Post by: addicted2hunting on September 06, 2015, 11:04:25 AM
Post by: Taco280AI on September 06, 2015, 11:12:21 AM
Post by: addicted2hunting on September 06, 2015, 11:14:31 AM
Post by: notellumcreek on September 06, 2015, 11:15:05 AM
That is tough one to swallow. I would try and get back out there, and learn from the mistake. Still can't be too upset that you put yourself in a position to even have a chance at a buck that big, let alone see one that big. I honestly doubt I will ever see one that big in my lifetime- well maybe in my dreams!
Post by: cbond3318 on September 06, 2015, 11:19:37 AM
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on September 06, 2015, 11:20:54 AM
Post by: Netminder01 on September 06, 2015, 11:23:53 AM
You don't, trust me.
:yeah:
Post by: Johnb317 on September 06, 2015, 11:27:26 AM
screwing up is (sadly) how I learn best. :bash:
Btw - one miss I had 35 yd down hill on an Elk - I didn't bend at the waist
- friend of mine missed a no brainer, then realized his sight had loosened in transit. (I try to always carry a target block in the back of my rig)
Post by: addicted2hunting on September 06, 2015, 11:31:33 AM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 06, 2015, 11:40:30 AM
Post by: stew pidasso on September 06, 2015, 11:43:01 AM
Post by: Eli346 on September 06, 2015, 12:56:14 PM
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on September 06, 2015, 01:55:54 PM
Post by: bucksbearsbeers on September 06, 2015, 01:59:50 PM
:yeah:You don't, trust me.
:yeah:
Post by: M_ray on September 06, 2015, 02:15:48 PM
Post by: jackmaster on September 06, 2015, 02:25:34 PM
Post by: Bullkllr on September 06, 2015, 03:12:43 PM
Or you could thank your lucky stars that you have the good health to afford misses like that, it might have been your first but it wont be your last.. get back in the saddle and go after him... you could be freezing your a s s off in the mountains of of some third world country while some turbin flyer takes pot shots at ya!!! As long as you learned something it should have been worth it.. JACK O'CONNOR passed on the biggest buck he ever seen, when asked why, he simply stated " had I killed that buck, not only would my season would be over, but I could never find anything bigger so what would be the point" he also said it was better that that buck live and pass on his genes and die of old age!!! I guess it all comes down to how you view things :dunno:
I like that. I'm going to use that for my excuse to only kill does spikes and small forkies.
Post by: elk247 on September 06, 2015, 04:03:36 PM
Post by: h20hunter on September 06, 2015, 04:09:18 PM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on September 06, 2015, 04:09:37 PM
Post by: huntnnw on September 06, 2015, 04:34:55 PM
Post by: Bill W on September 06, 2015, 04:36:46 PM
Everybody misses sometimes. Now you got a good story to go with it. Rifle shooting I used to miss about once every 10 years. The misses made better stories than the hits. Shoot, one deer I called as two missed shots at him, walked around the corner for my next attempt and saw him laying on the ground.
Post by: Seabass on September 06, 2015, 04:46:05 PM
Post by: Old Man Yager on September 06, 2015, 05:06:09 PM
Post by: idahohuntr on September 06, 2015, 05:16:47 PM
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Post by: Wingin it on September 06, 2015, 05:45:04 PM
Post by: BUTTER on September 06, 2015, 05:56:14 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on September 06, 2015, 06:15:27 PM
You will never forget, just learn how to find other ways to cope it hit. :twocents:
Post by: Bean Counter on September 06, 2015, 06:23:18 PM
I'd say be happy you missed clean. What if you hit badly and didn't recover. A clean miss means it ain't over yet.
:yeah:
Post by: RadSav on September 06, 2015, 06:50:33 PM
Unfortunately, that one is going to haunt you for awhile. Probably for the rest of your life. I have one about like that from over 10 years ago and still think about it. Prepare, practice, and do your best to be ready next time.
I have one of those haunting misses from darn near every state. Just crossing the state line brings back the horror and disappointment of years past. :chuckle:
You know you have experienced it more than once when your wife starts laughing as soon as she sees the post headline. Then asks, "Did you start a new thread?" She's evil...Evil I tell you. Pure down right terribly evil!
Make sure you have the range comp activated on your range finder.
