The story I didnt want to write

MnFn · December 07, 2025, 03:28:53 PM

The story began in Denver on Sunday, November 1st. After celebrating my son's 50th birthday I loaded up my car and headed...east.

Most of the time I have dreamt of hunting in our great Western states, but this time I was dreaming of hunting big whitetails in Kentucky. I had been invited by my best childhood friend Ken to hunt with him. Ken assured me we were going to have prime hunting with rutting bucks running around us.

I would be hunting with my 49@28 Northern Mist Sprague, Sitka Spruce arrows tipped with Zwickey Eskimos, Safari Tuff quiver, and a new sling pack.

MnFn · December 07, 2025, 04:13:34 PM

I arrived at my destination in Kentucky two days later in early evening.

We were up at 4:30, got our gear together, and I took a couple shots with a judo tipped arrow. I had been shooting my bow with no side plate on my bow. It had seemed fine, but in the pre-dawn light I could hear a little something.

I mentioned it to Ken, and he pulled a self adhesive plate off one of his other bows and we stuck that on. It worked fine. After a cup of coffee, off we went.

We were going to hunt some stands up on a ridge up, probably a twenty minute walk. Stands already in place.

I was barely in the stand 15 minutes or so and I heard a buck wheeze back in the brush somewhere.

About 09:30 a doe came by me, and 45 minutes later I saw a doe moving along the ridge eating acorns. And that was it for the morning.

In the pm, we tried different stands in different locations. I saw one nice doe but she had moved by me until she was down wind of me. She must have gotten a whiff of me because she was doing the head bobbing thing trying to catch me moving, I guess. Gradually she moved off and that was day one.

Day two was more of the same, although I did see one small buck. We decided the weather was just too darn nice. I didn't wear gloves the whole week, some days didn't even need a jacket.

MnFn · December 07, 2025, 04:28:40 PM

Day Three.
I was back in the same stand as day one. The temperature was still too nice, but it was pleasant out in the woods.

About 8:30 or so a doe came out of the brush heading by me at about twenty yards. And then it happened. I saw a little movement back in the brush, and here came a buck. A nice one. He half-heartedly jumped at the doe and she took off. He stopped and turned back and came by me at about twelve yards. I thought long and hard about shooting him, but in the end I thought there probably was a better one in the area so I let him pass. And that was it. I didn't see another buck that week.

I've been mentally kicking myself ever since. Without question it would have been my best buck with a bow.

I did that once before on my cousin's place about ten years ago. You would think I would have learned to take a buck early in the season, if you would have taken him on the last day.

Oh well, maybe next year if the Lord is willing.

Possum Head · December 07, 2025, 04:39:29 PM

Great hunts thanks for sharing. It's a tough call to drop a string or not at time. Lots of my Huntin buddies have hunted Kentucky so I know the potential of seeing shooters. If nothing else you taught yourself another lesson in restraint. A good future is ahead don't beat yourself up.

fishone · December 07, 2025, 04:47:18 PM

Great story!!! Sorry you did not have an opportunity at a bigger buck, but when you pass on a decent one there is no guarantee you will have another opportunity at a larger buck. Wishing your good health and hunting for next year.

Maclean · December 07, 2025, 05:38:13 PM

The upside is you're in the woods with your bow, hunting and seeing deer.

My entire hunting season has been sidelined with a shoulder injury. The frustration is maddening.

There's always next season, God willing.

M60gunner · December 07, 2025, 06:12:38 PM

Your experience sounds like one I had hunting with one of my platoon mates near his home in WI. I had the opportunity like you but held out for a bigger buck I had seen but was too far away for a shot. That old guy never did come close enough. I would bet that anyone who has spent anytime in the woods has a similar story. I refer back to Murphy's law on situations like this.

Radford · December 07, 2025, 07:34:04 PM

Always a fun time hunting with bow with good friends.

I've always had the opposite problem. I always shoot the first legal deer I see. I've hunted in low deer density areas since I was a boy, so I guess that's why I've always done that. I'd likely kill bigger deer if I was more patient.

