While on stand this morning I had a monster buck come by. Im guessing he would score just under 170in. I got to watch him for almost a half hour after he passed by my stand. Here is what happened. He was walking from my left to right at about 35 yards. I came to full draw as he was about to enter my shooting lane. He took one step in and turned away from me walking really slow. So here I am at full draw with my pins on him and he is 35 yards and getting farther, straight away from me. With the angle of the hillside I was on he was about 30-35 feet below me. Do you take the shot? I let down. I didnt like the shot he was offering me. I think its a low % shot, and I didnt want to risk wounding such an amazing animal. He stopped again at 55 yards broadside and I was at full draw again, I let down and let him walk, Im not comfortable shooting a live animal at that distance, 3D target maybe but not a live deer. I would love to hear what you guys would have done in this situation...did I make a mistake? Thanks
Not taking a shot if you don't feel comfortable is NEVER a mistake. You can second guess yourself and feel bad you didn't get him today, but you would feel terrible and think about it forever if you wounded him and were not able to recover him.
I agree if he didn't offer you a shot you were comfortable taking then its no mistake. Just seeing a monster sometime is worth sitting for hours. You'll get him next time.
I took that shot at 20 yds a couple years ago on a doe. Regretted it terribly as soon as i released that arrow even though she only ran about 30yds. Good decision on your part.
Basically, if i don't feel comfortable taking the shot, and if i have any doubt at all, i don't take the shot. I'm pretty new to bow hunting, and i don't think i would dare take a shot like that.
Honestly, Maybe on a yote. and that would only be because: 1) Its a yote. 2) Then I would see how these arrows are for penetration. On a deer of that size, not a chance. Would have to shoot myself in the foot if I screwed the pooch.
dude it what u think never second guess urself if u shoot theres a reason and if u dont shoot theres a reason too and id say u made a good decision
a buddy of mine had the exact same shot a week ago on a real nice, tall, heavy 4x4 except his shot was 25 yards. He took the shot and the buck dropped in it's tracks! We figured he "spined " it but upon further examination he actually shot it in the back of the head! 90% of a 125 grain thunderhead was in the bucks skull. He is getting the buck european mounted & is going to leave the broadhead in for the mount. It was a very lucky shot that I wouldn"t have taken but he made it so nuf said. I will post pics when the mount is done.
The first part in shooting is being confident in the shot. Since you didn't sound too confident it was probably a good decision on your part. If you're not confident in the shot you've already missed before you released the arrow. IMO. I think it was a good decision. Look at it this way, you were in the right place at the right time. He may be using that area more frequently, and you may get another crack at him. I would die to see a buck like that on stand.
Im fairly new to hunting but I love to feel peeople passing on a deer if they aren't comfortable with the shot. It shows respondsiblity.
I hope I would've made the same choice you did in the heat of the moment. I think you made a good decision..
+ 100 its better to not take the shot than miss and be frustrated as hell with yourself, and or not find him because he is running around with an arrow in his back. i know i have been there. you made the right choice.
