Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Hey All. I'm sitting here in my office at work and just had my recurring daydream of a huge buck that I missed three seasons ago. It was in early November and I was on stand before daylight. Shortly after daybreak I got a glimpse of a doe cruising through just on the outskirts of my field of view. Not too far behind her was a MASSIVE 10 point typical. It was exciting to see, but I was a little bummed that he was so far away. Now I'm second-guessing my stand placement. Well, lo and behold, a minute or two later here comes the doe wandering back in my direction with the big boy lingering about 30 yards behind her. Over the course of about three minutes the big boy gradually approached a shooting lane that I had ranged at 32 yards. I drew back just as he stepped into the lane, and I whisteled softly to halt him. He stopped. I settled my pin behind his shoulder and calmly released what I was certain to be a fatal shot..... Like fish in a barrel, right?[&:]

At the sound of the shot the buck ducked slightly. I saw my green nock flip up into the air right in front of me as I watched the arrow fly harmlessly, immediately over the deer's back. I was utterly SHOCKED! How could I blow that one? Well, the buck took about three quick strides and then stopped. I thought I may get another chance, but he melted off into the thick before I had the chance.

As it turns out, the range was actually 18 yards. I had mixed up my range finder readings and ended up 14 yards long on my sight setting. That, combined with a minor string-jump by the buck, as well as whatever happened with my nock (?), led to an event that has haunted me off and on for three years now. I can still see him clearly in my mind. About a 160" class, perfectly symmetrical and extremely heavy 10 pointer. It was a gimme, and I BLEW IT![&o] That memory is so very bitter-sweet. It was an amazing experience that I'm glad to have had. It's a feeling that's hard to explain. A non-hunter would not understand why I sit here now three years later, mind wandering, about a some deer in the woods. Ya just had to be there.

Anyone else ever haunted by a similar exprience?

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

About 5 years ago I shot a very large 8pt. 20 yd quartering away gimme shot and I blew it, gut shot him. To make a long story short, I jumped in his bed about 100yds from the shot and never saw him again. After 5 days of searching I gave up.

That deer honestly haunted me daily for 2-3 years.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Over 10 yrs ago - monster 10 - 160 class - 10 yrds - full draw for over a minute - never took that one extra step.

Think about him all the time - and all the good times we missed.

I still hunt that stand once or twice a year - just in case he will return.

I don't care if he is so old he is wearing diapers - I want him:D

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

I am not much of a living in the past type of guy but yes I have had a couple of encounters the still leave me feeling sick at my stomach[:'(]

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Wow......you gys make me happy that my "nightmare" didn't include an actual shot at the deer.

Two seasons ago I played hookie from work on a Thursday during the peak of the rut. I set up the Tree Lounge overlooking a very heavy and consistent scrape line I had found the previous Saturday. Around 9AM I see legs trotting towards me from under a rhododendron off to my left. I stood up, got the bow ready and watched as the biggest deer I had ever seen stuck his head and vitals out from under the bush.

[:-][:-][:-][:-]

I'm not sure how many points this thing had for sure, but the sun hit his right antler just right and I counted seven tall, faceted points. He stood there, about 20 yards away, for about two minutes (seemed like two hours), and got progressively more nervous. My problem was a sassafras tree that "conveniently" spread its branches right in line with his vital zone and this boy knew something wasn't quite right.

I'm just about ready to destroy my pants when a small swirly wind hit me from right quarter. This deer jumped back on his hind legs like he'd been slapped in the face and took off up the mountian...........I'd been busted.[:o]

I "got sick" that Friday too and went back up there 2 hours before dark. He came by in the darkness chasing a doe out of bow range and that was the last I saw of him.

I get sick when I think of what could have been, but at the same time I'm just happy I was there.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

4 years ago I was set-up 18 feet in a tree on publis land and at about 9:30 a.m. I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and looked se see a a 17-18 inch wide 10 point working his way up a small break to my right. Well I got my Knight & Hale E Z Grunter out and blew it a few times and buck stopped and immediately turned in my direction. Well he was still 50-60 yards away. The buck took a few steps toward me and hung up. I gave a feww more grunts and his ears perked up again. Well I think that if I would have put the grunt call down then he would have come on in but like a dork I blow it 3-4 more times and that was all that he needed to convince him that something wasn't right and he turned and headed on up the break and out of my life.[&o] That was definately a lesson learned.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Every day I think about that buck. He was a monster. I have to take my eye glasses off to look through my binocs. I saw him sat down my binocs to grab my glasses and my gun. Dropped my glasses on the ground and by the time I got them on my face and got my gun up all I saw was the hind quarter of a buck behind a tree. I was so close to shooting him in the booty but I figured I would see him again. That was 11 years ago and I still havent see him again.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

OK. Here's another one.

