Big One Got Away!!!!!!

[fishunterx]

So yesterday my dad and I finally made it out hunting. First spot we stopped at to do a run. I got out of the truck, I had loaded the clip before heading up the hill, but hadn't put one into the chamber yet.

I ran the action on my Model 700, and about 15 feet away from me the brush came alive. I ran over to the mound where the deer broke from, and saw a massive bodied deer trot and start walking behind some brush. the head was out of view but I had about 3 seconds to scope the massive body of the deer and held my crosshairs on the shoulder. I knew by the size of the body it had to be a buck, but couldn't bring myself to shoot without confirming the rack. After that I got glimpses of back and butt as it was slowly moving through the brush and finally disappeared. I started hollering for my dad to start walking down, hoping that my talking would make the deer break. finally about 100 yards out in front of me I saw a deer running away, I threw my scope up and saw no antlers, told my dad "doe." About that time the deer picked his head up, and the antlers were 6" out the side of the butt. Biggest buck I've ever seen but couldn't bring myself to take and butt shot running away. Please somebody tell me I did the right thing.

[skein]

You certainly did the right thing by VERIFYING that it was a buck before cranking off a shot. No question.

Skein

[crocket]

I feel you did the right thing some may disagree but me personally would have done the same take pride in knowing that you didn't lose the wounded animal with a risky shot

[motcha]

First I like the fact that you did not have one in the chamber, second, be sure of your target, and third you did not want to wound the buck! good job, and thats the drive you will get to go the next time, always the chance of seeing something like that! Good job

[Chug]

you did the right not shooting up the wrong side.. no rack no shot.

besides taking a shot like that destroys the back straps. You want to kill fast & have good meat to eat.

good learning story.

[Maddie'sDaddy]

The deer gods will pay you back for that one,, You made the right choice







MD

[Don Becker]

Those are the decisions a hunter makes. You dun good. Don

[fishunterx]

Thanks all for the support, your posts have helpded take the, "want to go back in time and pull the trigger" feeling out of my gut. Appreciate it

[Mad Mikey]

I had a similar situation in 2005, biggest buck I'd ever seen. Specifics aside, I passed on the shot too.

You did the right thing.

[wardon]

You done good right up to where you passed on the texas heart shot. Im not shure I could have done that.Wardon

[fishunterx]

It's kind of a funny thought to think that if I would have drawn my doe tag for that unit, I would have had a buck on the ground!!!

[jnicholson]

I think you did the right thing. No question in my mind.

[adobe wall]

Not taking a shot if you aren't comfortable with it is always the right choice- no argument there.

However, I will argue that a straightaway "Texas Heart Shot" is not a bad shot to take. A deer will not escape with a broken pelvis- if you're using enough gun this shot is as high percentage as a broadside heart/lung shot for recovering the animal and you have about the same amount of target area. The animal will be broken down but it will not go far at all.

Things can go wrong in the woods- you can three-leg a deer on a broadside shot, too, even when you are completely sure of what you are doing. A deer with a shot off front leg will go miles (some actually recover) as will a deer that has been one-lunged. A deer with a broken pelvis, or either femoral artery broken, will be recovered without any great difficulty. Shoot a bit high and you will take out the spine and kidneys- and the deer will die right there.

A six o'clock shot is a very high percentage shot- equal to a broadside heart lung shot- but you will definitely ruin meat.

jmho, aw