Also, if the compensator was on and working properly there should be no reason to adjust for down hill shots other than bending at the waist. Had you used the 30 pin you would likely still be posting this thread. Only difference would be that you missed low.
Only way I know of to over come the pain and frustrations of a miss it to keep hunting! The next shot is likely to be a winner. So many of my clients and experiences with hunting partners and wife end with them wanting to run home after a miss. I tell them the one sure way to never recover from a missed opportunity is to never get another one.
And who knows...that next one might be bigger! I'm living proof of that. My biggest bull ever was taken on the next to last day of the season. Two miserable days before I missed what would have been my biggest to date when I hit a branch I didn't see. Fast forward three days later and I almost never remember that first bull. And he certainly never haunts my dreams. I now feel fortunate that I missed, because 25 years later the bull I did tag that year is still my best.
Post by: coachcw on September 06, 2015, 08:31:33 PM
Post by: addicted2hunting on September 06, 2015, 08:43:29 PM
Radsav. I think your right... I don't think I was bending at my waist, my range comp was activated but who knows??? I am gonna hit the walk through this week and practice the downhills...Gosh I do feel blessed to have been soo close to such an animal! Steeliedrew was with me and he had one of the monsters of that bachelor herd at 70yds but he did the right thing and passed on the shot as he wasn't comfortable with the shot. just amazing to actually see a group of bucks that size!!!! incredible experience is how I gotta look at it I guess.
Post by: finnman on September 06, 2015, 08:47:00 PM
Post by: tgomez on September 06, 2015, 09:58:31 PM
Post by: jstone on September 06, 2015, 10:47:25 PM
Post by: Turner89 on September 06, 2015, 11:11:03 PM
Post by: RadSav on September 06, 2015, 11:13:14 PM
I hope you like nightmares, I am still having them and it has been 4 years next month...It sucks!
I have been having a reoccurring nightmare since 1987. Was hunting the edge of the SanCarlos for Muledeer. I had tore my rotator cuff a month prior and decided to shoot 45# of draw weight with 29" 2016 arrows fletched with three five inch ProFletch and tipped with a Savora 117 grain broadhead. Spent most of my morning shadowing an honest to goodness 200 class buck as he bird dogged does. He finally came up a draw and into my lap! 30 yards, level ground, only a few prickly pear between he and I. When he stopped there was a single prickly pear leaf covering his heart. Leaf was not more than 3' from his chest. I could not hold the bow back for more than a few seconds. So I decided to put the arrow right through the leaf and into his heart. I hit it dead center perfect! When the fletching got to the leaf the whole arm of the cactus swung around like a pitchers arm getting ready to throw a fastball. Arrow never made it through :o Broadhead couldn't have ended up more than 18" short! If I could have shot even 55# I'm sure I would have killed that buck. :bash:
I shadowed that big boy for three days with no additional shot opportunities. He finally grew tired of smelling me, I guess, and headed over Sombrero Peaks and onto the reservation. Stayed an extra ten days and never saw him again. Ended up tagging a MacDaddy 43# pig and a respectable 160 class buck on that rip. But it wasn't nearly enough to make up for missing that bruiser. I can no longer see a prickly pear or even a picture of one without getting sick to my stomach. My own death is probably the only cure for that nightmare. And if I somehow find myself in Hell...I expect I will relive that moment for eternity!! :yike:
Post by: predatorpro on September 07, 2015, 12:04:55 AM
Post by: AKBowman on September 07, 2015, 06:42:10 AM
It happens. That was day one of the hunt. I ended up killing one on day 9.
Post by: addicted2hunting on September 07, 2015, 08:05:12 AM
Post by: MADMAX on September 07, 2015, 08:08:18 AM
just let it go
Its hunting, not a guarantee, I wish I had every deer or elk I ever shot at, some were studs.
tomorrow is a new day
Post by: SkookumHntr on September 07, 2015, 08:17:41 AM
Post by: nwwanderer on September 07, 2015, 08:21:23 AM
Post by: h2ofowlr on September 07, 2015, 08:57:51 AM
Post by: magnus100 on September 07, 2015, 12:05:37 PM
Post by: Mark251 on September 07, 2015, 02:51:45 PM
Post by: bobdog86 on September 07, 2015, 03:17:35 PM
Post by: jackmaster on September 07, 2015, 07:13:21 PM
Post by: huntnphool on September 07, 2015, 07:50:47 PM
It took some doing but I managed to find him bedded and watching his does from about 50 yards. We worked into position and sat down at about 220 yards. I gave him my spotter and tripod to use as a rest and he set up. When the buck stood up he took the shot and the buck just stood there. He jacked in another shell and fired again, the buck spun and bolted. We walked up to where the buck was and found no blood or buck, so we followed his tracks until we lost them, the buck was gone and I sat there wondering what had just happened. Truly a buck of a lifetime had just evaded us.
