Open morning of Utahs deer and elk hunt found me in a tree stand waiting on a bacholer herd of bucks. I had seen a good herd of 12 bucks running up a fence line to bed. There was 8 good 4x4 bucks and one real big daddy pushing that magical 30" mark. After a long wait for first light I spotted two bucks coming up the fence line. One was a good 24" 4x4 and another 4x5 that was few inches wider and taller. They were doing what I was hoping and were headed right for me. Before I new it I had the smaller of the two feeding 15 yards to my left with his head behind a small quakie. I passed on the shot hoping the bigger one would follow. Now the bigger one was still out of range following the smaller 4x4. Then he jumped the fence and started coming in strait at me until he was about 10 yards away. Thats when he got my scent and in a flash he was gone with all my dreams. That is a classic moneuver for me. I always screw it up when waiting on a good buck hoping to bag the bigger one and then come up empty handed. I had a few shots on some 2x2's and spikes but didn't want to end the hunt yet. Maybe I screwed it up again and will not get another shot oppertunity. :deadhorse:
Wensel boys would be proud of your restraint...
And it ain't greed if it's your goal!
That is why god designed us with our feet pointing forward. That way it does not hurt so bad when you kick yourself!! There will be more opportunities for you. It sounds like you have good patience so you will be rewarded. Good luck..Henry
If your loking for sympathy, not going to happen! :D You've been watching HOW MANY good bucks? AND you had a shot opportunity that YOU passed up? Bro, I'd like to see 1 good buck every couple years and I can't remember my last shot opportunity. You did the right thing. If you wanted that buck we'd be looking at hero shots right now! Go get em. :archer2:
Takes alot to hold back like that, but that means that they have one more chance of getting bigger! This just might mean there is a bigger one in your future, I look toward to seeing pics!
Takes alot to hold back like that, but that means that they have one more chance of getting bigger! This just might mean there is a bigger one in your future, I look toward to seeing pics!
I like that first post, about not being greedy if it's your goal! If you can't be proud of it-don't shoot it. Here's hoping you get a shot opportunity at a big old buck :archer2:
You will get him next time!
Good luck,
Bisch
That is what it takes to put big ones on the wall. If you want big trophies you did the right thing. That is why I don't have any big bulls on the wall, I have a hard time passing up smaller ones.
Uh oh, get him before he sheds his velvet and disappears into that secret cave they live in until the rut.
Takes a lot of restraint to pass like that...at least thats what I've been told. never tried it much myself ;)
At least you saw some animals Jimmy. You'll get him next time. Good luck :thumbsup:
I live by the adage, "Never look a gift horse in the mouth".
Then again, I don't have any big racks on my wall either.
Good luck! We all do this for different reasons and they change over time for most of us. Get out there and do your thing! I have never even seen an elk in the wild. That's a dream hunt for us out east...
Really hope to see you with a success thread this season.
Stick with it, man! Sounds like you got it figured out already. Keep on 'em and show us the pics!
Got a buddy that says"everything happens for a reason"
Rock on bro!
Yea, I feel your pain. Going for any legal buck this year (3 points on one side, excluding brow tine). The big one eludes me, and for some reason I attract spikes that I can't shoot!
you have to do what you feel is the right thing to do. And if you let him slide at ten yards, then I bet that was a good choice :notworthy: :notworthy:
your season isnt over yet, is it? stay on em! gett r done! good luck! :thumbsup:
You have the right to choose which one you would rather shoot. Nothing wrong with counting coup.
Your problem sounds like one I would love to have and you don't seem to cncerned about fixing yet. I hope it works out for you but a shot oportunity on a real good animal is worth a lot more than the hope at an exceptional one in my book. Sounds like you know the problem and how to fix it if you desire. Or learn to be content. Eitherway, good luck and God Bless
I "used to" have this same problem. It was to the point where my hunting buddies were about to get physical haha! The idea was: If the oldest or most beautiful showed up; it was all or nothing because I'd rather have taken the chance than wondered the rest of my life, "What if?"
But in the last few months ... creating opportunity was so much hard work that the "idea" changed. It is now : "If this other monster didn't exist right before my eyes, would I still shoot this smaller one?" If yes, nocked and drawn. If no, get the camera and snap some pics!
Hope you get that big boy!
That's why we call it Hunting:) Ya done good..
you have way more self control than me, I've just resigned myself to being a meat hunter.
If you REALLY wanted to shoot the smaller buck then you would not have let him pass in the first place. Follow your gut!
With this I'm not looking for sympathy nor prase it is just typical of me. I not a trophy hunter, you can tell by my trophy room. I try not to get caught up in the bigger better issues but if I can I do like to take a mature animals and it's not just about points or getting into a book. A large 2x2 can easily catch my eye as much as a large 4x4. It's a respect thing for mature animals. I am blessed most years I can be some what picky about what I shoot at. With a light winter and heavy monsoons this summer our deer herd is doing better than it has in the last few years.
Anyone that has hunted with me knows how typical this is for me. I always seem to be an inch away all the times. I've been in a bit of a killing slump lately. It is amazing how close I can get to having a shot oppertunity and never get one. I guess that's why I love doing this so much.
The first two words - Opening morning...
Still time then. Look at it this way, you're still deer hunting, that isn't all bad.
Try shooting the next time, see how that feels. That closeness IS special... and worth the price.
That's the way it goes eh?
I had a very lousy year last season. The first day opening morning i had a very nice sized Blacktail i came up on in the first 20 minutes of my hunt totally unaware of my presence at about 15 yards. head down broadside..... i passed it up, and didn't have another opportunity for weeks. When when it did, i shot a tree branch i didn't see. :rolleyes:
The season is young and as others have stated, sounds like you have plenty to choose from. I think you made the right decision. If you shot the "smaller" one now you might be on here telling us you should have waited for the bigger one! (LOL). Go get 'em... and when you do, post pictures and the story.
This is why I love this site!!