I read an article the other day......and the author wrote something in there every time he wrote the word "shoot". He followed it with an "at". I think I'll subconsciously be adding that add-on when I hear people tell stories, this Fall.

EX. - "I decided not to shoot "at" the buck, yesterday."

It'll lend more to realism, I believe. There's a world of difference in "actually" letting an animal "pass". Seeing a deer and actually passing on that same animal are certainly two different things, most times.

What are you getting "at"?

While I do agree with you some, I swear guys pass on every deer they see, even if its 75 yds away.

I do think that if you know who you are talking to, you can reliably know when they "pass" they are "passing" indeed.

But if you are referring to it as meaingthat you can't really 'pass' because there is always a chance that you'd have missed....then I that's getting a little too nit picky for me.

I do not pass on anything, I choose to TRY and shoot a deer. Getting one close enough is half the battle.

I had an 8 point last year, full draw, 22 yards dead steady, and let down on him without spooking. That is what I call passing a shot.

I have also had deer that I am pretty confident I could have shot (at), but did not even attempt to draw because they weren't even close to what I wanted, and there was no need to educate them. To me that is also a pass, but a different kind. Far from a sure thing, that is what I call a reasonable chance. There is a difference.

When you put that "at" in quotations, it made me think of some rifle hunters I know, whose motto seems to be "As long as there's lead in the air, there's hope in the heart."[:'(]

Rybo.....this is exactly what I was getting at. I agree with your assessment (as an add-on) 100%, pal.

I too agree there is a huge difference between seeing deer and actually passing deer. I pass on WAY less deer than I see!

Do you pass them or pass "on" them?

the only thing i pass on stand is gas. havent had one wind it yet

i do understand what you mean. i cant say ive passed deer. ive let them walk...without sending an arrow their way...but cant say ive past them. im confident...but like in my case last year...you dont know when that deer is going to duck the arrow. alot of guys would call an 18yd shot a chip shot. or if they didnt shoot they would say they past it. i dont consider myself a great shot. but i can shot..and do so daily. 18yds and not a lick of buck fever i know i made the shot. the buck told me otherwise and decided to duck. stuff happens. time to go shoot for the second time today....

I knew guys that would write the word pass on their riser so they could see it when they drew their bows,but it was'nt there to remind them to pass on the shot. It was to remind them to PICK A SPOT STUPID!