The next day we went back in looking for the same buck or a flock of crows and magpie. As luck would have it we spotted the buck at first light. Again we worked for a shot but could not get within comfortable range for him to take a shot. The buck eventually gave us the slip and vanished.
After about a hour of looking, I was able to pick up his tracks pushing a doe. About 11:00 am I spotted the Bucks rack in some bitter brush, bedded down, and no clue we were there. We got down and worked to about 220 again, where we stopped in a great spot to take a shot when the buck got up.
We got him situated and ready to shoot then had lunch and waited. When the buck stood, I grabbed my camera and got behind my buddy to get some pics, the buck was clueless about us and I wanted my buddy to take his time. I clicked off a couple pics of him aiming at the buck and then he pulled. I moved forward and grabbed my binos to take a look, no buck standing or anywhere in sight, so we packed up and walked down. When we got there, once again there was no buck to be found. :o
We looked for about a hour, no buck, no blood.......nothing. :bash:
I had to head home but told him to check back and again look for birds, since I could not believe he could miss the entire deer, two days in a row, from less than 250 yards.
He called me a few days later, never did find that buck again, dead or alive. He still had 3 days left in the hunt so I told him we could make a redeye run to hunt the last day and at least get him a buck, he agreed.
We hit the same area and right after first light spotted a nice tall 3 point. We had the entire day but he said that buck would do. Again I ranged the buck at less than 250 yards and he set up. I noticed how badly he was shaking, buck fever for sure. This time one shot and the buck dropped without so much as a twitch. Why couldn't that have happened a few days earlier. :chuckle:
While he was busy dressing the buck I spotted another buck about 600 yards away and watched him bed down, facing us on a steep hill in the middle of some tall sage. I walked over and grabbed my spotter, zooming in to find that same big *censored* laying there. I told my buddy to come have a look and he had a look of horror on his face as he walked over. The expletives coming out of his mouth would have made most people's ears bleed! :chuckle:
So I do have that one to wonder about and contribute to this thread. :tup:
You can see the buck in the middle of the bench. :chuckle:
Post by: 2MANY on September 08, 2015, 12:03:36 PM
It will help keep you from screwing up in the future and drive you harder to succeed.
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 08, 2015, 12:13:27 PM
My advice is to dwell on it.
It will help keep you from screwing up in the future and drive you harder to succeed.
Or put a monkey on your back :chuckle:
I had a 6 point bull at 57 yards in the NE muzzleloading season, 2012. Percussion cap went off but powder didn't ignite. I've never used anything but musket caps ever since. I cannot think about it without feeling down.
I had a 4 point bull at 32 yards in the SE early archery season, 2013. He winded me and jumped into the brush and never presented a shot. This one hurts...physically. I can still see his horse body standing so easily within range.
Last year I killed a small, spike-ish bull in the NE early archery season. Does it help ease the pain of the blown opportunities. Not really :chuckle:
Post by: huntingbaldguy on September 10, 2015, 02:20:16 AM
I laugh like i'm over it... i'll never be over it.
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 10, 2015, 06:42:45 AM
I laugh like i'm over it... i'll never be over it.
Well, at least you got close
:chuckle: joking of course. Getting close to closing the deal only makes it more painful. This is true in other popular pursuits also.
Post by: Miles on September 10, 2015, 06:47:09 AM
Post by: cbond3318 on September 10, 2015, 07:29:55 AM
I pulled the trigger with the safety on at a 50yd broadside Mule Deer Buck 7 years ago, in reality he was probably a 160" class buck but now when my mind wanders back to that very vivid replay, he is a 200" Monster... :chuckle:
Post by: birddogdad on September 10, 2015, 07:35:03 AM
Post by: jjhunter on September 10, 2015, 08:28:42 AM
There will be more opportunities, just keep after it.