It was 1997. I was a freshman in college and I had only two morning classes on Friday, so the afternoon was wide open. It was late October and amazingly windy. My gramps had given me an old set of 10 point sheds a while back, and I decided that day that I'd try rattling for the first time. I got out on stand at about 2:30PM, and clashed the horns as soon as I was set. I rattled for about 45 seconds or so, hitting the horns really hard to force the sound over the roar of the wind. Three minutes later I turned to my right to see what is, to this day, the most amazing buck I have seen on the hoof. It was a non-typical that had points sticking everywhere. If I had to guess, I'd say he had at least 25 points. Also, if I have ever seen a 300 LB deer in the wild, this was it. He was walking briskly and was already past any available openings before I had a chance to react. He stopped about 25 yards out, but all vitals were obstructed. He stood still for about three minutes as I studied him. He was clearly looking for the source of the fighting noise, and I stood there in my treestand in disbelief of the effectiveness of the rattling. After an eternity, the buck turned and headed back in the direction he came. I was ready at full draw as he neared my shooting lane, broadside at 20 yards (chip-shot, right?). I whistled as he entered, but he took an extra three steps before stopping. The path to his chest was obstructed by one small vine, which I was sure I could avoid. I settled and released. The arrow nicked the vine and skipped just over his back. Clean miss..... Once again, like fish in a barrel.[&o]

He was definitely a Booner. Straight off the wall of a Cabela's store... Haunting.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

The year was 2000 ..... Kansas whitetail hunting. I watched a 160 class 10 pointer for over 2 hours in a thicket 40 yards away. At dark, he came in on a scrape line and was at one point 25 yards, quartering to me. I knew I'd get a better shot and waited .... and a frisky doe ran through and back into the thicket he went. [:o]

In retrospect, I should have punched that bad boy through both lungs - I knew I could make the shot but madea critical error and hesitated. I looked a gift fish in the mouth and didn't take it - lesson learned on the larget whitetail I've ever had within shooting distance

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

I guess that is why they say take the first good shoot your are given.......... Don't wait for the perfect shot, it won't come............

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

I do have a couple of wounded buck that were never found, those haunt me every time I pull my bow back or raise my rifle, doing my best to make sure it doesn't happen again.
As for bucks that I saw but never got a shot at... I figure I'm just lucky to see them and that makes me happy enough.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

This is what kills me about some of the hunting videos. They wait for friggin' EVER to take a shot. I realize that a video full of 10 second hunts wouldn't be very entertaining, but usually I'm screaming SHOOT, SHOOT! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, WRITTEN PERMISSION?! Don't get me wrong. I love watching the videos.;)

For me, I always take the first good shot that I'm prepared for. Second chances are rare. Make good when the gettin' is good.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

I am always telling my wife that I hope the guy doesn't get the shot just for waiting like that. I figure it serves them right. I personally take the first good shot that I can get. All that waiting has ever got me is bad memories[:'(][:@]

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Here is my worst(or best) of many.

I had only BH for 2 years when this happened. I'm sitting in my stand when a doe being chased by a 110" or so 8 pointer comes running down the hill towards me. They do circles underneathe my tree. I drew back, and every time they would come to the front side I would whistle. Well the whistle wasn't working, so I started meeping, louder and louder. No reaction, and they run off. This whole episode lasted about 2 min. Well, I let down my bow, sit down, and look up. There the whole time watching was the biggest buck I've ever seen in the woods. He knew exactly where I was at thanks to all the noise I made. He turned and jogged away. I'm for sure he would've came by my stand if I hadn't been noisy. My dad shot him that afternoon. He grossed 190" and netted 171".
Every deer season since I can still picture all of this.

good thread.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Year 2000, hunted a specific deer the year before and my brother missed a shot on him. I set up on him November 20th at daylight. I felt strongly he'd be back in there breeding those does he had the year before. 9:30 a.m. I see a doe moving toward me. I look behind her and there he is. I am thinking you got to be kidding me. He's back same day as last year, same area, on the same doe group, were my brother had shot over him.

