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Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: boneill on October 28, 2016, 02:18:15 PM


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Title: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: boneill on October 28, 2016, 02:18:15 PM
I missed a very nice 4x this AM. REALLY tall rack, long G1s, outside the ears, average mass. 115 class.

I was sitting 25 mins before light, heavy fog was lifting, cool morning, new moon, everything was lining up. He came in just as I imagined at about 8:30 following a draw toward my stand on the edge of a cut. This is literally what I've been visualizing over and over in my head to help pass the time. 125 yards, slightly quartering to. Calmed myself, steadied, and squeezed. Saw him after the shot for about 1/2 a second and he was out of sight (I elected to hang a stand this year because the reprod is now 10-15 feet tall...tough to see through in some spots).

I did a grid of the area for two hours and found nothing. Found his fleeting tracks...not a sign of blood.

I'm embarrassed to say, but I bumped my gun last time out and I spaced re checking the sites. I'm now thinking that might have cost me this buck...I'm going to go shooting really quick after work to see if I can see if that was indeed the issue. If it is, I'm going to be extremely disappointed in myself. That would be in-excusable in my book.

I've harvested a few nice bucks in previous years, but this is my first miss with a rifle (missed a few does with my bow when I was 12). Trying to have a short memory as I'll be hunting all day Sat, Sun, and Mon. Super bummed! How have others gotten their confidence back after missing a dandy??
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: seth30 on October 28, 2016, 02:27:31 PM
Did you hear a impact?  Did the deer stand still?  If he did the bullet probably passed over his head..  If you heard a hit, lets get a HUNTWA party together and find him!   Don't post your location on the open forum if you have a search party in mind, keep that in the PM's only.   :tup:
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: Dhoey07 on October 28, 2016, 02:29:27 PM
Remember that you did something right to be able to get a shot off at that class of buck.  Keep doing what you're doing and you will redeem yourself.   :tup:

Go shoot your gun though, and make sure it's zeroed
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: Rainier10 on October 28, 2016, 02:32:06 PM
Never got it back, had to actually give up hunting.  :sry:

JK, it happens man, get out there and practice up.  Nothing you can do about the miss, all you can do is try to be ready when you get another opportunity.
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: PastorJoel on October 28, 2016, 02:46:40 PM
I have stood next to someone and watched them miss a really nice buck twice, at 80 yards, all because their gun was off.  It's a bummer, but you are not alone.  Check the sights and get back to that same spot, he may come again!  :tup:  Optimism is one of the most important things to bring when you go hunting.
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: boneill on October 28, 2016, 03:03:35 PM
Did you hear a impact?  Did the deer stand still?  If he did the bullet probably passed over his head..  If you heard a hit, lets get a HUNTWA party together and find him!   Don't post your location on the open forum if you have a search party in mind, keep that in the PM's only.   :tup:

I didn't hear impact. I'm pretty confident if I hit him anywhere I would have seen some blood/hair etc. He was standing with a bunch of saplings as a backdrop- they would have had splatter. I checked and re-checked where he was standing by marking the spot with my hat and then walking back to my stand. Pretty sure it was a flat out MISS. Possible it was a gut shot and he clotted or something, but IDK. Hard telling not knowing. I initially felt good about the shot, because I didn't actually see him running away outside of the half second after the shot- thought maybe he took a few steps and dropped in the reprod where I couldn't see him. But, after going down to where he was, it would have been pretty easy for him to run out w/o me spotting him. Really thick and 10-15ft tall, back down into the draw where he came from, and out of my site. I feel good about my grid searches...I had a hard time leaving, but I was finding nothing time after time. I spose I'll try to keep a closer eye on the ravens in the area. If I did hit him, they'll let me know.
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: elkboy on October 28, 2016, 03:16:38 PM
Boneill-

Hunting can be *heartbreaking* sometimes.  Be glad that all signs point to a clean miss! 

Take a moment and remind yourself of all you love about hunting, including the things that don't necessarily depend on a kill.  Be grateful that deer and elk are difficult to hunt- it is one of the main reasons we still are able to hunt them in a world dominated by humankind.  Remind yourself that hunting, even with modern firearm, is HARD.  Remember that tomorrow is a new day.  If season is over for you, focus less on the close of this season, and more on anticipation of next season with all of its opportunities.  Remember that you now have an entire year to become an even better hunter.     

Good luck.  Know you are not alone; every hunter has a difficult hunt or hard memory from a hunt at some point.
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: TikkaT3-270Shortmag on October 28, 2016, 03:17:27 PM
Keep at it.  Thats why its  called hunting not harvesting.  Hard to get over it but stick with it man!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: theleo on October 28, 2016, 03:19:37 PM
Stop whining, you still get to go hunting with a tag in your pocket. Also be glad, a clean miss is better than a terrible hit.
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: Elkpiss on October 28, 2016, 03:26:19 PM
The pain of a miss on a big one will haunt you for the rest of your life.. you just got to keep hunting...  Ive missed some and its been 10+ yrs ago I still have nightmares about...  :'(    This will Haunt you forever... but it happens...  :twocents:
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: boneill on October 28, 2016, 03:34:20 PM
Stop whining, you still get to go hunting with a tag in your pocket. Also be glad, a clean miss is better than a terrible hit.

 :chuckle:

I know, first world problem. Poor me...I missed a deer and had to go grab some bacon out of my fridge for bfast instead of some fresh tenderloin...

