Ever hate yourself after killing a deer?
 

So I have been in a massive slump. Missed 8 deer in a row and havent had a kill in two months. Well I had been seeing some nice does lately around one stand that I havent hunted in a while. So I decided to hunt it tonight. I hunted this same stand around 10 days ago and I had 4 nice does come running in from a nearby field and thought they were going to come into the field where my stand was so I would get a shot on one but they came around the corner and went into the woods. Also my camera had been seeing a group of 4-5 nice does feeding in the area so I figured Id just fill a doe tag to get out of my slump if I got the chance.

Well I had been in the stand an hour and hadnt seen anything. Watched some rediculously large turkeys feeding next to me but no deer. Then I looked to my right at an unplanted field and saw two fawns playing around. I watched them for a while and it started getting late so faced forward to turn off my thermocel and saw two does coming out of the woods. I brought up my rifle and they were nice sized. Also saw there was already a 3rd deer in the field with its back to me that must have come out while I was being entertained by the little ones to my right. The two that came out went right to the other one and I figured it had to be that group of does that I had seen before that hung out together. It was starting to get dark and I still have 3 doe tags to fill so I figured "What the hell even if its just a doe I need to end this slump" I ranged them at 147 yards and then put the crosshairs on the largest one and squeezed off a round.

Got really pumped when I saw belly white laying on the ground. Got on the 4-wheeler and went over to claim my prize. Well my joy ended in a hurry when I saw she was actually a he. It was a 3 pointer. I just never saw his rack cause most of the time he was facing away from me and it was pretty small so with the other two so close to him I might not have seen it anyways. Was so mad at myself for killing what might have been a great buck in a few years I kicked the front of my 4-wheeler crushing one of the headlights.

Took it over to the processing plant and said my dad shot it cause I wasnt about to claim him. He weighed in at 109 so at least I should get some good meat from him. But I let an 8 point walk a month ago just to have the next buck I shot be a little 3 pointer? That just pisses me off and probably will for the rest of the season. I broke my own rule of dont shoot anything 6 points and under. Oh well I guess we all make mistakes. Just wondering if anyone else has shot a "doe" with horns by mistake and felt bad about it.

I'd feel a lot worse telling everyone on the internet that I had missed 8 deer in a row like you just did, LOL!

Is it legal to have someone else tag a deer in for you in your state? Plus you missed 8 deer? Im thinking this has to be some kind of a joke to get a rise out of people.

If not, I would focus on practicing for a while and only take shots you are comfortable with.

nothing worth kicking a hard/valuable possession over.

That can be repaired. The deer cant.

Calm down its not about the size of the deer and horns. It's about being in gods country it sounds to me like you have a few anger problems you need to deal with I know it is very nice to kill a big deer but you can't let it get to you like that when you don't. It's not about killing and slaughtering the animals it's about being in gods country and enjoying yourself while there and don't lie defenately not cool sir...

From the title my first thought was no....but that isn't true. I took a shot at a buck a few years ago on opening day of bow season. It was late in the day and getting darker by the minute. There were several doe and a couple fawn wandering thru about the same time. The buck ducked the string and I nailed a spotted fawn standing a couple feet behind it. I kicked myself for that. I tagged it as well because I killed it.
I rushed a shot on a doe last year because I had made a noise getting my rifle up and could tell the deer was on alert. trailed it for 4 hours in the swam till it got too dark and I was getting too tired to continue. Didn't hate myself but certainly regretted my lack of discipline in making that decision to fire.
You have a rule about shooting anything below a certain size. You made an error. Target identification, shooting conditions, perhaps other factors only you are aware of may have influenced this.
You also set out to harvest a deer and made a good ethical shot on deer and killed it humanely. I would forgive myself the error. You didn't shoot into brush because a deer had just run in there. You identified your target as a deer. You didn't place a human life in jeopardy. Learn whatever you can from it. I probably wouldn't break my equipment over it but I might spend a little time examining my rules for hunting and assessing the motivations behind them. I'm not trying to be a dbag but you are obviously bothered by what transpired and from your story, as an outsider, what stands out to me is destroying your equipment in a moment of anger. Being ashamed of what you did (and I don't think you should be because you simply made an error on what kind of deer it was) and telling a lie about something you consider embarrassing or shameful , assigning blame for that act on your father.
By the way, I commend you for having the courage to relate this story. There are many hunters who will never admit doing anything wrong.

I did last Year, but not until a couple days later when I had to pass up a monster buck. I shot a nice little 7 pointer on Saturday and was happy with it. but my county says you have to shoot a doe before shooting a second buck. On Monday evening a wall hanger came within 20 yards of my blind and I had to pass. I was sick. It was the largest deer I have ever seen while hunting, as large as most any i have seen posted here. After 20 years I still don't have a wall hanger and normally don't think much about it, but having to pass one up is a sick feeling.