He and the doe work by me at about 70 yards. I sit patiently in my stand, bow in hand. I decide I will not call at him. He right on her and I know her travel routes. She always seemed to feed up out of this thicket in the evening so I plan on hunting my stand close to where I see these two deer go into the thicket.

1 hour after seeing these deer go into the thicket I hear a 4 wheeler come up from below. It's rifle season and I am hunting with my "bow." He'd have been a dead deer walking if I had chosen the rifle. I pray this guy coming up from below doesn't spook these deer out of this thicket. I hear the 4 wheeler stop. I hear a shot about 250 yards below me. I cringe. I later hear the 4 wheeler leave the woods about 1 hour after the shot. I figure he whacked a doe.

I stay another 2 hours and leave my stand. I get home and my neighbor has a huge smile on his face. He says, I just shot the biggest buck I have ever killed! My heart sank. I ask him if he was who I heard on the the 4 wheeler. He says yup! I go look at the deer. Sure enough the big heavy dark antlered 4x5 is hanging there in his shop. I don't say a word to him about knowing his buck pretty well. I congradulate him on a fine animal and go home. I didn't want to hunt for a few days, I couldnt believe how that affected me. Then realized this is public land and I could do nothing about it but go find another buck to hunt. I later scored the buck for the guy. It grossed 151 and netted 146 typical.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Oh yeah. It was about four years ago. Was in Central Illinois hunting iwth a friend and had my video camera with me. Had deer out early. Was only in stand for about 20 minutes. Had about 15 does all around me, when I spotted bone in the brush off to my right. He was about 60 yards away. Big mainframe 10. Well, he was very calm and relaxed just watching does. Got him on Camera for about 15 minutes. Then he dissappered. About 20 minutes later I heard a noise but coudln't find it. Then I looked down and there wa sa doe right under me. No idea how she got there. Well, she got nervous and went back up a draw. She froze midstep, and was looking at soemthing I couyldn't see. Then a bush to her right starting shaking and he stepped out again. She ran and he chased. I got more video of him chasin her around. I was going crazy. Well, the doe wrnt to the other side of me, and he follwed. She htio a trail and started walking towards me. Thought she was going to draw him in. Well another doe came out and they went the other way. Great experince. Well, two days later I went tot he same stand for a morning hunt. I kept looking left in hopes of seeing him. It was gettign later in the moring, was kinda giving up hope, when I looked rigth and bam...there he was. Started shaking like crazy. I knew how big he was now because I was able to look at the video. He was just messing around with some fallen down limbs. He was very relaxed when he started on a path leading right to me. He would have crossed in front of me at 15 yards. Well, at about 45 yards a CROW started going crazy. He stiffened up and went on alert. Turned around and went back into the draw. Watched that deer on two different occasion for a combined hour and never got shot. Got plenty of shakes though! Fun stuff and great video.

We we looked at the video he was a monster main frame ten with two kickers of his right side and a kicker off his left brow. Mass like a baseball bat. Estimated him in the high 180's. My friend has him on game camera and video the follwoing year. Same kickers, mor tine legth and more spread. Close to 200". He hasn't seen him since.

J

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

The only deer that haunts me is the buck I lost on opening day about 6 years ago. It was good shot placement, lots of bolld for about 100 yards then nothing. The buck did a total disappearing act. I serched for more than a week to no avail.

I've never been haunted by a deer I missed or didn't get a shot at. That is part of the game, Some times you win, some time the animal wins. That is why I love this sport so much:)

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Another thing I often wonder when thinking about my missed opportunities is what the ultimate fate of each deer was. Did someone else stick 'em? How big was he, really? How does he look hanging on someone else's wall [:@]? Did someone else miss him earlier in his life which allowed my opportunity? I works both ways, I suppose.

The statement about the crow stirred my memory of a mulie hunt in Colorado about 5 years ago. I was creeping along through some rough country and came to the edge of a small meadow. I slowly panned the far edge through my binos and just about had a heart attack. There, bedded just inside the far edge, was a magnificent 5X5. My mind raced 1000 MPH as I formulated a plan to put a leak in him. I watched as he stood up and slowly began feeding his way up the far slope about 100 yards away. I snuck around the meadow and took a path parallel to his as I knew there was an opening up above that he was headed for. I made it to that opening without making a SINGLE sound. I remember literally feeling proud that I had made such a stealthy stalk and that surly I would get my chance. I knelt and waited for about 5 minutes when suddenly a bluejay-looking bird swooped in and landed about 10 feet from me. He immediately spotted me and began this hideous sqauking that was amazingly loud for such a small animal. In no time at all, there was at least 1/2 dozen others that showed up and joined in the chorus.