Post by: 2MANY on September 10, 2015, 12:32:03 PM
Post by: gaddy on September 10, 2015, 12:44:25 PM
Post by: tgomez on September 10, 2015, 01:28:29 PM
Post by: 2MANY on September 10, 2015, 02:18:26 PM
Just Sayin.
Post by: gaddy on September 10, 2015, 02:36:47 PM
Post by: jjhunter on September 10, 2015, 04:13:45 PM
Post by: The scout on September 10, 2015, 05:06:42 PM
Post by: 2labs on September 10, 2015, 05:24:19 PM
Post by: throttlejocky20 on September 11, 2015, 08:14:09 AM
Post by: hunter_sean08 on September 11, 2015, 10:37:12 AM
Now I'm all about being patient, calm, cool, collected. Haven't missed a buck with my rifle since that fateful day, 10 years ago, but I'm still constantly reminded of that experience. Every season, I visit the same spot, just hoping a relative of that buck is bedded down in the same place. I guess the silver lining is that I've taken 3 other nice bucks from that knob, but none that rival how large that one was. As bummed as I was, it was a great learning experience for me.
Post by: elk247 on September 16, 2015, 09:37:27 PM
Post by: Elkpiss on September 17, 2015, 08:52:29 AM
You don't, trust me.
You will never get over it... I missed a 350 bull at 28 yrds right over his back, I thought he was 40... That was 10 years ago and I still think about that and get teary eyed all the time.. You will never get over it, you have to learn to deal with it with lots of alcohol and should of woulda could of it to death.. I think why oh why lord why didn't I put my 30 pin on him.... :bash:
Post by: runamuk on September 17, 2015, 10:23:39 AM
Post by: idahohuntr on September 18, 2015, 08:58:36 AM
I hope you have a successful season of hunting cboom. I've done alright this year, got a nice 4x5 white-tail in archery season and then I invited an Army officer who recently returned from Afghanistan to hunt in one of my stands and he got a buck too. I was happier about his buck than the one I got - Now I've got a couple of youth hunters that I hope to get out soon for their first archery deer. Anyways - thats partly why I haven't been able to post a whole bunch. Again, I wish you the very best in your hunting seasons this year. :brew:I shot and lost a buck. First and only deer I've lost in my life. I was so sick about the whole thing and still am. I went out the very next day and killed my best archery buck ever. Losing one still stings, but getting back out and focusing on hunting was much better than stewing and losing confidence.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Really hope I misunderstood what you just said? So you shot and wounded a buck and instead of notching the tag and spending the next day or days looking for it you went out and shot another buck?
I'm sorry I kind of derailed this very serious thread. Just kind of bothered me when this most likely paid wolf advocate jumped in. He does this on many threads, shows up with a cameo appearance acting like he has something to offer. This time the story he tells rubbed me more than usual. As usual he randomly sneaks in a few comments across the forum trying to defect attention from the wolf issue where 90% of his posts have been made, and 100% of those have been pro wolf. The comment he made that I quoted in the previous post really bothered me. Maybe he really is ok with the wolves if he will shoot a deer and not find it that afternoon and instead of looking for it the next day go shoot another?
Take care,
Idahohuntr
Post by: M_ray on September 18, 2015, 10:07:13 AM
I shot and lost a buck. First and only deer I've lost in my life. I was so sick about the whole thing and still am. I went out the very next day and killed my best archery buck ever. Losing one still stings, but getting back out and focusing on hunting was much better than stewing and losing confidence.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Really hope I misunderstood what you just said? So you shot and wounded a buck and instead of notching the tag and spending the next day or days looking for it you went out and shot another buck?
I'm sorry I kind of derailed this very serious thread. Just kind of bothered me when this most likely paid wolf advocate jumped in. He does this on many threads, shows up with a cameo appearance acting like he has something to offer. This time the story he tells rubbed me more than usual. As usual he randomly sneaks in a few comments across the forum trying to defect attention from the wolf issue where 90% of his posts have been made, and 100% of those have been pro wolf. The comment he made that I quoted in the previous post really bothered me. Maybe he really is ok with the wolves if he will shoot a deer and not find it that afternoon and instead of looking for it the next day go shoot another?
Not saying that your comments might not be accurate but first off its a bit of a :jacked: and second I would need more of the story before I passed judgement??? A story of which it looks like you're surely not going to get now :dunno: A lot of assumptions are made in your post.