Wed night I had a nice 10 point come to my stand at 6:15 pm he was 130 + easy. I was in a ground blind and I had a windo partially open. He was 41 yards broadside and I should have shot him there but it was through some trees andbrush so I decided to wait because he was making his way to me. Well at 30 yards I was scoping his horns in the binos and when I lowered them he must have saw the sun reflect off the lens and he froze up and stared at my blind for 3 mins. I didn't move or breathe or look him in the eye. After 3 mins he twitched his tail and mosyed off really slowly not giving me another shot.
I was way back in the blind but the sun was directly in my face and I think the glasses flashed.

So can I cry with you ? We can sob together.

Here's one thing I do. Every year I buy a half dozen or so of those rubber coated forked shaped screw-in hangers and carry them inmy back pack.They are pretty cheap and you can use them to screw into a limb to hang a bow or a back pack or your quiver. One of those could have saved you that buck.

Oh, by the way, there is no crying in deer hunting. Only regret.

Sorry to hear that, Hard lesson, but it wont happen again good luck!!

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. I blew a shot at the biggest buck I've ever seen years ago when I canted my bow and it hit my rattling antlers! [:@] He didn't care for that at all and he took off taking the doe and the other 8 point with him. I know how you feel.