To this day, I am convinced that, had it not been for the feathered ensemble, I would have killed that buck. He was huge. Would have scored at least 700" B&C! AT LEAST.

Anyway, I could go on all day long. I'm 26 years old and have more stories of this nature to tell than most people twice my age. Sometimes I wonder if I really just suck that bad. But then a smile will come over me when I think of all of my stories that admittedly may seem far fetched, but are true as can be. Maybe I've been luckier than at first thought. Blessed is more like it.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Why was this brought up? Arghh, the memories. Thanks to you I will have to go back for counseling.[:o];)

In 1999 I had passed up a nice 10 pt. and saw him 2 other times. He was a 125-130 class buck. I just knew I he would be around the next season and be much bigger. He looked to be a 3 1/2 yr. old deer. In 2000, here he came, had to be the same buck(at least I think it was). I watched him too long as he crept along the edge of the cornfield and finally entered the woods. Slowly he would look around, then stop and sniff. At 12 yards he finally presented a brush free shot but as he looked up at me(yes he did), I became plumb stupid, got mesmerised by his rack, and did not focus my pin on him. I shot over his back!!!!! Off he trotted, then slowed to a walk looking like the monarch he was..... 150-160 class. Looking back on it I had the feeling I had placed my stand in the wrong tree and in the wrong location.[:@]

2 weeks later a young guy shot him a 1/2 mile away in shotgun season while he was chasing does, his first big buck, then got him mounted. Good for him.

I've got another story from years back I could tell, but right now I need to take some aspirin.[&:]

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Well I kind of have 2 stories in back to back years. This was back in 1990. I set up in early November about 2:30. I wasn’t in the stand for more then about 15 minutes and here comes a buck.:D He had points all over his head but the size really wasn’t that big. Just lots of little points. I have never seen anything like it since. He comes by trotting and I am following him with the site. Well he stopped about 15 yards out and I guess my bow just hadn’t caught up to him. I think I ended up gut shooting him.[:@] I never saw where my arrow went (remember this for the next story) so I do not know. Anyway I tracked him on to the neighbors property. I asked for permission to go look for him and was told “NO”.[:@] Well that got me upset so I called a buddy of mine who was in law enforcement. I told him to come out and tell this guy to let me go get my deer. He informed me that all he would be able to do is tell me that I couldn’t go on the property. I guess in WI, at least back then, you don’t have to let someone on your property even if they have a blood trail from property they have permission to be on. It is the right thing to do but the law is on the land owners side and if he says no then you are screwed.[:o]

Well I quit hunting for the rest of that year. Then the next year I have a nice (but not huge) 8 point about 15 yards out again. I take my time and to make sure I see where the arrow goes I figure I will drop the bow out of the way as soon as I fire. Yeah you know what happened. I buried that arrow at his feet. He just walked out of my life laughing at me.:(

After those 2 years I figured maybe I shouldn’t be bow hunting. My son was 3 and daughter was 1. My son wanted to go with me more so I started to hunt ducks and geese. Just got back to bow hunting 2 years ago.:D Can’t believe I ever quit. I sure won’t make that mistake again.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

