Wow! I blew it tonight!
 

See this?

I blew it on this guy.[&o] Man, he's a nice 8. G-2s are atleast 11", g-3s are 9 or 10". He's close to 150 gross.

Here's what happened. I shot last years buck out of this same stand. It's 28' up and has a major trail running through the middle of a small meadow, 20 yards out. Last years deer came from my right towards my left. I shot him when he was walking slowly past me. I didn't stop him and hit about 4" further back than I wanted to be, liver shot. Recovered the next morning. So this year, I play this shot out in my mind, hundreds of times, except this time I'm going to stop him with a voice grunt. I've done this before except the yardages have been much closer, 6-12 yards.

At the end of the night, just before quitting time, out he comes..... just like I pictured many times over in my head. I've been ready for the shot, standing just right, for over an hour. He starts walking past me from right to left and when he gets directly in front of me, I draw, aim and voice grunt at him. He stops and looks up, I shoot, and in slow motion he crouches for a launch out of there and my arrow sails over his back! [:@]

I was temporarily crushed. I worked my asz off for a shot at that buck. Well, I'm OK with it, I had my chance. That's all I've really ever sought was a chance at a big buck during the season. I got it. This is also probably my best season ever for fun and excitement. I've seen over 8 different mature bucks and have passed on 4 good shots at smaller P&Y bucks for a crack at a really big one. BTW, this buck is #2 out of the big ones I've seen.

It's not over yet, who knows, maybe I'll get a crack at #1?

RE: Wow! I blew it tonight!
 

sorry to hear that... i know the feeling.:(

good luck with #1!

RE: Wow! I blew it tonight!
 

Thats tough, good luck on #1

RE: Wow! I blew it tonight!
 

what GREGH missed no way sry to hear that though

RE: Wow! I blew it tonight!
 

Greg that is tough one!! I am not a believer in the mouth grunt unless the deer is with a hot doe. I have done it once and worked last year. I also have let 2 150'' walk by me under 10 yds with my bow back. They did not stop and I did not mouth grunt to stop them. I still wonder if I should have tryed and stop them.

That is why I love hunting mature deer, you never know:)

RE: Wow! I blew it tonight!
 

Hey, you know how it is, I had to try it.;)I know now that at that distance and walking speed, I'll aim tight to the shoulder and follow through.

RE: Wow! I blew it tonight!
 

Soory to hear it Greg, I've been following the saga with you and these bucks all season. I don't think its over.....just delayed...you'll get him.

RE: Wow! I blew it tonight!
 

It's tough that you missed, but at least you missed clean and did'nt wound such a deer, that would have made you feel a lot worse.

RE: Wow! I blew it tonight!
 

You know what I learned is that the bucks I've sucessfully voice grunted to a stop, were much closer and traveling much faster. This guy was walking slow and cautiously. At 20 yards, all I did by grunting at him was to alert him to my presence. He was as prepared for my shot as I was!!![:-]

RE: Wow! I blew it tonight!
 

Bingo GregH, the one I yelled at was running. When a deer is walking through woods, I keep quite you never knowhe might come back.

I hunt low profile I use 0 calls and 0 scents, sometimes I wonder if a call would have help me. I just try and stick to game plan, sometimes it works and sometimes it does not.