Well at about 6:10 I hear something walking in from my left. I assume it is just does because thats all I have seen. As I see him peeking past the brush making sure the coast is clear. I thought it was a year and a half old basket rack. Come to find out he was much older. I counted 5 points on the right side and the left had at least 4 that I could see, but that side was not quite right. Looked as if it was broken in half or just a non-typical. I decided not to shot because his tines were a little spindly and his brow tines and g2 and g3 were only about an inch and a half to 2 inches. Of course after he walked off I began beating myself up for not taking the shot. Oh the heart ache. I feel I did the right thing but he is the first buck even close to a shooter I have seen. Hopefully I will have a chance at a better deer soon.

You're to be commended for letting him walk.

With great sacrifices come great rewards, you did the right thing.

If your goals are higher, don't compromise for anything short of them. You would beat yourself up worse if you shot him and then saw the monster that you seek.

This is my fourth year whitetail hunting and my first year bowhunting. I was thinking the other day and realized that I have only one certain sighting of a live, antlered whitetail buck. (The 8 point basket rack is on my wall.) I've seen ones friends have gotten. I've seen pictures. I've seen videos. But I just haven't seen bucks in the woods beyond the one. Granted I'm a new hunter but I just don't see any many bucks as you all seem to!

I missed a 130 to 140 class buck with my riffle 2 years ago and I was also blessed with a 120 Class 10 point on my wall from my first year hunting 3 years ago. This is my first year Bow hunting though.

Dont get down about it dvalliere, if you are able to kill 1 trophy buck every 4 years then I would consider that a success. Especially when youve only been hunting 4 years. You just added about 200% difficulty when you started bow hunting! ha ha BE PATIENT

I would have taken the bad genes out of the herd.

I'm not worried about it. I got a deer the first three years and I fully expect to this year as well (between archery and rifle seasons).

Additionally, I'm not horn-hunting. If I get them, great. If not, that's fine too. I'm hunting for the thrill and for the meat. As such, I'm not passing on does to wait for the bucks which means I'll see fewer bucks. Once I get a doe, I may become more selective. Having a longer season due to archery will greatly improve my opportunities to be selective.

Just thought it was odd that I hadn't seen more bucks. I know they're around because my friends have seen 'em! I'll probably go shining soon and that should change this stat for me.

if you wouldent feel good about it know then why feel bad about it know too? If you know you did the right thing be happy to be able to leave a deer the lots of people would shoot and leave it go so it can go and reproduce and keep the furture bright for us so from everyone hunting around they should say thanks.