What should I do?
 

Tuesday I went and hunted the ole family homestead. People have been trespassing and tearing the place up but besides that it was a good hunt. I walked in with my 357 lever action (open sites). Right away I saw 3 does going down a hillside toward a creek. I decided I would creep along the hill side to see if I could get a shot or a shot at a buck. Any ways I started at one end and of the hill side and kept walking and then pausing for about twenty minutes. After two hours of hunting, I see a tree stump next to some boulders. So I decided to go take a rest and sit for alittle while. I'd been there for about a half hour when I heard something trotting toward me. I looked toward the creek at the bottom of the revine and there he was. He was a 120 class buck. Nice body. Just a good deer for the taking. I let out a doe bleet. He heard and started walking toward me. First out at 100, then 90, and then 80, and so on til he got about 60 yards away and I couldnt get him to come any closer. I took aim and fired. He bolted about 20 yards and then stopped and kept looking in my directions. I got two more shots off and I thought for sure I'd hit him. But the same reaction. Then he trotted back to the path and kept going. I went down to the path to look for any sight or sign of a hit but nothin. Looked for three more hours and still nothing. Just found a very fresh and well used scrape line. So I decided to hunt it again and sat wednesday through cold and wet weather and nothing. So I figured I give it a week and see. I've totally switched back to my muzzleloader. I was sure that I had a kill shot though. I don't think I hit him. Do you guys think I scared him away or should i try it again next weekend?

RE: What should I do?
 

The first thing you need to do is some target practice to make sure the gun is on. I wouldnt go hunting with it until you know it is. You owe that to the game you are hunting.

RE: What should I do?
 

I would let it cool down for a bit then definetley go back.I know what you mean about people tresspassing I was up at my dads hunt camp 4 wheeler trails all over.They are doing a bit of gardening if you know what I mean.Don't want to rat them out because we want the camp there the next time we go up.

RE: What should I do?
 

I agree with smokems test your gun get some target practice and make sure your not rushing the shot when you shoot dont look up over the scope in the process

RE: What should I do?
 

I agree. It's irresponsible to be shooting a gun that you cant shot accurately. It's also a waste of your time to sit out there to wait for an oppurtunity, just to blow it because you can't hit the broad side of a barn with the gun. Put a scope on it if you can't hit anything with open sights. It takes much more practice to use open sights. Practice!

RE: What should I do?
 

I wouldn't have taken it out into the feild if I hadn't taken it to the range and known it was good. If you read my post you would see that I said I have switched totally to my muzzleloader. I killed three deer last weekend with it out past that range. I had killed one at 50 yards with the 357 on the 18th. I was wanting to know if you guys thought I should go back or if I had spooked him?

RE: What should I do?
 

I think you need to sight that there gun in. You might have scared him away.

RE: What should I do?
 

I would definitely give it several days and stick with the muzzleloader until you find out what the problem is with the rifle.