I have a story about the one that I wish would have gotten away alive and well. I remember Oct 10 1990 like it was yesterday. I was 16 at the time. I was excited because my father allowed me for the first time, to invite my friends Danny and Casey (2 brothers and my best friends) along for the elk hunt. I was not succesful in the archery hunt, Oct 10 was opening day of general rifle bull elk. We set up camp on the 8th, and we had a day to scout before opening morning. We foung several heard of elk in the general area. It was decided by my father that we should split up in three groups. My mother, sister and brother in one group. My Dad and Casey in one group. And Danny and I together. Danny and I decided to hike in the furthest. We woke up a 3:00 an started hiking in the dark. At daylight we spoted a samll heard of elk with a raghorn bull. We couldn't get in range in time before they disapeared. Two hours or so later, we were in range (200 yards) of a lone 6 point bull. Just as we were about to shoot a voley of shots rang out, above and behind us, killing the bull. Turns out a group of six hunters on horses, also spotted the bull and all six started shooting. They were about 500 yards away. Danny and I were angry and depressed. To top it off it was starting to snow hard, making it impossible to see. We decided to try to wait out the storm on the edge of a very steep and narrow canyon 200-300 yards accross. After a early lunch and a little nap next to a blazing fire. We were talking and debating our options. It was letting up and we could start to see accross the canyon. As I was looking I saw a cow elk steep into a opening. We quickly put out the fire and gathered our gear and Rifles. We moved to where we could have a better look. After about a half an hour we could find 4 elk all cows. I was getting restless, and stood up ready to go. Starting to walk away, I saw a fith animal stand up from its bed. It to looked like a cow, but a closer look through my scope revealed it was a small spike bull. I told Danny it was a bull and he needed to shoot. He shot first then I shot (resting) and Danny fired again right after me. We saw the elk hit the ground and slide down the mountian. At the same time I saw Elk running everywhere. I saw three big bulls and was trying to get a shot at one of them. I couldn't get a clear shot so I didn't shoot. But we ere excited because we had a elk on the ground or so we thought. After crossing the canyon to the other side we found where the elk had hit the ground and slid down the mountian. He slid into some thick trees and he got back on his feet and was up and running. We lost his tracks in other elk tracks and we could find no blood except where he had slid down the mountian. We looked for him all day with no luck. We went to camp in the dark and brought back my father and brothers to search for him the next day. By late afternoon my Dad said we had tried our best, and we wouldn't find him. I was so sick with worry, that I didn't hunt for 2 days. Danny and I each killed small bulls later on in the trip, but I couldnt stop thinking about that Spike. To this day it is the only elk I have lost. Before each bowhunt I promise myself that It will never happed again, That I will do my best to kill, and retieve each animal that I pursue.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Every day I think about the big one I missed last year in early November. Thinking what could I have done differently to end up with big guy on my wall. He came in from behind me at about 15 yards, flung an arrow his way. Hit a very small branch off a sapling which caused the arrow to go a little high...completely missed him. I just shake my head everytime I think about it.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Wow, If you do not know the difference between 18 and 32 yards I must question what a gimme is!;)

I do not mean you should look at a distance and know the exact yardage but damn thats a 14 yard difference.:eek:

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Alright, I have another one. Yeah, the list goes on...[&o]

Exactly one week after missing the big non-typ that I told about earlier, I had yet another encounter that leaves me miffed, to this very day. Same scenario, same stand, different buck. It was Friday afternoon, now after the first of November. The galing winds from the prior week had subsided, but the cold temperatures remained. This was the first opportunity that I had to hunt since my blunder the prior week, and I was pumped to try rattling again. I was on stand by 2PM and did not have a response to my first rattling sequence. Around 3PM I heard some rustling off to my right coming from along the edge of a pond about 75 yards away. I soon saw the tips of some very long tines extending from the thick underbrush as a beautiful 10 pointer made its way down the path along the shoreline. I knew that the path he was on would only lead him out of range to the adjacent oak ridge, so I gave a couple quick grunts from my tube. No response. A couple more grunts. Still absolutely no reaction to the call. At this point I was desparate to get his attention. I knew he would soon disappear as he seemed intent on staying his course. So, as a last ditch effort, I grabbed the ol' rattlin' horns and lightly tickled them together. As if I had just jerked the leash on his collar, the buck whirled and made a beeline right for me. I was so suprised that I nearly dropped the horns. I quickly stashed them to the side and grabbed my bow. He hit the old overgrown 4-wheeler path and followed it, which would lead him right into an opening that I had cut in the brush ealier that afternoon to provide a 20 yard, broadside, "open" shot. He neared the opening and I gave an early whistle. I was not going to let another bruiser pass up an opening and sqaunder another opportunity. It worked perfectly as he stopped exactly in the opening. I was already at full draw, and I settled the pin behind his shoulder and touched off the shot. The arrow was right on path until it just barely whisped a tiny twig about half way to the target. It ruffled the hair on the big buck's back, and he exploded off into the woods.

