Post by: boneill on October 28, 2016, 02:18:15 PM
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??
Post by: seth30 on October 28, 2016, 02:27:31 PM
Post by: Dhoey07 on October 28, 2016, 02:29:27 PM
Go shoot your gun though, and make sure it's zeroed
Post by: Rainier10 on October 28, 2016, 02:32:06 PM
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.
Post by: PastorJoel on October 28, 2016, 02:46:40 PM
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.
Post by: elkboy on October 28, 2016, 03:16:38 PM
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.
Post by: TikkaT3-270Shortmag on October 28, 2016, 03:17:27 PM
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Post by: theleo on October 28, 2016, 03:19:37 PM
Post by: Elkpiss on October 28, 2016, 03:26:19 PM
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!
Post by: Humptulips on October 28, 2016, 03:47:06 PM
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.
Post by: Jason on October 28, 2016, 04:23:26 PM
That's the spirit!! :tup: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!
Post by: hunthard on October 28, 2016, 05:20:40 PM
Post by: fishnfur on October 28, 2016, 10:51:07 PM
That's the spirit!! :tup: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!
HaHaHaHa :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: LMAO!
Post by: lokidog on October 29, 2016, 04:48:48 PM
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Post by: boneill on October 31, 2016, 05:27:58 PM
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.
Post by: fishnfur on October 31, 2016, 06:50:56 PM
No more fun! :chuckle:
Good job getting it done!
Post by: lokidog on October 31, 2016, 06:57:33 PM
Post by: elkboy on October 31, 2016, 07:02:30 PM
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...
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 31, 2016, 07:32:32 PM
Post by: savagehunter on October 31, 2016, 07:38:58 PM
Post by: boneill on November 01, 2016, 09:56:17 AM
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)
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?
Post by: boneill on November 01, 2016, 01:14:28 PM
QuoteI 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...
Post by: lokidog on November 02, 2016, 05:37:18 PM
Post by: riverrun on November 03, 2016, 10:33:16 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on November 07, 2016, 10:44:52 AM
Post by: csaaphill on November 07, 2016, 06:47:08 PM