Regret?
 

I was wondering if anyone else has ever regretted killing a certain deer, and why? Last year onOct 10,right at dark I saw this buck approach, and I thought his tines were much longer than they were, so I shot him.He ran maybe 20 yrds into the thicket and died. I waited maybe 15 mins then went and found him. It was a perfect double lunger, I was happy with that, but I wasn't happy with the size of his rack. I thought he was a good bit bigger than he really was![:@]
As soon as I saw him I said to myself, this is what you just gave up your whole Pabuck season/tag for. Honestly, I was mad as hell at myself for shooting this buck! It was only Oct 10th, and the rut was still 2-3 weeks away! I knew I'd see a much better onein the next two weeks without a doubt! It was a done deal though!! I was thinking of all the time I'd miss sitting in my stand waiting for a "good" buck to come by. But no, I was done buck hunting for the year already. I was honestly a bit depressedabout it. Lesson learned, the hard way!
Although I was proud of the bowkill itself, I learned acouple ofgood lessons from this. The main one being, don't judge a buckwhenyou haveless than proper light, morning or evening. It was a long deer season because of this![&o]
Anyway, do any of you guys have any similar regets as far as taking a deer you wish you didn't?

RE: Regret?
 

I can see where a seasoned hunter like yourself would feel that way, but hey...any deer with a bow is a success and a buck so much the better. I guess we're lucky here in MD that we can get 2 bucks so it may not have been so much of a disappointment.
Question: Did you see better bucks during the rest of the season? Anything you'd be satisfied with?

RE: Regret?
 

Back in 2006 I killed a button buck and I have regretted that. I would like to have that one back if I could.

RE: Regret?
 

Yes I regret shooting the 1st buck to come by for far too many years.It was such ahard habit to break.What was worst was passing on a buck, only to panic and shoot it the 2nd time around.[&:][:@]

RE: Regret?
 

Im not a trophy hunter, and I feel blessed with any deer. But I understand that for someone who has taken a lot of big deer, their priorities change down the road. Everyone is a different kind of hunter and thats ok

RE: Regret?
 

Yes, I saw a couple that were bigger (not what I really wanted), but I really didn't spend as much time in the woods as I would have if I was still waiting for a buck. I just put a little time in to get another doe.

RE: Regret?
 

Most of the books on your desk, are on my desk!

RE: Regret?
 

Even the 1973 edition of WHITETAIL (Fundamentalsand Fine Points for the Hunter) by George Mattis? That was one of my very first deer hunting books. It even has a sewn cover.;)

RE: Regret?
 

Yeh, I shot a 6 pt opening day at day break one year and not 1 hr later a 120-125" 8 pt came in at 40 yds and saw the 6 pt laying dead and he freaked out and took off!!

RE: Regret?
 

That and also another one of my favorites is that one you have there on Trout Fishing by Joe Brooks.

RE: Regret?
 

I'm sorry Bro. ButI can't understand your "regert". Haven't they put some sort of antler restriction on bucks up there in PA (from what I've read on here)? Your's passes, so why would you regret it? Anybody up ther in PA, woud you be dissapointed with that deer? I've never regrettedany deer I've ever killed. That's why I've killed them.

RE: Regret?
 

Yes they do have AR's, and yes, that buckmeets the State'sminimum requirements, it just doesn't meet mine.I don't generally shoot the first legal buck that walks in front of me. Especially that early in the season. That's OK isn't it?:D

RE: Regret?
 

Don't have that problem in Md. You can shoot one buck for every 2 does and you can shoot 10 does in most of the state , do the math:Dnowhere is less than 10 with a few spots that are unlimited. And we have big bucks too;).

RE: Regret?
 

So why pull the trigger? Really, I mean how are you going to determine the extra tine, or inch on the beam, the next time? You figured that out? I don't mean to bust your chops, but that's a nice deer. I can't understand somebody being dissapointed with that. Don't get sour on me, I just can't understand it.

RE: Regret?
 

David, I'm not getting sour on you, I just know I could have gotten a bigger buck had I been able to hunt the rut. For me it's all about the antlers, I'm not affraid to admit that. The buck in my avatar (not that he's big)is a tad bigger, and he has all of his points and browtines. I filmed him from the same stand two days later. He was literally 5 yrds away.I justregret killing that specificbuck so early in the season. I'm still proud of any of my bow kills though.;)

RE: Regret?
 

Not to speak for EI, but with bucks out there significantly bigger than that one, for me it is very easy to understand his pain. In many places that may be a nice deer, but evidently in his(and certainly in mine) that's not really anything to give a second look at.
He's just saying how low light conditions played with his eyes and he shota buck smaller than he wanted.

