couldn't believe I didn't shoot him.

[coachcw]

I was hunting a members honey hole on Saterday. After a morning of working through a jungle only to get soaking wet I regrouped and dropped about ten pounds out of my pack . I looked at this area on google earth and trust me it didn't look like this , as i worked the east end of the area I found a devlopment going in and a clear cut that didn't show on the maps . I headed into the area working through a stand of timber into a promissing looking clear cut . you know on where the brush is only six feet high instead of ten . as I broke out of the timber i found deer sign every where . I worked up the hill and climbed up on an old ceder stump to try to get the lay of the land . after a few minutes i got that feeling I wasn't alone . as I turned to look behind me I caught a glimps of a horn sliping through the brush then nothing not a crackle or a snap. I thaught great I blew my chance (little did I know ) . after a few minute I caught another veiw no he was above me fourty yards just staring at me . It was him a nice two point buck .Here is where my delema started , first of all I never cared where I shot a animal , but today was different pooring rain and a new area , not really knowing how far the nearest road is . As I watched the buck I decided to pass on him and look for mr big. I waited a few minutes and he slipped into the brush . Know two thirty I figured I better be getting I was along way from my truck and still Hadn't found the trail out I'd seen on google earth. The area where i saw the buck looked to be the easyist way out of the jungle so I worked up the hill , As I approached the area where I last saw the buck I got a real surprise. There he was again this time not ten yards away broadside . I stood behind some small tree and watched him , he kept smelling the air ( when I left my truck I soaked my hat in elk pee) not to sure what to tink we had a stare down . after a few minutes I figured I'd try to get a pic , for sure he'd run away. Nope as I took out my cell and click the pics he decided It was snack time ! then after a few minutes nap time , he moved up the hill twenty yards and bedded down . I trueley couldn't believe what just took place . again he went in the direction i wanted to go .So I worked his way again , At four yards he stood , now he was gonna run , NOPE took two steps and spun around towards me ( he must have loved that elk pee) . This is when i got a little nervous was I gonna have to shoot him in self defence ? Ok so I started talking to him , DEER do you know how lucky you are and I'm crazy for not killing you.!. ok more pics and my gun pointed at him just incase . I couldn't get him all in the frame on my cell phone he was so close . again time to get out of there , I took a step away and he turn to follow me I yelled at him and he stopped . I climed out of there and found the trail , beat tired from fighting the brush , I walked back to my truck not regreting not shooting him for a minute . This was one of my best days hunting for sure . Thanks to the member that gave me his spot and thanks to the little buck for fourty five minutes I'll never forget. Coach.

[Bigtine96]

I would have shot

[ICEMAN]

If you are happy, that is all that matters! Cool pics!

[runamuk]

cool stuff coach...and I am always a bit concerned about that in some areas with houses and roads ....like to know where that bullet is gonna go if it misses.

[coachcw]

I used a shotgun just for that reason . I'll go back in the late hunt and try to find his dad.

[bobcat]

That would have been hard to pass up, on the last day especially. But, after seeing how tame he was, I think I'd feel better about it too. Pretty cool to get close up pictures like that with just a cell phone camera!

[D-Rock425]

Backstraps you could of had backstraps

[coachcw]

It's getting to be more about the hunt and less about the kill for me , Mind you if he'd been a four point , I'd still be in there getting him out if need be. When a deer looks at you and just takes a bite of brush it's tough to kill him. maybe I'll get a bayonet for my shot gun ?

[Hunterman]

Cool pics and story...

Hunterman(Tony)

[ribka]

Some of my best memories in field are on animals that I passed on. I would rather get really close to an animal pass on a shot than shoot one 200 yds away. Priorities change I guess when one gets older. Of course a truly mature animal might be a different story.  Neat story and pics. Amazing taken with a cell phone too. 

[PacificNWhunter]

Sounds like a good time! He'll be bigger next year 

[ldjbuff]

Told ya it was a great spot. Good for you. Glad you had a chance at one. I pulled a 2 point out of there and several does. My last year I got a big 3 point from there, its thick but they hang in there

There is a 5x5 in there down, when I had my trail cam I had pics of him.

[PolarBear]

Good call and story a well.

[wapiti hunter2]

BTW, Google earth is mostly 2006 aerial photos of the Washington area.  They really need to update.

[coachcw]

no doubt the clear cut looked short and the crap was over my head . but i love to just sneak along and hunt the rain , some times back tracking for blackies works well too.