Soooooooo CLOSE!!

BEN · November 05, 2011, 01:54:00 PM

Just finished week 1 of a 2 week hunting vacation minus a 3 day weekend here of work in between:

Not really much action for me....a nice buck at 50 yds, a spike and button buck I passed on.....

Also, battling a nasty head/chest cold this week--rotten timing on that --kinda kept me off stand a coule times :(

Then, Thurs. night--it ALMOST happened:
I sat all afternoon in astand that has historically been a good mid day cruising spot for bucks and evening spot for does, however, with a nor'ester coming in, nothing was moving...l-o-n-g quiet day on stand. Finally, dark is coming and I check the trees---yep, I can still make out spots at 15 yds......5 more minutes, I figure.

That comes and goes. I'm about to put the arrow away, when I hear the "CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH" of a fast approaching deer. Staring into the gloom, I suddenly see a large, white rack at about 20 yds and closing. The large buck, stops directly in front of me 4 YDS> away! My stomach grumbles--the buck looks up quickly, but just as quickly looks away again,still broadside and now looking the opposite direction. I lean out/down, bow ready--but no...all I can really make out is the dark ridge of hair on his back, so....with rain approaching, and another week of vacation coming...he walks away and 10 min. later, I climb down nad head to camp.

On arriving at our tent, I grab a target arrow, stand 5 yds from our bag target w/ black bullseye and promtly drill the dot, as rain began to fall.

Well, made the right decision for the conditions,and I'm counting on him making a similar walk in the daytime as the rut fast approaches.....

kennym · November 05, 2011, 03:34:00 PM

Good call!

Duker · November 05, 2011, 03:38:00 PM

Hope you have a good shot at him again in the NEAR future with better conditions:::STRAIGHT SHOOTING

Thumper Dunker · November 05, 2011, 04:01:00 PM

Way to go. You still took him in your head.

celticknot · November 05, 2011, 04:33:00 PM

Good luck ben. Long time no see. How are the girls?

Dirtybird · November 05, 2011, 05:03:00 PM

Well best of luck to ya.

dave19113 · November 05, 2011, 05:07:00 PM

Mudd · November 05, 2011, 09:11:00 PM

Counting coupe does wonders for your confidence level..

I think you did the right thing.

God bless,Mudd

dnovo · November 05, 2011, 09:15:00 PM

Great decision. I had the same thing a couple years ago and never regretted not shooting.

stujay · November 05, 2011, 10:59:00 PM

So close, you're right. Thanks for sharing.

BEN · November 06, 2011, 11:09:00 AM

Hey Matt.......the girls are doing great, just more spoiled and rotten

Maybe this coming year I'll actually get a shoot date off work and we'll see ya there!

November 06, 2011, 11:12:00 AM

Get him next time!!

Bisch

Doc Nock · November 06, 2011, 01:02:00 PM

The "right" thing is often less fullfilling in the near term, but the agony of other choices lingers forever.

You done good, Pilgrim!

What a rush, eh?