Being lazy cost me a dandy buck one time. I mean that ...... ONE time.... never again!

I was hunting one of my favorite creek crossing stands. At the start of the season I had noticed that a very big tree had blown over into the creek and partially blocked the bank on my side of the creek where the deer exited the water. I thought, oh well, they'll just walk around it and get back on the trail and things will be good. Well, during that hunt a large 10 pointer, one that greatly exceeded my goal of taking a clean 5x5, approaching 160", started crossing the creek to my side. I was thinking, oh man, this is going to be great! This buck would certainly look great on my wall. As he walked around the blow down, instead of getting back on the trail, he cut straight through the brush and started angling away from me. There was nothing that I could do! []After he got about 25 yards away, walking away, I tried grunting........ nothing. He heard it and stopped and looked in my direction. I repeated this a couple more times until I couldn't see the buck anymore. I never saw that buck again! [:@]

That was a big learning experience for me..... never take a chance like that and always do what has to be done to tip the odds in your favor. Needless to say, after the season was over, I went back and completely pruned up that spot to make the deer want to go past my stand.

Anyone else ever lose a chance by being lazy?