I guess what I was trying to say was that you took him under your wing, so to speak, and then all you can do is talk about how bad it messed up your hunt, then that does sound a little selfish. I'm not necessarily saying that you are a selfish person by nature, but that position in and of itself suggests a selfish attitude regarding this situation. I don't doubt that you help people selflessly. It's like saying "I'm not a sinner... except when I sin." I was drawing a comparison suggesting that you are being too hard on the guy. You didn't get a shot, you said, because he got busted by a calf and spooked the whole group, but then you say that you probably would have never got a shot anyway, so why are you so upset?

You say that you're angry that he missed or wounded the bull you called in, but forget that just because you called it, it was HIS shot. If you do this long enough, sooner or later you're going to make a bad shot. Using the 30 yard pin instead of the 20 yard pin, for a new hunter in front of his first bull elk, isn't exactly a death penalty offense. It's an easy mistake to make on the range, let alone in the field when you're all pumped up with adrenaline in such a situation. It happens. You say he was cavalier about it, and if that is the only reason you're mad, then I'd say you are justified. But if part of it is just because he made a bad shot, I think you're being too hard on him. FYI, my first and last year bow hunting I shot two does two mornings in a row, and didn't recover anything but a bloody arrow. I know one shot was good because I watched the fletching go through her. The other, I don't know, other than I know I hit her. But it was tall grass, and it started raining. **It happens. I felt sick for days, and haven't bowhunted since, but that's me.

Ultimately, I think that maybe you both owe each other an apology. Him for being inconsiderate, and you for being too harsh and unforgiving.

That's my two cents, take it for what it's worth.

Mike