RE: Regret?
 

Thank you Ryan, you're right on the money with that.;)

RE: Regret?
 

Umm yeah, that's terrible.....

:eek:

RE: Regret?
 

Thanks for you understanding and patience fellas. I think I'm slow witted sometimes. I understand where your coming from, now. I dropped a nice 6 pointer up in Michigan years back. It was before stands were allowed (ground hunting), so as I walked over to gut it, Mr. Monster about busted me up running over me. I still think about wheather I should have waited, as I'd been scouting him for months. Blew it.

RE: Regret?
 

The day I get disapointed in the deer I shoot is the day I quit.
Disappointment is a negative emotion - I don't hunt hunt to experiance negatives.

Steve

RE: Regret?
 

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.

RE: Regret?
 

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

RE: Regret?
 

Cant say as I would regret him! Nice buck!

RE: Regret?
 

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

RE: Regret?
 

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

RE: Regret?
 

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....

RE: Regret?
 

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

RE: Regret?
 

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!:)

RE: Regret?
 

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.

RE: Regret?
 

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.

RE: Regret?
 

Ditto. I've said it before.....that I think this would be one of the things I hope I never experience (regret for killing one).

I have ONE regret RE: taking deer (or not). I had a spindly, sickly looking (I could see most of his ribs) 6 pointer in my woods in '07. He came by me one evening and I drew down on him. I stayed at full draw for a while....as he was only 6-7 yds. I let down.

I regret that to this day.

RE: Regret?
 

I had the feeling of regret happen to me once when I walked up to a buck that I had just shot. He wasn't as big as I had figured him to be. He still grossed 124+, but it wasn't what I was after. It took me all of 2 seconds to start feeling disgust at my attitude toward that buck. He was a dandy by most standards and I was the one that pulled the trigger. In the few seconds that it took for that buck to walk up and for me to shoot it, he still gave me the same amount of excitement that any of the bucks I've killed have given me. For me to feel regret at this one made me feel as though I was disrespecting him. From that moment on, I decided that no matter what deer shot, I would be happy with it. Since then, I've had no problems with any feelings of regret.

RE: Regret?
 

Two different regrets as far as deer I've killed.

First one was my second year bowhunting. I had already killed several deer with my bow and all were good clean kills with easy blood trails. As a matter of fact, this bowhunting was so easy, I was considering the recurve.lol

I took a marginal shot (slightly quartering towards) on a pretty nice buck. Afterall he was almost broadside and he was only about 10-12 yards out. Slam Dunk, right?

Well, I killed the deer but it took me 2 days to find him over a 1/4 of a mile away. Obviously, what meat the coyoyes didn't already devour was ruined. Do I have regrets? Absolutely, but I learned a valuable lesson on shot selection. Today, maybeI am too conservative on shot selection, but (knock on wood), I haven't lost or "late recovered" anymore deer.

Quite frankly, I find it amazing that someone would not have regrets when they kill but don't recover a deer in time for the meat to be consumed.

Second one was last year, and up to a point mirrors Greg's description.
The exception is that I still have regrets in taking this animal.

Why? Call it selfish or arrogant or whatever, but it is because he was not up to my standards as to what I was looking for. I had not seen this deer until the day I shot him and asI sized him up in the 2-3 seconds I had to make up my mind, I judged him to be bigger than he is. I regret not letting him grow another year and trying my chance at him this year.

I made such a post on this deer last year and was chastised for doing so. It was all about the "respect for the animal" thing. I don't quite connect my regret in the actions of "myself" as being disrepecftul for the deer.

To say that I am happy and have no regrets does not allow me to grow as a hunter and to hold myself accountable for the standard I have set for myself. Nothin to do with disrepect for that deer. He was still good eating. But I could have shot a spike or a doe to eat. Yep REGRET is the right word and I think the APPROPRIATE word. At least for me.

RE: Regret?
 

I regret the buck i shot this year, I was mis-lead by him though, there was a big buck in the area thats one side looked identical to the lesser buck in the area, well when the lesser buck came out I only saw the one side, so I drew and flung one, about 2 minutes later on the same trail the lesser buck had some out of,There stood the big buck I was after, I was instantly Dissapointed but I realized something I'm the only one who hunts here and he dosent leave here, HE'LL BE BIGGER NEXT YEAR:D:) With that said I DO regret shooting my buck from this past year but theres nothing I can do about it now. (except enjoy the backstraps)

Ryan.

RE: Regret?
 

I don't regret any Whitetail I've ever shot......... not yet anyways.........

Rob