Thanks for all the encouragement, though! I just told the lady I recently started dating that I can't get together tomorrow...going to be hunting all day. Should be a good test, ha!
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: Humptulips on October 28, 2016, 03:47:06 PM
I missed a big bull one year, two shots because of something I did to the scope. Nobody to blame but myself. I spent the next day looking for him but I know they were clean misses because the gun was shooting way high.
On the other hand my BIL shot a deer one year in a pretty open clearcut just above an old fir windfall. Perfect landmark but when we got down there there was about waist deep salal. We looked for that deer for three hours before we found it and he saw it go down.
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: Jason on October 28, 2016, 04:23:26 PM
Stop whining, you still get to go hunting with a tag in your pocket. Also be glad, a clean miss is better than a terrible hit.

 :chuckle:

I know, first world problem. Poor me...I missed a deer and had to go grab some bacon out of my fridge for bfast instead of some fresh tenderloin...

Thanks for all the encouragement, though! I just told the lady I recently started dating that I can't get together tomorrow...going to be hunting all day. Should be a good test, ha!
That's the spirit!!  :tup:
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: hunthard on October 28, 2016, 05:20:40 PM
I missed a monster buck one year, was walking up a road in the fog and boom there he was standing broadside in the road, I looked through my scope  several times before I could see him, 1st shot he just stood there, I thought to myself " this dude is dead on his feet" 2nd shot nothing, 3rd shot he moved a little bit forward, 4th shot he walked off the road. I swear if that gun wasn't my fathers I would have thrown it in the wood and worst of all up to that point I had never missed with that gun. The next day I shot a 2pt, keep at it :chuckle:
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: fishnfur on October 28, 2016, 10:51:07 PM
Stop whining, you still get to go hunting with a tag in your pocket. Also be glad, a clean miss is better than a terrible hit.

 :chuckle:

I know, first world problem. Poor me...I missed a deer and had to go grab some bacon out of my fridge for bfast instead of some fresh tenderloin...

Thanks for all the encouragement, though! I just told the lady I recently started dating that I can't get together tomorrow...going to be hunting all day. Should be a good test, ha!
That's the spirit!!  :tup:

HaHaHaHa   :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:  LMAO! 
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: lokidog on October 29, 2016, 04:48:48 PM
I dragged a woman muzzleloader hunting that I had only been seeing for a month, through some thick stuff too. We celebrated our 14th anniversary in July.  :-)

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: boneill on October 31, 2016, 05:27:58 PM
I think this is the one I missed little brother! Very similar rack, just much shorter.

I couldn't believe it. I have walked close to 15 miles in the last 2 days and haven't seen squat. This AM, I woke up at 4:30 and decided it sounded too windy and rainy out to sit in my stand (typically in stand set up 30 mins before light, 3 mile hike), so I slept in an hour or so. Headed out to the section of land I hunt with the intention of following this little ridge that pops in and out of three ravines and has some great glassing spots. I had seen some fresh rubs really close to the truck yesterday, so I knew there was a buck in the area.

I honestly hadn't really even started still hunting yet. I was walking slowly and quietly, but not super slow. I had gone about 400 yards and 40 yards to my right I saw him, head down, heading my way. I took a step behind a tree, took a knee, and waited about 5 seconds until he gave me a perfect broadside shot. BOOM! He ran RIGHT at me and dropped about 10 feet away. Couldn't believe it!

This was the first time I did the gutless method...and funny enough, this is the closet I've ever been to my truck. I usually have a buddy help me drag it, not fun. I'm definitely a convert! So much less work than dragging it out.
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: fishnfur on October 31, 2016, 06:50:56 PM
Problem solved.  No longer depressed about the missed shot.  No more waking up early and sitting in the rain.
No more fun!  :chuckle:
Good job getting it done!
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: lokidog on October 31, 2016, 06:57:33 PM
Congratulations!!!
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: elkboy on October 31, 2016, 07:02:30 PM
Well there you go!  Way to keep after it!  Patience and persistence.  And early mornings in the rain. 

Congratulations on a nice clean harvest and a beautiful buck!  Now you can join most of the rest of us in waiting for next year... 
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 31, 2016, 07:32:32 PM
 :tup:
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: savagehunter on October 31, 2016, 07:38:58 PM
Way to go dragging yourself back to the woods when your down is tough. Way to pick yourself up.
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: boneill on November 01, 2016, 09:56:17 AM
Thanks for all the kind words!

Tenderloin and backstrap were delicious last night!!!

I dragged a woman muzzleloader hunting that I had only been seeing for a month, through some thick stuff too. We celebrated our 14th anniversary in July.  :-)

That's awesome Lokidog! This lady passed the test...she asked if she could come over and help me process it and she enjoyed it (at least did a good job faking)

Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: headshot5 on November 01, 2016, 10:46:44 AM
Quote
I just told the lady I recently started dating that I can't get together tomorrow...going to be hunting all day. Should be a good test, ha!


So how were the test results?
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: boneill on November 01, 2016, 01:14:28 PM
Quote
I just told the lady I recently started dating that I can't get together tomorrow...going to be hunting all day. Should be a good test, ha!


So how were the test results?

Unreal, actually! She offered to come over and and help- dove right in helping cut, clean, and seal the meat. Might be worth keeping around...
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: lokidog on November 02, 2016, 05:37:18 PM
  :tup:
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: riverrun on November 03, 2016, 10:33:16 PM
Good job! Nice buck! Gutless method is the only way i will pack an animal out.
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: Rainier10 on November 07, 2016, 10:44:52 AM
Congrats, way to get back out there and seal the deal.
Title: Re: Help pick me up while I'm down!!!
Post by: csaaphill on November 07, 2016, 06:47:08 PM
cool so a sob story turned good Grats.
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