Interesting night tonight
 

I was on stand in my favorite funnel between two doe bedding areas. At 4:15 pm, I saw a decent buck across the creek from me. At first I thought it was the big 8 pt I had seen earlier this season. See pic below.


As he made his way away from me, into some brush, I gave him 3 grunts on my grunt call. I pointed it to the side and behind me to try and make it seem like the call came from another direction. He was about 60 yards away and I didn't want him to pick me off in the tree. Well, he turned and crossed the creek and came past me at 14 yards. When he first crossed the creek at about 30 yards, I eyeballed him and decided to pass. This was not the big 8 I thought it was, This one grossed about 134". Not quite my goal for this year. Any time you pass on a net P&Y, it makes you feel a little insane. I do know that if I shoot the first 130s buck to come by, I won't get my 140 buck. It's that simple.

About 20 minutes later, I saw another 8 pt across the creek. At first I thought it was the same one, but as I watched him walk away from me, I noticed that his g-2 was at least 10". The first bucks g-2 was only 7" (g-3s were 8"). This second buck was the big one in the pic and he was getting away. I tried grunting at him a couple of times but he wasn't in the mood. I backed off the calling and will wait for another opportunity.

It was a great night for me. I like it when you can make a mature buck change course and come right to you! This was the second largest buck that I've passed on. Kind of tough. It's a gamble, I might eat tag soup, but that's the way it goes. There is a lot of season left. Hopefully things will work out.

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

I tell ya Greg, that would be a hard buck to pass on!!!!!!!! I like the way you set your sights on the big one! Good luck!

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

Greg, your the man!!!;)

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

I love evenings like that, get's the old heart pumping! He's a good ole buck,best ofluck with him. I will behunting all of next week, and I for one, will not be passing on any P&Y'ers!!

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

Sounds like a good hunt, hopefully you tag the brute in the pic.

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

I hear ya Greg, I have passed on a couple of P&Y boys myself this year and its really hard to do. Like you said though if you don't let some walk you will never attain your goal, what ever that may be. To me the season has just started with the onset of the rut fast approaching. Good luck on that brusier.

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

I passed a 120-130'' the day I shot my big boy(morning), it is hard to do. Tag soup is no good, but I have eaten some in the past. Kind off a pass I got my head caught in my safety strap, but I was not going to shoot, LOL

Motown said it well!!

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

I tell you, I don't know how you guys do it!

I'm a meat hunter myself but I respect you guys that are dedicated trophy hunters.

Passing on bucks like that, yougot to be dedicated. This says volumes about the kind of hunter you are. My hat is off to you.

Hope you find the one your looking for.

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

Wow, that is a nice buck... Good luck with that 140

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

I admire your committment to your standards.
Still, I think you are crazy for passing a 130" deer;).
Jk Jk

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

HHHHHHMMMMMM, I think Insane would be a very good assessment. J/K. Man, bucks like that are VERY few and far between around here. Heck yes , I'd call you crazy......... But I guess it would be crazy like a fox, knowing the kind of deer you have on you up there.

I may not agree, and I don't have to like it, but I will damn sure respect you guys for passing on those type deer. But if you ever decide you need some herd thinning done, but you just can't lower your standards and shoot them, THEN CALL ME,CAUSEI HAVE NO SHAME...........LOL

Good luck on your quest.

May the deer Gods smile down upon you.

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

Very, very cool, Greg... I look forward to hearing about you wrapping your tag around the one you want!

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

I can only imagine what your trophy room looks like if you let bucks like that pass! You da man. I hope you get him..... next year!

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

I respect your discipline.Good luck!

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

Man Greg, I don't know how you do it. a friend of mine who is very lucky to bring home a nice buck every year says he is always gonna let the 120's and 130's walk. he has killed about 6 of them already, seems he just can't bring himself to do it when the moment arrives. My hat is off to you,setting goals is one thing, but being able to accept the fact that you might not score and end up with an empty tag really says a lot about you. I HOPE YOU BAG THAT MONSTER!!! Sounds like you really deserve it.

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

I'm afraid that one would've gone home with me....if I could've quit shakin' long enuff to shoot him! Nice deer and I admire your setting goals and standards. I hope to be doing the same thing someday!

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

Now thats a good evening! Its hard for me to pass up a 130 class 8pt, He!!, what am I talking about, Im not passing up a 130 class 8pt I dont care what state Im hunting in! Hats off to you Greg, and good luck on your 140+ Quest!

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

You show a real commitment to your self-inflicted (for lack of a better term) goals! I would have had to take him. In my area he'd be the biggest guy out there.
My evening wasn't a good as yours. I got to watch a really cool little six pointer start making a scrape where I'd put out some of my extra stinky Knight and Hale estrous doe piss (that stuff smells so bad!). He hung out for a long time and keep looking back into the hardwoods. I was hoping that the big boy was coming behind him. It never did, and about ten minutes after my little friend left I heard a shot ring out in the direction he left in. Poachers piss me off. And I'm pretty sure that is what it was. Not many people sight in their rifles at dusk and only use one shot. So he's probably a goner...

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

Great hunt!! I am usually the same way...in terms of letting the 130" walk for next year. Fortunately for me, I usually have a few nice bucks to choose from every year, so I can be a little choosy. If I didn't see the 130" deer every year, it would be really hard to pass him up though!! Keep hunting my friend!

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

Awesome display of discipline Greg. I need to buy land in the midwest,discipline around here is letting does walk so you can get a shot at a forkhorn[:o]

RE: Interesting night tonight
 

Greg, it will happen. Sounds like you had a great night though. I personally couldnt pass on a potential P&Y, yet thatis. Not until i get my first one. Great work and keep after him. Just make sure you have a camera when you get the one your after.