Shoot at Shadows?? NO GOOD!

So I went out Sat Am for an all day hunt. Got to my spot about 5:35am. Probably a little bit to early but I like to get in and be "ghost like". About 15 mins out 3 very big Deer came walking 15 yds from me. I was on the ground using a Ghost Blind (very thick brush, no good trees to hang on). Now I could see they were large Deer but no idea what they were. I could just see their dark bodies moving and stopping. There was NO WAY I was gonna take a shot. I could of shot one in the head or what ever. So later I told my buddy about how cool it was that I was that close. Well I guess I set myself up to be criticized because he said "why didn't you shoot"? I told him no way. He then questioned my hunting ability. I guess it kinda made me feel like crap. Yeah I guess I could of had a chance and taken one but I don't think it would have been right. Also it wasn't half hour before sunrise which is LAW here in IL. Are my being to much of a "Whimp"?

 

No not at all, good call.

 

Nope.You done what was right in my book.
I might fuge ( 3 or 4 minutes ) the shooting times a bit IF I can see enough to know what I'm actually shooting at,not shooting at shadows.

 

Congrats on doing the right thing!

 

you did the right thing, your buddy is a dumbass.

 

You definately did the right thing. Ignore your buddy and never hunt with him. Sounds like he'd just get you in trouble.

Blessings.......Pastorjim

 

Yeah hes the same guy that gives me grief that I use a HSS in a ladder stand. Hmmm....I guess when I read what I wright he does seem to be a dumb ass..

 

You should give him grief for not wearing one.

 

Yeah, you definitely made the right choice. If you shoot one and wound it, you probably won't ever get the chance to shoot it with good light

 

Definitely the right call....Your buddy questioned your hunting ability?!?! If he thinks shooting what you cant identify is smart he should not be hunting

 

Good call.

Also, don't ever take head shots. Not really sure if I understood your comment about that.

 

That is great that you did not.. To many times do you hear someone say they saw a deer and shoot it and its someone or someones dog. You did the right thing.

 

That was my point. I WOULD NEVER take a head shot....

 

Great call. Why would you question yourself on this one? Of course we follow the laws and use common sense when we hunt. It is what separates ethical from unethical hunters. I agree that you should reconsider your hunting partners.

 

Anybody that DON'T use the HSS is just plain stupid.And that's coming from somebody that learned that the hard way.

 

Sounds like you know what the right things to do are. Good for you.

 

Congrats on having the most awesome username on bh.com.

I raise my glass, Mike Hunt. I raise my glass.

 

I don't think I'd ever hunt with this "buddy" again. If I did, I'd make sure I was VERY far away from him.

 

+100.

Punch your "buddy" in the face. You can tell him it was from me, ...and never hunt with him again.

 

Agreed. Im all for "bending" the shooting time law by a few minutes here and there, but only if you can make an ethical shot by doing so, and by ethical, I mean knowing exactly what youre shooting at!