I was sick. Two wall hangers, two twigs, one week, empty-handed. I learned an important lesson from this. I am now EXTREMELY thourough in clearing my shooting lanes. Not necessarily wide lanes, just absolutely clear off obstructions. One single twig can be the difference between a trophy on the wall and tag soup.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

":eek:" is right! I felt pretty stupid after that mistake. It's obvious in hindsight. Not so obvious when the buck of a lifetime is standing there, wide open, begging to be shot.[&o]

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

I am starting my 48th year of Bowhunting Biggame & can relate to MANY of those missed chances at a TROPHY. I chalk it up to experience & that it was not to be. If I had successfully taken every trophy animal I have released an arrow at I would be sought after by all the Bowhunting Mags. ect. As it is, I am just another Bowhunter & have no regrets. I have 2 very respectable P&Y Bears but one I missed was taken a week later with a rifle that makes them look like babies. I missed a tremendous Caribou but have a P&Y 50" Bull on my wall, I have 4 very excellent whitetails but have missed more P&Y & a couple B&C Bucks than most ever see in a lifetime-I missed a 160 this season-wide open-shot him for 30 yds. & was 32 & watched the arrow pass "JUST" under his front leg. I have taken 12 Mule deer & 1 nice Buck but know I have missed over a dozen B&C Bucks with my Bow. I know of 1 Bull Elk that might have made me famouse (I really don't need that) but my arrow was just a little to low.
I don't let the experiences haunt me. I just say, it was not ment to be. I have tons of GREAT experiences & that is waht it is all about. Sure, we all want that animal that will be considered TROPHY material & i think mostly for self satisfaction that we managed to outwit an animal of that caliber on his turf. As far as my misses go-am I a bad shot, do I get flustered on a Trophy class animal. No, I don't think so as my hunting record will attest to my success & as far as a lousy shot, I have posted my share of perfect indoor, outdoor rounds. I just think we must do our best & what happens is ment to be-of course we can help that some in being a good Bowhunter & know our limits. Good luck to all this fall & the big boys better be careful this year-I am not missing anymore (you think?)

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

o man o man. imagine a greenhorn bowhunter. his first year bowhunting, but has previous experience gun hunting. only in 8th grade he gets his first bow (that he has yet to this day). after "missing" a doe the hunter is determined he will get a deer. the doe miss wasnt really a miss. he didnt have the release on right and ended up quick firing into the ground. anyways. he was in his brand new climbing stand. his first time hunting in it. it is mid-late october. he gets settled in, and after sitting for 1 1/2 he glances and sees it is 4:30. at that moment he realizes there are deer legs 30 yds in front of him. he sees some white antlers over the deers back, the buck is working a scrape. then the buck stops and starts heading strait for the bowhunter. the buck walks five yds in front of the tree and there is no shooting lanes. he turns and gets to about 20 yds and the boy draws his bow and settles the pin behind the shoulder. CLICK! he pulls the releases trigger and watches the arrow go right underneath and behind the shoulder. CLEAN MISS!! arrow is stickin out of the ground and as the big 9 point turns and runs he snaps the arrow. the buck is never seen again.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

that was me two years ago in my first year of bowhunting. im still kind of a greenhorn to it. but isnt everyone? always learning something new. yeah that hunt haunted me. but i am kind of glad i did miss him. better than wounding him and i learned to bend at the hips, not your arms. i would have been very full of myself had i got that buck. that is one of the hunts that haunts me.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

WHY did I start reading this thread....

2 yrs ago my second year of bowhunting, Im in a small field less than a 150 yds from my house. Got a treestand about 17 feet up overlooking the field which isnt but about 30 yds wide at the most by about 80 yds long. Just rained pretty good the night before and the creek behind me is running kinda swift and noisily and Im thinking to myself (outloud in my head) aint no deer gonna be coming across that creek with all the rainwater running in it. AS SOON as I think that ,I glance to my right and see a deer with horns crossing the creek. Holy crap, its not the biggest deer Ive ever seen but it will be the biggest one Ive ever taken with a bow. I reach up and grab my bow from the easy hanger where its been hanging since taking my stand at around 3 pm that afternoon, Arrows already nocked and Im cool altho My hearts beating somewhat faster than it was 20 seconds before.

I take another look for the deer and see him standing behind some brush and laurel just on the very edge of the field, just standing there not moving, as if hes just checking things out to make sure everythings cool before he moves out into the open. Musta been ok to him cause he just eases out as pretty as you please without a problem in the world or so he thinks.