I've always wondered how's it be like to hunt in an area with high deer populations. One of these days...

Friend · December 07, 2025, 08:31:33 PM

My log from 2015 thru 2024 shows that I taken passes on 285 bucks within my effective range. There is only one buck that have regretted not loosing an arrow on....mature, wide, good mass, medium tined 10 point standing broadside looking away at 10 yards...I, however continually enjoy reliving the special encounter more than I regret it. My personal gratification and fulfillment are achieved if I can just have a relatively close encounter with a goodin. Many seasons I do not enjoy that luxury. Yet, I fully enjoy the gift we have been given.

Radford · December 07, 2025, 09:15:25 PM

Quote from: Friend on December 07, 2025, 08:31:33 PMMy log from 2015 thru 2024 shows that I taken passes on 285 bucks within my effective range. There is only one buck that have regretted not loosing an arrow on....mature, wide, good mass, medium tined 10 point standing broadside looking away at 10 yards...I, however continually enjoy reliving the special encounter more than I regret it. My personal gratification and fulfillment are achieved if I can just have a relatively close encounter with a goodin. Many seasons I do not enjoy that luxury. Yet, I fully enjoy the gift we have been given.

"Many seasons I do not enjoy that luxury" - you said in a nine year period you passed 285 deer. That's 31 bucks a season. This is exactly what I was referring to in my post. I wish I hunted in a high density deer area. You're doing great, Friend. A lot of folks would love to have a single season like that, let alone 9.

MnFn · December 07, 2025, 11:59:57 PM

I reread my posts and while it was all true, I have to say overall it also was one of the best hunting experiences of my life. Spending a week hunting with a guy I've been friends with since the early 1960's.

Towards the end of the week I commented to Ken that I knew he was always putting me in the best stands, and he didn't have to do that. He replied "well you spent quite a bit of money to come all the way down here and hunt with me".

Bottom line is it was a wonderful week and I have been richly blessed to be able to experience this camaraderie.

Lord willing, maybe one more time, the two old farts will get to share the woods again.
"Where did he go now?"

Tim Finley · December 08, 2025, 11:15:49 AM

Just seeing nice bucks is fun for me . My boy also turned 50 on Nov. 1

mnbwhtr · December 08, 2025, 11:37:41 AM

Gary, I've been told many times not to pass one the first day that you'd be happy with the last but this year I did it twice. My SD antelope hunt I passed a good one on day one and then shot another luckily later got one. I waited 3 yrs to get an Ia tag and after seeing trial cam pics of some really large bucks the first day passed on a good 140 class. Ater sitting many days and watching many bucks come by I finally got my shot and missed. I still have the late season coming so maybe it will work out. Glad you had a fun trip!

Roger Norris · December 09, 2025, 08:57:05 AM

Dang you! Based on your title I was expecting something tragic! I am glad you are well my friend!!!!!

You are a more patient man than me. I tend to shoot the buck that gives me an opportunity. My son kills way bigger bucks than I do, because he has the ability to "pass"

Mint · December 09, 2025, 09:51:46 AM

Passing up bucks waiting for a bigger one is not a bad thing. You will always have a memory of seeing that buck.

Tajue17 · December 09, 2025, 11:03:37 AM

If you're hunting horns you should never get upset with anything previously passed on thats the #1 rule for the horn hunt. if you're meat hunting you can never get upset with what turns up later after the shot..

Its funny locally i know a couple guys passing on everything waiting for these big horned deer they seen on their cams,,,,,,, well season ends the 31st and their still waiting and hoping while most others are home cooking venison right now,,, i totally understand the feeling i felt it before..

varmint101 · December 09, 2025, 06:55:02 PM

Well, you know, it sound3: like a fantastic hunt. Sure there's second guessing but that's life. I'd bet we've most all been there. Shoot I was there this past spring with a ton turkey. Had him dead to right and thought ah he'll get closer. He did not 😂 it's ok, it is a bummer but at least you were out there and had the chance. Heck you "won" even. Life is still good. You're a bowhunter!