Zaft shot a potential world record buck. The shot he took was at an unknown distance, on a deer that had slowed from trotting to a walk (I assume a fast walk). He hit the deer high and too far back ( paced off to right under 30 steps after the hit). We all know the story now, he lost the animal, it was found by a landowner the following evening and the rack was given back to him.

My question - can anyone fault Zaft for shooting at a walking/fast walking deer ? Would any of you shoot have shot at it ? What if it was a doe, would it have mattered ? I have shot deer with a compound as the start to step, but NEVER walking. The questions and answers on the quatering away topic made me think - is any shot better than no shot ? I mean, Zaft did NOT have a good shot IMO, yet he took it. Experience leads to not taking iffy shots, but a lot of people say "if you don't shoot, you aint going to kill anything".

Opinions ?

I had a shot at a 10 pt. I had scouted all summer in 1996. It was late Oct., and he was coming right at me along the fence row to check out the 6 point and does right next to me playing around. I drew back at about 50 yards as he steadily walked towards me on a pace that would bring about 25 yards to the north of me, at an angle from left to right. I held on his lung area and followed his slow walk to the other deer-45,40,35, and then he was behind a tree and I let down. The 6 point came to challange him and he stopped. The two bucks came together and pushed each other around-pretty exciting! Actually so exciting that when the shot presented itself at 25 yards I touched off the shot without even having the sight on the deer! Complete miss!

Here I had followed that buck for probably 20 seconds, calm, relaxed and in the crosshairs the entire way, but missed him because of a now-cured case of target panick.

I don't know, looking back I kind of wish I would have taken the shot when I had the chance the first time, but it just didn't feel right and I'd probably do the same thing again(maybe not the miss I hope!). Sometimes it's hard to tell what you'll do in the excitement of it all.

Jeff...U.P. of Michigan.

Shouldn't take iffy shots anytime. Now having said that I am going to get scorched for this one. I have shot more deer walking than standing still. I didn't plan it that way, it just worked out that way. NOT at a fast walk, but a slow slow meandering walk, um a no hurry walk. Deer are NOT as alert while at a slow walk as they would be standing still.

I have shot 2 bucks that were walking very, very slowly. I think that any shot IS NOT BETTER, than no shot. If you don`t have a good, ethical shot, you should hold off. Have I ever made a bad hit on a deer? You bet! Did it twice. But, in the last 40 deer that I have taken with a bow, I have not made even a marginally bad shot. Has my shooting ability improved in this time? NO! But my brain sure has. I will never forget what I had to go through on those two bad hits I made, nor will I forget what the deer must have gone through. Hey, it`s just my opinion, but I think we should all take only very high percentage shots. The ones we KNOW we can make, not the ones we THINK we can make.
As far as the Zaft buck goes, I don`t know the whole story, but it seems like a shot was forced that really should`nt have been taken. But, I don`t know for sure what really happened.

[Deleted by Admins]

To answer your question ,NO NEVER.If I would of come home when a kid and told my dad I took a bad shot and wounded the deer and cant find it.He would of beat my butt into the next state.

With my grizzly bear this spring I felt like the standing frontal shot that he offered me was a better alternative than to not shoot him at all. That was in the moment though, watching the video of it, the bear seemed more curious than aggressive, but his snapping jaws and stiff posture helped me make up my mind to get an arrow in him when he stood up. I felt it was then or never, or possibly worse.

Maybe Zaft felt that was his only chance at the buck. Hard to say and speculate what he was thinking, but I fully agree that iffy shots should be reconsidered. It takes some experience and self discipline to make the right shot in your situation.

<font color=red>ArcticBowMan</font id=red>

I don't expect anybody to watch my back, I don't care if others think I'm being harsh. My answer is HELL NO!
I've heard people say if you don't shoot you'll never kill anything. Yes thats true BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN IF YOU DON'T SHOOT THIS DEER YOU'LL NEVER GET ANOTHER CHANCE!
Sorry about yelling. You'll always have another chance at a better shot.
I hate Hail Mary shots, and the people who take them, they are not people who are concerned with quick humane kills. Some people might not feel this way, but on the same hand there are others who do.

Now that I'm through ranting, I apologize for yelling, again.

He realy had no shot at all. I let a monster 10 point go at 10 yards! It was raining, and he was standing in some brush. I probably could have gotten an arrow in him, but I wasn't going to take a chance. I know what he did, he shot and hoped he hit the the deer. He did, made a poor hit etc. I know this happens all the time, But that still doesn't make it right! How many more people have let potential monster deer walk becuase of a poor shot? I congratulate him on a fine buck, but condem him for making such a poor choice in his shot selection. The problem is now he is someone in the spotlite, and others will follow his lead, Heck if he can do it I know I can. Bad shots should never be taken.

TAKE YOUR KIDS HUNTING AND YOU WON'T BE HUNTING FOR YOUR KIDS

If you cant get a good shot off, then dont risk it. You will have more chances.

&quot;People who live in glass houses should not throw stones&quot;


AllenC