Ok, I' m picturing myself in this situation, so it' s not really fair to you, but I would have taken the shot...but I hunt with a rifle that I can shoot 1/2-3/4" groups off a bench and 1-1.25" freehand at 100yrds with, with a bipod and 4-16x42mm glass, with CT (winchester/speer) Balistic Silvertips handloaded, the overwhelming majorityof my shooting is done freehand to make sure I can make shots like that, and I tend not to get the " fever" . Assuming I didn' t catch the fever-a fair assumption based on experience-I would have been able to confidently make the shot, which is what matters, if there' s any doubt, you shouldn' t shoot.

It is admirable that you did not take the shot though, you were doubtful, so you shouldn' t have shot...I' m a fim believer that you should only shoot when you' re certain you can maximize your odds of successful harvest, you couldn' t be certain, so holding was the right decision. If I get the " fever" for some odd reason, I' ll hold unless it' s a pure " gimme shot" , i.e. even if I catch the fever on a shot that' s broadside at 100yrds in the open while I' m rested, I' d go ahead, take out the rest, turn the deer, add some obstructions, or make it any longer, then I' d hold though.

I ALWAYS follow that if I have to consider the risks of the shot, I don' t have to consider them, I just don' t shoot, seems that you do too, good job.