This for sure.
8 in a row?
More practice (not on live targets) or better shot selection.

At the yardage you are shooting, killing a spike is always a possibility. I have done so with a bow at 20 yds, meaning to fill an antlerless tag. The spikes can easily hide behind the ears. But frankly, I did not feel too bad about it. What would be bad is if you did not have a tag for it and had to leave it rot.

Your sitch...
 

I understand that you're disappointed in yourself. That means there's a lesson to be learned.

Learn the value of your lesson. Only you can determine that.

Been in that sitch once before. Didn't appreciate the value of it until later in life. The lesson wasn't lost.

Sounds like you have a handle on it. Bet the same thing won't happen again though.

So fix your ATV, renew your goals and get ready to fill a few doe tags.

You should have posted a pic of yur ATV, would have been good for posterity's sake.

you put your dads tag on your deer? they call that ILLEGAL around here, and lock you up.

I had the same problem last year. I actually missed 10 in a row with the rifle I was using. Found it the forestock had cracked so badly the barrel was pretty much just rolling around in there not attached to anything. So I missed everything. But as soon as I picked up another gun I could put 3 shots inside a quarter at 100 yards.

Also missing doesnt mean a person is a bad shot. I have pelted the center of a target at 100 yards all day long after a miss before and then the next day or even later that afternoon missed again. But I also suffer from extreme anxiety disorder and unless I was doped up on Xanex when Im in the stand, which I hated doing cause then I dont feel safe, I just start shaking and my heart goes crazy when I see a big deer in my sights. Its basically buck fever on steroids. I almost feel like Im having a heart attack even though I have had every cardiac test performed on me and they all come back normal. I literally cant control myself sometimes. So a lot of my shots missed. Luckily I found a new doctor who has me on a medication that doesnt make me feel doped up like Xanex and now I only miss if its a really long shot.

Also bad scopes can be a killer. I had one that fogged up all the time. Sent it back and they mailed me a new one that fogged up the first morning I hunted. I just threw the damn thing in the trash. Also Im about piss poor at judging distance. I actually have pink marking tape all over my farm for ranging deer. Every stand I have tape tied around something every 10 yards out starting at 50 and going to 250.

So just because someone misses a lot doesnt mean they need more practice. Hell if anything practicing on a live deer is the best thing. Anyone can shoot at a paper target. Hell when I was at summer camp I could shoot the center out of targets all day long with a .22 at 75 yards and I was only 10. But what happens when that 12 point is 150 yards out and its almost dark and you have been in the stand for 4 hours and your back and neck are stiff. Being able to hit a target in broad daylight with no pressure doesnt mean **** then.

Also what do people mean by tags? Since I also live in SC as does the person who started this thread we dont need tags for bucks. We only have to tag does. And even then I use my dad's. No one cares. Hell I havent even had a hunting license for the last 12 years.

we get 1 buck tag, and doe tags are extra $$ if they are even available. And the DEC enforces it.

Been there and done that. The first time I went to Ohio hunting a large deer pop out on the other side of the hill just before dark. I scoped the head and didnt see horns. Placed the crosshairs behind the shoulder and fired. The deer ran about 20 yards and crashed. When I got to it, it had already gotten dark. When my flashlight shined acrossed its neck I could see it wasnt a does neck. Raised its head up and there was a little 3pt rack. I was disgusted with myself for shooting a small buck and had to use the only buck tag that you get in Ohio. The rack was so short the ears covered it up. Sometimes it happens, not fun when it does though.

I just can't believe that he missed 8-deer in a row. I think he means that 8-deer came within sight but didn't have the opportunity for a decent shot on 8-deer in a row. If I miss at one deer, I don't want to tell anyone about it.

Nope, he MISSED 8 deer in a row and now the guy on Meds in SC says he missed 10 because he can't control himself when he has a gun in his hands. I hope they both stay the hell where they are and don't do any outstate hunts where there might be a chance of running into either one of them, LOL! Wouldn't you think that after missing a few deer that you would check your equipment out thoroughly, rather than wait until the count got to ten for God's sake!!! These kind of people are what gives hunters and hunting a bad name.

IF you had tags for either sex, then brown and down and all legal fair and square. IF you shot a buck without a buck tag and used your father's tag, then let's not make a habit out of that.

Invest in some GOOD binoculars or a spotting scope (no spotting with mounted riflescopes) and no what your shooting.