(Now long before I had placed some big rocks at 20 and 30 and 40 yards( the 40 yd rocks were back into the woods on the other side of the field) just so I know exactly what my yardages were. )

So anyway Mr Deer and his horns( which I had totally elimimnated from my mind) just as cool as can be, walked out and moving slowly dropped his head to feed some. NOW COMES THE PART WHERE I CAN STILL CUSS TO THIS DAY -I had those darn rocks there and I knew the yardage. I saw the 20 yd rock and I knew the deer was beyond the 20 yd rock, maybe 25/27 yds. WHY IN THE SAM H%$&^^ did i ever put my 20 yd pin on his rib cage i will never know. The very next sound I heard after releaseing my arrow was a loud sharp crack as my carbon arrow exploded into a hundred pieces after hitting another rock that was buried in the soil of the back field.

I couldnt believe it as the deer just barely jumped and slowly walked the other few yds across the field and into the woods, angling off to the left and uphill while turning back at least 2 times to stop and look and try and figure out what kind of a creature was spewing forth such horrendous profanity from a tree that had never uttered a sound before.

He did stop just one more time about 100 yds away and looked back again just before he went over the crest of the hill, only this time it was quiet from the tree, as my heart was in the bottom of my boots.

Oh yah the time of 5:15 pm always gets me down- thats the time I took the shot.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

OK, this is why they call me the buttonbuckmaster. Because those are they only deer that hang around long enough for me to shoot.
Any way, this was in 2000, and a gun hunt , not a bow hunt, sorry but that is the way it happened. Last day of the Illinois shotgun season and my dad, my best buddy, and I are setting up a drive on a small patch of timber that always has a few does and maybe a small buck from time to time, but never anything big. Dad and I go the south end and start the drive and my buddy is blocking the north end. Dad is unarmed, he already killed out. We spread out about 50 yards apart and I head to a blow down just in the timber where the deer bed alot. As I get closer, I see something that looks like a deer bedded down with a HUGE rack......looking right at me. It was sunny and alot of glare that day, so I thought, this can't be a big buck just looking at me. I walk closer, still unsure, and I see it move its head to look in dads direction, and IT WAS HUGE.I'm thinking he's a big typical 10 or 11 point, score near 165-170. ( Lot on my mind at that time, going through a nasty divorce) So I think maybe my luck is going to change for the better. Now is when it gets good. I stop take aim, already thing how great he is going to look on my wall, and fire. This buck jumps up and spins through the nastiest brush I have ever seen and nearly runs over my dad, who is unarmed. My dad said " I think you hit him good, he's running towards Jason shaking his head and stumbling!" I walk over to where he got up and guess what I found???? I 9 1/2 inch chunk off of his left g 2!!!!! That's right , I hit him in the rack!!! My buddy got one shot, dropped him like a bad habit. Turns out to be a 14 point that scored 173 and some change. Oh, did I mention that when I shot, he was 20 yards from me....laying down looking at me!!! I will never live that down. My buddy did let me keep the the g2 as a remimder of how lucky I am. The taxidermist mearured the broken piece that I kept and fixed it very nicely. Sometimes you just can't win.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Uh... are we talkin deer here or dear????? ;) There are a few I wish hadn't gotten away (dear) and that tends to haunt me a little. LOL

Missed a 140 class beauty a few years back, on public land. I lost feeling in my legs and actually almost cried when I missed him. I sat on the platform of my stand with my head in my hands for 10 minutes after I messed that shot up. It still replays in my head every day at some point. However, I have to say, I guess that is part of hunting and missing or blowing opportunities keeps me coming back for more each and every year just as much as watching my fletchings pass through the boiler room. :) TGK

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

One morning I sat in my stand till about 11:00am and never seen a hair all morning .I decided it was time to go home and get something to eat ,as I got out of my stand and started towards the field I had to duck under a branch .As I ducked under the hanging branch I looked up and directly behind my treestand a nice 8point buck was standing looking straight at me .I froze and lifted my rifle in an almost impossible position thinking that this buck is gonna make a break for it ,but he just stood there looking at me I lifted my rifle thinking that I couldn't believe that this buck was gonna let me take a shot at him ,but I was unable to stand up ,if I was gonna get a shot I was gonna have to take it in this awkward position .I shouldered the rifle and took a bead on him and sqeezed the trigger and shot ,all I could see was dirt flying up from undernieth his chest and he was gone ,this was a beautiful buck and I had blew it ,if I only had sat in my stand for another 5 minutes he would have been standing directly beside me . My bullet deflected off a small branch in between us .I think of this almost all the time I think of going hunting so I know how you feel .Ialso think of other misses as well and i think this help's us in the long run and teach's us not to make these silly little mistakes that we all make from time to time.

nubo

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Since there seems to be quite a few new members of the board (and I'm quite bored myself) I thought I'd bring this one back up to see if anyone has a new story to tell. Let's hear 'em!

