HuntingNet.com Forums - My muzzleloader buck

should have told the story, I'm lame.
All started about 2 weeks ago. I had a nice high 3 pointer come in and I decided to pass him up. His rack was nice, but it will be alot better. I couldn't believe how high it was though. The next few times I hunted, I only saw some does. The wind wasn't co-operating very well. About a week later, I'm in the stand again, and I hear some deer off my right shoulder. I stretch around to see 4 mature does. They work their way behind me and then to my left. So at this time, I'm looking to my left watching these deer. While hanging in some scrub oak to my left, I say to myself, there's got to be a buck with them. I knew the second rut had started. Well guess what..I turn my head to the right and low and behold, there he is. Standing there, looking at me, 7 yards to my right at like 1:30 position. This deer is also a 3 pointer, from what I could see, and he has a real high rack, just like the one I passed up a week aog, but much higher. We have a stare down for what seems like 15 minutes. I won!! Atleast the staredown I won. He finally moves. To my right! Crap!!! Ever try to shoot right handed at 9:00 position without switching to left hand?? I did....I missed that deer. I was soooo upset. I felt that was it, ruined my spot and chances at that stand. I had put in like 30 to 40 hours. So, a buddy of mine, that doesn't get to hunt that much ( really just doesn't put in enough effort) but anyway, asks if he can hunt it. Like a week later, on Thursday, he hunts it. He see's nothing at all. Now I'm sure my spot is ruined. Not only did he hunt that Thursday, but the wind was all wrong to hunt it. Well, I didn't give up. 5 days later, on Tuesday, I hunt the stand. I got in at 2:20. At 2:25, 3 does come. I saw them about 30 yards through a pocket in the woods. I watched them come my way, then looked back at the pocket. There he was. He was coming. Folks, I have had buck fever before, but I got buck malaria that day. The deer came in and presented me with a 12 yard broadside shot, wide open. I couldn't pull the trigger!! I was shaking sooooo bad, and I believe I was hyper-ventilating. I was freaking out!! The buck took a couple steps forward, and now no shot available. He takes a couple more steps. I now have a second 12 yard, broadside, wide open shot. I can't pull the trigger. I did everything in my power to stop shaking. Just couldn't do it. The buck now turns, facing away from me. He takes a couple steps and turns broadside again. He's now like 14 yards, standing there. The guns pattern at this time is a clock-wise pattern with jolts!!! I knew if I couldn't pull the trigger this time, he would walk away. I let her rip. I ended up shooting this buck 100% in the spine. A half inch higher, and I would have missed. Well, hope you enjoy the story.