Steve---He never said he intentionally had negative emotion. "Hmm, I think I'm going to sit in the tree today and shoot a buck that's not up to my standards." I'm pretty sure that thought didn't go through his head.

EI doesn't regret the hunt/shot, he's talking about being mad at HIMSELF for shooting a buck in low light conditions that had a case of ground shrinkage.

Never regretted shooting one, but regretted not shooting a lot. I don't really like passing deer all season for a particular deer when I have the desire for meat all summer.
jmho

LT

Cant say as I would regret him! Nice buck!

Thanks. But those antlers aren't even big enough to rattle with.

I shot my first deer with a bow in Oct of 05. Got home from work that afternoon, ran and changed clothes, grabbed the bow and to the wood I went. While walking in I spooked some deer, what looked like all does. I hid behind some willow trees for a while instead of walking on toward them and making more noise. After about 40 minutes, I had a tall lean slick head come easing by me at about 25 yards. I was still on the ground and thought I would die of anxiety(spelling). I flung an arrow at her and hit her high in the spine, midway down her back. I finished her off as quickly as possible, only to find my doe was a button buck.
I really wish I could have taken that one back. These days I pay a little more attention to the shape of their body and size of head and belly.
Chris

Same here ....... I can't understand regretting a deer I shot ........ but then again, I am a wall of shamer .... I have let deer go soooooooo many times, only to regret it later....

Dead is dead, you cannot recall an arrow or a bullet....sure you may have been HAPPIER with a bigger buck but my point is it's done, be proud, chuckle , and move on, the deer deserves that!!! I shot the wrong antelope this last october but you know, oh well there is always next time, he tasted good and I will always rememeber to look at them closer when laying prone and waiting for them to crest a hill, I saw buck, went boom sat up and then "oh crap" him me.....oh well.....nice failure if you will IMHO!

Adam

That buck got the same respect that I give any buck I kill. I spent the same two hours boiling that head, cleaning it up, cutting it properlyand making it a presentable looking euro mount (my style) that I've done with EVERY buckI've evertaken. They all help me remember that specifichunt!

We can shoot two bucks, so I wouldn't have sweated it.

I know that you wanted a bigger buck, but now you have learned your lesson. I bet you will have more patience this year.

I've learned the game of patience can prevail, as I had similar experience.
Last years hunt in Texas for my 40th b-day present from the wife....

1st morning hunt I saw a nice 8-pt. and thought if it were the last day I would probably take him, but I'm looking for a bigger Deer.
Probably saw 15-20 Deer (4 or 5 little bucks), then same thing that evening.
2nd morning hunt I had a skiddish Doe carefully walk passsed me and when I turn to see why, there was a big 10 point (135-140") Buck working the licking branch behind me.
I watched him through 2 trees for 10 minutes and couldn't get a clean shot and then he vanishied.
So I turn back around and another 10 minutes goes bye and the Doe get's chased bye me with the big 10 pt. following and then completely out of sight.
2 or 3 minutes go bye and I see this buck running on the edge of the wood line and proceed to get into position to shoot him.
He's running broadside at 70 yards and I bleat to get him to stop and he keeps motoring through, so I pop him in the last opening before he vanishes again.
As soon as that bullet hit his chest he changed his direction directly towards me, and at that point I realized that he wasn't the big 10 pointer.
It was the nice 8 from the 1st morning.
I chaulk that up as being inexperienced in a new hunt area, as NH doesn't have dozens of bucks running around to have that many choices, at least from what I've seen in NH.