Well it was perfect Saturday morning. Cold and light winds out of the north. At dawn, I hear a bunch of commotion in a Hedge thicket and see a doe come trotting out about 100 yards away. She was doing the classic look back so I knew there was a buck with her. Couple minutes pass and the buck I've been dreaming of for two years that we call Mr. Crabs for his pincher claws comes trotting out. I see him head across an opening and pull out the grunt tube to get his attention. A few grunts and a snort wheeze stops him. Couple minutes pass when an immature buck comes barreling down to my setup and Mr. Crabs takes off at a run directly for me. I get the release on and wait it out. I'm setup in my climber in between two trails that run on either side of me. Mr. Crabs of course comes directly behind me where the tree is in my way and all I need him to do is keep following the trail that will leave me with a perfect 15 yard shot. Instead he walks directly to my tree and stops. Here I am at full draw and aiming practically straight down and Mr. Crabs looks straight up at me. I look through my no-peep to realize that its twisted. AWESOME. I attempt to slowly undraw and I accidentally release. I miss Mr. Crabs(thankfully) and he turns around and bolts out of my life. I was disgusted and wanted to puke. I still am. Of all the luck to have the one buck I've been after to have him come directly to my tree. I guess I pick trees that are too perfect! My new job isn't going to allow me the luxury of years past of having plenty of time to hunt so to say I feel terrible is an understatement. I have the rest of this week and then the dreaded rifle season starts. The one good thing is I didn't wound him and not recover him. That would have been worse. The good news is I saw a 160 inch giant typical 12 point the day before. I've never seen him on my trail cams so I have another one out there to keep my hopes up. Here's a couple of pics of Mr. Crabs
Thats the hardest shot in the business. Like you said at least it wasn't a wounding. By the way, nothing makes that puke feelin go away. But if every hunt ended as we wanted, it wouldn't be much challenge. Remember as i told a friend recently, we wait all year for these encounters, embrace it and press on. Good Luck!
Actually I have, but pulled the trigger intentionally. It was a massive (tines thicker than my fingers) 140 class Buck that I grunted in, He hit the scent trail that I had laid earlier and was on a very fast pace following it. He was about 4 yards and I got in a hurry, didnt try and mahhh him and tried to shoot on the fly. I shaved his belly Dude I cant imagine what your feeling, That Buck is a STUD, Im sure your sick and I hate hearing this happen. I was pulling for you on this Buck. MABY you will get another chance and I hope you do!
x2 Man, what a buck....sorry to hear that, but like you said - at least you didn't wound him. Nice to have some bucks like that around, maybe you'll get another shot at him (no pun intended).
You know, I've had several guys give me grief for still using a tubed peep, and something about 8-10fps, but near as I can tell, at 2 yds, I don't really need that 8-10fps anyhow..... Sorry to hear it bro, I'm sure you're just SICK, and I can't blame you a bit, I've sort of been there too as much as I hate to remind myself. Hopefully, you can get another shot at him.
Sorry to hear that. I let 2 deer walk on opening weekend and have not seen anything since. either could have been my first bow deer kill, so I know a small part of the feeling. However, yours is worse. I am pulling for you to get that 160. Good luck.
Thanks guys. Nothing like replaying it over and over and over and over in my head. I had a nice 120 inch 8 point today at 20 yards that barely made me even look his direction. Needless to say I'm still sick to my stomach. Its sorta like almost scoring with the hottest chick in the bar for her to get up and leave and have the fugly girl who's a sure fire dtf to sit next to you. Blah.
That, my friend, is the quote of the day. The Main Vanes aren't done yet. Use the next couple days to re-evaluate and get your head back on straight. Refocus and climb back on the horse. There are still a lot of big bucks out there who are one mistake away from riding home in the bed of your truck. Go find one.
Biggest buck I ever saw I shot WAY over his back at 15 yards. I don't know if I even aimed I was so nervous.
That deer does not know what happened. All he knows is that he heard a snap. They spook from natural things all day long, in the woods. Stick with it. I bet you see him again.
Sorry to hear about your premature release. Just explain to the buck that this normally doesn't happen to you, promise him it won't happen again, and maybe...just maybe, he'll give you another chance. Don't blow it this time.
