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?

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.

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.

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

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!

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?

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

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