Caught up in the Kill.
 

Guys, I'm so upset with myself right now, it is not even funny.

Tonight was the opener here in MN. I went out, with the sole purpose of harvesting a doe. I ended up shooting a button buck. I have no idea what I was thinking. I thought it was a doe, I really did. It was legal shooting hours, but it was low light. I glassed and didn't see buttons, and I elected to shoot.

30 yards, and he went 10 yards and dropped.

I really have no idea what was going through my head. Yes I thought it was a doe, but it was low light, and I didn't make 10000% positive. I never should have shot.

I know they say "be proud of what you shoot", but I am not. I am proud that it was a quick, clean kill. I really truly am. But NOT the fact that I shot a button buck.

I went out tonight thinking I had to shoot a doe, I wanted to take a doe, and I thought I took a doe. I did not.

I will never again go out hunting thinking I HAVE to shoot something, just because it's what I'm there to do. I think I got caught up in the kill, and not the hunt. And usually I'm not one to do that, and I can tell you will never happen again.

I'm not even mad at the fact that it is horrible for our managment program (I have developed and put into place), at all, actually nevercrossed my mind until now. I'm mad that I let MYSELF down, not taking the time to be certain, and not thinking about what I was doing, HUNTING (not killing)

Sorry about the rant, I had to get it off my chest. I'm going to skin out my deer. I'll check back later.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Kyle .... lighten up! You are taking this too seriously, kiddo

Congrats on your deer!

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Every deer's a trophy, but I can see why you're upset.
But there's a man law violation:D

Congrats!

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

That is nothing to be ashamed of. It happens to the best of us. Most would not even have admitted the mistake. I give you props for that.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Congrats Kyle, Seriously... No Biggy, They make'em every year. I wouldnt be upset, just a mistake, Ive done it myself before. Now... wheres the pics?

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

been there to Kyle. it happens bud!!

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Don't beat yourself up. Sounds like you executed well, and you thought it was a doe right? Honest mistake.

Congrats on the deer:)

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Get over it, it's a deer.
You tried to do the right thing & check & it still didn't work out. Move on. The world will not end.
BTW congrats!

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

I agree with the others.

Congrats.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

I did that last year on my Wife's Uncles property... He didn't want to me to shoot a buck unless he was "deformed." The sun was setting and I thought a nice sized doe surprised me crossing the lane I was hunting. I looked up once it was clear, look up again and there "she" was... Pulled up my rifle and didn't see antlers, it's head was in some light twigs. I drew up looked, and fired a clean shot. When I tracked "her" I rolled "her" over to see the exit wound, out of curiosity since High Powers aren't legal in Indiana. When I went to roll "her" over her head stuck to the ground...Shot a dang spike...Upset with myself for taking a buck, and not sure how her uncle would react I was a little nervous... They just laughed at me and gave me hell about it the rest of the week.... That rack is hanging above my door into the house from the garage...lol

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

ME ---> <--- Kyle, Just Jokingwith youKyle, I did the same thing about 35 years ago, Wanted to put a doe in the freezer early for my mother. I bet it wont happen to you again.

Hay, are you done with the Bears for the year?

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

I'll take a different tact than the others so far... and say I think you made a great post.

I understand EXACTLY what feeling you're attempting to convey here, and I for one say "kudos" to you for your thought process. It's moments like this that go together to culminate into making you the bowhunter you'll end up with, possessing much wisdom, saavy and experience to draw from later.

Thanks for sharing.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

I think you are being too hard on yourself buddy. I respect how you feel and your management goals but "IT" happens.

Now go and enjoy those delicious, tender, moist backstraps!:D

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

I think Greg has some wise words in this situation.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Greg, thanks for that post. I maybe didn't convey, what youunderstood, thebest. But it was a heat of the moment post. I appreciate your response.

Thanks, I will get over it, eventually. But I hope it ALWAYS is in the back of my mind.

...and it would really suck if the world ended, I have more hunting to do. [8D]

PT, you know what...you prob made a correct assesment. But I get like that in everything I take passion in. Thanks pal!

Thanks a lot. And I agree, but you guys are my friends, you should know!

Another reason I'm upset. My family is out of town, with the camera. I should really buy one. It sucks. We're skinning it tomorrow, now. I'll post some up. My buddy has one.

LOL sliver, my buddies have been doing a good job of that already[&:]

But then again, most of them (actually all but one) REALLY understands what I'm saying/feeling. As for the bears, I'm not sure. I got a story I'll PM to you, or post later.


Thanks for the congrats, everyone. I will enjoy the meat, there is no doubting that.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Hey man...you may not have realized it was a small buck.


BUT you obviously did an AWESOME job on everything else, how many deer do you hear about that only make it ten yards after being shot with a bow?