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

I guarantee this is the most heaartbreaking one yet...

My grandpa bought 80 acres in western wisonsin about 6 years ago, it is hilly agricultural land with smallish 40-50 acre woodlots scattered everywhere. It just looks like big buck country. Well 3 years ago, we had heard of this big buck (close to 170") with really white antlers called snowflake... Well, my grandpa had only seen him once while hunting, he was hunting this thick draw between 2 cornfields, and a neighbor hunting several hundred yards away rattled the deer to within 150 yards, but never saw him in the dark. When he got off his stand the deer came trotting, too fast for a shot, past my grandpa. He said it was the biggest deer hes ever seen in person, and hes been hunting for a long time. Two weeks later, on the night before the gun season, we saw the buck about a half mile away in a cornfield. Fast forward to Sunday, the second day of the season, my grandpa takes me for a quick walk to the far end of our property, which is a thick drainage ditch, COVERED with big buck sign, smallish trees just destroyed, and bigger ones torn up. Well, the neighbor had been still hunting this draw in the morning and came across the buck. He was dead, but not from a gunshot wound. While rubbing a tree, his antler became entangled in barbed wire from an old farm fence. The deer could not escape, and I felt horrible looking at him dead there. His hind legs were practically underground he had been franticaally kicking to try to break free. The one that got away, but not due to our own mistakes.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Did you keep the rack? Any pics?

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

The neighbor mounted the rack, and fence post, and fencing in his house, however I dont have any pics.

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Well you now have an assignment for the weekend. [8D];)

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

Early one oct-morning 2001 I was sitting along a small creek that had was flooded due to all the rain we had that yr. I had not been there 15min when i looked up this hardwood ridge about75 yrds. and this 150-160 class i think maby a ten or more points was walking down the hill in my my dirrection. When he stoped about half way down and turned and walked back up over the hill i did not know why he did that? Know more the 20 min went by when i just happen to look down and there he was almost directly under me.I did not here him comming, one becouse the ground was so wet and the creek was making so much noise rushing over the rocks. I drew back and as i was an anchoring to make the shoot the buck stoped in his tracks and for a split second i could not move then he turned all in one motion and slashed back the way he came. I never so that buck again. but every time i sit in that stand it haunt`s me to this day!

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

If I blow a shot that's my fault , not the deer's .
No , I just smile and say "Next time , next time ..."
This happened to me on a muzzleloader hunt 2 years ago , and I missed because I got cocky , but I don't lose any sleep over it .

RE: Ever feel haunted by the one that got away?
 

I can't say that I am haunted by the monster that walked away. I remember him vividly and am glad that I was there to see such a magnificent animal. A morning hunt on a ridge where I'd taken a nice buck the year before. Daylight not quite, and a shadow is moving slowly 45 yards to my right. A buck, for certain, grunting. I grunt back and he bullies up a small white oak. 20 minutes it takes to get him within range, just soft calls every so often to maintain his interest. Daylight is here and so is the buck, 25 yards from my tree. I can see him well now, learning that his massive body sports a crown of only 5 points! I smile at him, he has no clue I'm there, among the limbs above. I hear the leaves crunch behind me, getting closer. I can't see that way without turning and figure I'll spook the 5 pointer. A doe I figure... coming to see Mr. 5 point. Ahhh, but Mr. 5 point has hair that bristles on his back and a head that cants to one side in aggression. I look down between the rungs of my climber and see him. Ground zero he stands, massive in every way... 11 points that look like spears and every inch a 20 plus vacancy between. Looking down has been my mistake, as he knows now I'm there. He doesn't know that I'm a hunter, but he knows I'm not supposed to be there. He turns and walks away the same path he came. I watch him go, ranging him to 52 yards when he stops to look back. I have not made a sound and I will not draw my bow. I've had his backside straight away from me the entire time and respect that a shot would be nothing short of marginal. He slips over the ridge and is gone. Mr. 5 point is still there, thinking that he is king of the woods. He smashes the little white oak scrub and saunters off. Man, it was something I'll never forget and thank God I wa there to see it happen. :)