Biggest Buck I've Ever Passed...and Cam Has Me Regretting
Nov 18, 2017 10:25:06 GMT -5
squirrelhunter, M4Madness, and 1 more like this
Post by tynimiller on Nov 18, 2017 10:25:06 GMT -5
Well this all happened last night......I cannot believe this and I'm experiencing some regret at this point to be honest...I passed the biggest buck I've ever let walk. I fear I'll live to regret this decision but it was a combination of a bunch of stuff.
As I've said we haven't been getting any pictures and this is a buck we'd only heard was around (neighbor shot his shoulder days earlier) but no pics and no eyes on. So needless to say when he popped out literally from under my tree from behind me without warning as I watch some does on one side of tree he caught me off guard. I had only moments to decide and his short G3s, being a stranger and not have an immense amount of time to decide and knowing there was a bigger 10 around this property (finally got pics of him week or so ago) I chose to not shoot him at 23 yards to my left rear....I also wouldn't have got it on film which I now believe played a roll as well (but I said I would shoot a buck without film). I couldn't get camera around my body and tree to film where he was.
It also ran through my mind that he didn't seem bigger than the numerous bucks I got in the mancave or wall at home (granted I had him pegged around 120....I now think he is pushing 130 maybe??).
SO I then watched him come back behind the tree in thicker cover and I filmed him (linked video below)......as I studied him I realized he was bigger than I thought, no giant but hunting small properties was a definite top 15% buck for the area and I decided IF he hooked around into the other lane in front of me I'd shoot him and cam was clear and ready to get it all....he did not.
It is awesome to be able to film a buck you choose to pass, in a way makes it easier....however this one it is making me regret it as well some. This isn't a lightly pressured location....with today's opener the surrounding 200 acres divided into countless small chunks
So....it was an oddly restless night....internally trying to figure out if I made the right call or not....in the end this is hunting. In our times we'll shoot deer we wish we hadn't...we'll pass deer we wish we'd shot...and we'll continue loving the pursuit more and more because of it all.
youtu.be/MQvA4_He6bc
As I've said we haven't been getting any pictures and this is a buck we'd only heard was around (neighbor shot his shoulder days earlier) but no pics and no eyes on. So needless to say when he popped out literally from under my tree from behind me without warning as I watch some does on one side of tree he caught me off guard. I had only moments to decide and his short G3s, being a stranger and not have an immense amount of time to decide and knowing there was a bigger 10 around this property (finally got pics of him week or so ago) I chose to not shoot him at 23 yards to my left rear....I also wouldn't have got it on film which I now believe played a roll as well (but I said I would shoot a buck without film). I couldn't get camera around my body and tree to film where he was.
It also ran through my mind that he didn't seem bigger than the numerous bucks I got in the mancave or wall at home (granted I had him pegged around 120....I now think he is pushing 130 maybe??).
SO I then watched him come back behind the tree in thicker cover and I filmed him (linked video below)......as I studied him I realized he was bigger than I thought, no giant but hunting small properties was a definite top 15% buck for the area and I decided IF he hooked around into the other lane in front of me I'd shoot him and cam was clear and ready to get it all....he did not.
It is awesome to be able to film a buck you choose to pass, in a way makes it easier....however this one it is making me regret it as well some. This isn't a lightly pressured location....with today's opener the surrounding 200 acres divided into countless small chunks
So....it was an oddly restless night....internally trying to figure out if I made the right call or not....in the end this is hunting. In our times we'll shoot deer we wish we hadn't...we'll pass deer we wish we'd shot...and we'll continue loving the pursuit more and more because of it all.
youtu.be/MQvA4_He6bc