I shot a stag buck (buck with velvet and no testicals) a few years ago in the head with my 22-250. When deer hunting I always carry a pistol in my bag just in case. Well, for some reason I didn't bring my pistol with me when I went down to the deer I just shot. I guess I figured, head shot, no chance the deer is still alive.

I went down there and got about 10 feet from the deer. The deer picked his head up and looked at me and jumped up like he wasn't even hurt! Good thing he ran the other way because I didn't even have my knife out of my pocket!

Well, turns out I hit him a little lower than I thought. I learned an old lesson all over again that day. If that would have been a rutting buck, there's no telling what would have happened. From then on, no matter how sure I am of the shot, I always give the deer about 30 minutes and when I aproach the deer I always have a loaded gun ready.

I recovered the deer about an hour later after my heart settled back down I made sure he was dead!