spike so he would run away. I was afraid some road hunter would get him. I always think that doing things like that will help me build hunting karma so I will get a bug buck.

[BLKBEARKLR]

I dont see it as the one you let get away, I see it as the one you passed on because of your beliefs and values. I have been there and done that numerous times. Good for you for walking away and letting it grow.

joe

[Yelm hunter]

I somewhat agree with scaring if off and letting it get away. but just think of how much time you put into hunting each year and you either don't get a buck and you have to eat tag soup or as some people say you can't eat the horns... Myself I only eat the meat not the horns!! I make Jewerly with the small antlers and with the big antlers I get them done at the Taxi.
Just a small add up from expenses with deer hunting:

Time off from work on the weekends: $0.00 - $500.00- I never know what I'm going to make being a Taxi Driver!!

Food, drinks, snacks - $ 100.00

Hunting License Combo: $75.00 +

Gas and Truck expenses $ 500.00

With it being not seeing any deer. I think I would have shot. Cause I wouldn't want to eat my tag!

[texasbuckmaster]

same thing happened to me man little spike bout 50yards away the last 30min of light. Just couldnt bring my self to do it yet but he might not be so lucky the last day of late season

[charlesbearden1]

I do not think of hunting as wasting money in any form, I enjoy it, I also am not hard up for "meat in the freezer". Dont get me wrong i like venison but I hunt more for the simple enjoyment. If expenses are an issue a person should find the most economical way for them to go hunting and if my tag gets "eaten" oh well I have stories to tell the kids and friends. My hunting tag isn't completely gone I still have late buck and if I dont get it oh well I still have bear cougar and elk and if i dont get anything from those then coyote then theres always next year. When people ask where are all the deer this year I laugh, there not there cause you shot him last year as a spike before he could get him some doe tail and make more, also I hate when people bit#h about cougars, they kill no more deer than we do, and they do not have a supermarket so.....take it for what it is....

[ELKBURGER]

Kudos to you. Each person needs to judge for themselves what a successful hunt is. I too am banking on some karma. I came across a spike deer in wyoming this season that had both front legs broke 6" above his hooves. probably shot. It was the 5th day of a 10 day hunt. I was the only one left in camp with a tag so I opted to get him out of his misery. At 8000' I know he was'nt migrating out of the area and was looking at a grim death. I was really hoping for a mature buck but I know I did the right thing. So did you! Late buck here we come.

[vtec]

Good Job!!!! Save the little ones for the kids so they stay interested 

[charlesbearden1]

definitely noble on your part to take the deer out of its misery due to the 2 broken legs. Yeah, now I do agree to let the kids take the spikes but as for me no thanks. I hope everyone on this forum gets their late buck and a nice one at that. I do not think bad of people that shoot spikes but there is a line that I personally do not cross in this matter; little 3 inch spikes...... let him procreate and get bigger for next year. Luck to all, in the mean time ima try and bag me an elk soon and it will be my first one. . . .hopefully Lol