Congrats Bud!

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Isay congrat's to you on a quick kill and getting some mighty fine table fare.Don't beat yourself up over it--it's a deer.The species won't go extinct because you shot a button buck.I've killed them already--some by misidentification and others I knew exactly what they were.And I'll probably tag more in the years I have left in the stand.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

I wouldn't worry too much about it Kyle. I'm sure most of us have done it. You did everything you could. Made an awesome and ethical shot and thats all that is asked for. Dropped in 10yds....... sounds like a ringer shot to me.;)
So it was a button buck. You'll get over it. Many of them don't make it in our winters and maybe this was going to be one of those didn't make it bucks. Who knows. Round here its a legal doe though:D
Congrats:):)

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Similar thing happened to me during a doe hunt. It was getting a little dark and I thought it was a doe. Tracked it down and turned out to be a one antlered spike. They are hard to see in low light.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

happened to me last year and came on here proud as can be that I took a clean harvest and got slammed. Kyle any ethical kill is a trophy and awesome experience. That deer will taste so good, I know mine did. Keep your chin up, it happens to everyone whether they'll admit it or not. CONGRATS on a good clean ethical kill.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Dont sweat it, itll taste the same...wash down a backstrap with a cold coors tomorrow and all your worries will go away.

But seriously, it would suck...I caught myself on a bb last October as I was literally squeezing the trigger on the release...it can happen to anyone.

Your herd wont notice the absence of one bb, its whiping out nearly all of them that does the damage.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Dang, forgot to add Congrats on a good clean Kill .

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

I've shot a button buck thinking it was a doe at least 3 times; if I had known it was a button buck I would have passed. Stuff like that happens. Appreciate what you got.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Who gives a rip dude?? I have done this more than once and I did it last year!! I have been doing this for almost 20 yrs and I make the mistake sometimes. You feel bad, but put it it in perspective, it's not going to take the world down!! Congrats and keep flinging arrows and try your best to identify buttons, if that's what you do and shoot deer!!

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Happened to me 2 years ago. Not a big thing man. You have meat in the freezer and probably still have a buck tag left. Don't sweat it. It could be worse. I missed a doe last night. pfft I'm still sick about that. It happens. Congrats on a first day kill. If it was really small buttons those can be hard to see I would have done the same thing.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Don't beat yourself up to bad. It happens and its part of the game! Congrats on your deer, you have some good eating too!

Hatchet Jack

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Great post Kyle. I once called in a button buck not long before legal shooting light in early season and I could have sworn it was a doe. I was also very upset.

You made a good, quick kill......congratulations!

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

I'd be shouting PRAISE GOD!! :)

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Eh... you're talking about the most allowable of all mistakes (only a mistake if you were dead set against shooting a button buck). A mistake like that is an honest one.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

I agree with PT. That's hunting Kyle, I've shot doe fawns that I thought were doe's. It didn't bother me the least! You've got a tag or 2 that you can fill yet. Redemption can be a good thing buddy!!!

Congratulation's on an awesome kill!! Good luck on that buck your going after.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

I was happy to see this in there....but agree witht he others. Don't sweat it.

I say the following ONLY as a suggestion to thers....and a question to you.

Was the deer alone? From what I've read and experienced, first hand....I think most times we see BB's traveling alone. EVERY time I see a lone deer.....I give it special attention in the binos. If I'm not 100% sure....I let it walk.

Things could be worse, my friend. You made a clean, perfectly ehtical kill. You can be proud of that.;)

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Like others have said, don't beat yourself up over it.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

It happens.. don't worry about it...
congrats on a fine shot and a quick kill.
He'll be good eatin!

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Hey, you did your best. Enjoy the deer. Don't get hung up on it. You have just gained experience that you can put to good use in the future.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Don't worry about it man, sometimes things like that happen. It won't affect your area in the least. Congrats and chalk it up to a lesson learned.

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Don't worry about it at all man. It's going to happen to all of us and me included.. just be proud of some nice and tender backstraps!

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

tenderloins on the bbq

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

Jeff, the deer WAS alone, and yet another reason I shouldn't have shot. If it was a doe, there is a great chance she'd have fawns with her. And most times, the fawns will beat a doe to a field, in my experiances.

Thanks for the congrats guys, and for sure a lesson learned. I hope it sticks with me, always. The meat will taste good, no way around that, already cooked the tenderloins:)

Now...I got bucks (with real antlers)on the mind:)

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

It's just too bad you have to turn a score of a 1/4" in for your team since we have to count first bucks around here...















:D:D:DJ/K!! LOL

RE: Caught up in the Kill.
 

LMAO.

Thank god I got to use my doe tag[&:]

His nuts were bigger than his buttons.