mlang

Sunday morning I got a nice little 4x4. Single shot 120 yards, walked down the hill to go do the fun part and just about stepped on a massive 6x6. He ran about 30 yards, spun around and stared at me. I think "too easy" I carefully take aim and squeeze the trigger. I lower the rifle to see if he is going to try & run-off or just drop in his tracks. So there we are, standing there staring at each other, both looking quite puzzled. It took me a while to process the fact thatI cleanly missed. So I cycle the bolt and chamber another round. After the fourth shot I start thinking maybe I could take up knitting or something. So there we are still standing there looking at each other me holding an empty gun. In utter and total bewilderment I just hang my head, turn around and walk over to start dressingmy first deer, trying not to cry as the victor of our little battle slowly trots away.
I just couldn't let the season end on that note so I went out and got a very nice 4x4 last night. He was close to 210 lbs dressed out, that's going to fill the freezer nicely.

bigpapa

Did he blow at you when he trotted away?
If not yea I'd say he will be back.

NJpiney65

Everyone misses and thats what makes hunting exciting in my eye. I would never want to go out and kill a huge deer everytime i go out, it would be like playing a cabelas deer hunting game that way

2Poppa

The malady you described is commonly referred to as "Buck Fever"!

mlang

I agree piney, it helps make good stories too. I was just amazed though, I have been blessed, the last 6 deerI have taken have all been a single shot with the heart hit each time at probably about an 80 yard average distance.Then I lob4 airballs ata deer that would be my biggest yet standing still at 30 yards. At least they were clean misses and I don't have a suffering deer out there.

Bigpapa- not at first, but about five min. later he came back and snorted atme for a while.I was after him last night, a little after sundown I had one bust out of the woods at a fast trot across my food plot towards the adjacent cornfield. Due to the lower light and his speed I could either count his tines as he crossed into the field (where I can't hunt) or guestimate if he's the right one and take my shot. I know the deer arround my property pretty well and due to the mass and length of his rack along with his massive body size I thought it was probably him. While he was definatly a shooter, I was wrong, it wasn't "him". In Nebraska you can only harvest 2 Buck per year soif I do anymore hunting it will be for meat only.

bigpapa

He didn't seem alarmed too much if he trotted off. I'd keep my eyes open for him to come back by. The fact that he didn't blow and run say's that he was probably not seeing you as a threat. Or wondering why he wasn't dead already. I had one walk out on me in the middle of a back road while I was walking back to my truck. We both stood there and looked at each other. I think we were both shocked to see each other. I took my time and put the crosshairs on him and let the hammer hit. He took off like a bolt and rolled about 75 yards later. By pacing it off it was about a 50 yard shot. Before I shot him he didn't seem scared of me at all. Just kinda checking me out like he was sayin' "whatcha gonna do?" Well, at least you filled your buck tag! If all goes well he will be back around again next season.

Beezer

I missed on a 40yd shot with the shotgun slug on a buck last night. I searched him out, set up a blind and finally got him to step out. Blew one right by him. In hindsight I probably should have let him walk and waited for a better shot. I don't think he had time to blow, he heard the bang and was about two counties over before he stopped running. Good buck, nice rack missed opportunity.

Passafist

Next time. Excellent story as well.