If all you did was violate your own made up 'standard' of what is a shooter or not, well you did not shoot a small buck, you shot a doe, or so you thought. As long as no regs were violated, chalk it up to experience and a reason to go buy some more optics.

so because I have a medical condition that requires me to take medication I shouldnt hunt? What kind of ****ing ******* are you. You are the type of person that gives hunters a bad name. ****ing dick go fall out of your tree stand.

Tags
 

For clarity:

Some states don't mind if you use someone else's tag. They can legally sign their tag over to you after the shot.

IDK if his state employs this management technique but some do.

"so because I have a medical condition that requires me to take medication I shouldnt hunt? What kind of ****ing ******* are you. You are the type of person that gives hunters a bad name. ****ing dick go fall out of your tree stand."

Read the posts again dude, as I wasn't the only one who said they didn't want to be around a person that needed meds like you do while you have a loaded gun in your hands! With the above response using vulgarity that is starred out and is also a violation of the site rules is a good example of the fact that you obviously have problems and can't control yourself without meds! I may be a dick in your eyes, but I'm a safe one that won't kill somebody because I need medication to hit what I'm aiming at!!! And what's with the statement that you haven't even had a license for the last 12 years? Do you have a legal exemption or are you also a plain and outright poacher that is dumb enough to state that right out on the net too!

Where I live every redneck shoots anything with horns. If a magical talking unicorn that granted wishes walked out of the woods someone would shoot it. I let 6 points and under walk unless the deer is obviously injured. I have accidentally shot spikes before but their antlers were so small I couldnt even put my fist around them and they were feeding with does so I just shot the biggest body in the group. They all had their heads down and when they looked up I never saw antlers on any of them so just assumed they were all does.

Anyone that says they shot a 4 point thinking it was a doe is just full of ****. Either that or your scope sucks and you need your eyes checked. I can count the points on a rack at 400 yards and probably more with my 12x50 Nikons. If you cant tell what you are shooting at then you dont shoot. Thats the way I was brought up to hunt.

Also I can understand hunting for meat so why shoot any bucks at all then if you only want the meat? I find does taste better anyways. Also most places have a doe imbalance anyways so why not just shoot does? Hell Im still eating deer meat from last year and I only killed 4(2 bucks and 2 does) and have already shot a doe and a nice 7 pointer this year so I have even more meat now. If people are so impatient they cant wait for a doe to walk out during a 2-4 month, or however long your season is, and would rather shoot baby bucks then go find another hobby. When I take a deer to the processing plant and see some idiot gloating over his 115 pound 4 pointer I feel like punching him. Hell I have passed on three 8 pointers this year and we still have 7 weeks left in the season and yet people feel the need to shoot young 4 pointers? Seriously just quit hunting. They have limits on fish I dont see why there arent any on bucks.
Last edited by Cypress32; 11-06-2012 at 06:56 PM.

Hey Cypress, LOL

by the way that was a quote from PUNK cypress a month ago.

:sign0004::sign0004::sign0004:

It happens, but maybe you shouldn't be shooting 147 yards if your not sure if its a doe or buck.

You need more range time man. Also maybe a single shot rifle or muzzleloader... Then you will be more patient with your shots if you only have one...

I don't think I've missed 8 deer in my life let alone one season.

Have some respect for the animal that YOU pulled the trigger on... big or small you killed it. Be happy with it. It ain't about antlers anyway. That's just how it is on the TV...

BTW... I too have shot a spike I thought was a doe. one antler was 2 5/8 in long the other 3 1/8... anything over 3 is a buck, so I tagged it as such happily. Still have his lil rack in my office...

8 deer in a row
 

Reading the OP - Ya know how sometimes your mind just clamps on a sentence or a phrase. Well I did on that 2nd sentence!

How did you miss 8 deer in a row?

Cypress32, Things like this have happened to everyone. I don't know about the 8 misses, but shooting something that wasn't what you thought. three weeks ago, I needed a doe down in order tohunt another buck. So, I went to my honey hole where i hunt for meat (doe). I had a four point walk up ten feet form my ground blind and laughed my ass off on how ignorant he was that I was there. I even told him calmly to leave and he just looked at me. LOL. Then a half hour later a "doe" walked out into the feild. I scoped him hard, because he acted silly, like a young buck, but I saw no ding-a-ling and no bumps on his head at all. He was a big bodied deer, later I found out 132lb dressed, which is average on this property. I dropped him in his tracls, walked up and instantly saw she was a he. Horrible feeling in my gut, of course, but it's one of those things that you have to deal with and decide if the sport is worth it to you to continue on. Fortunatly for me, this deer was considered, legally in VA as an "antlerless" deer which allowed me to tag him as such and move on to the big woods for another buck. Chin up. you are still maintaining deer management.

On another note, your 8 misses, were they with the gun or bow? Bow, is a little more understadable than a gun. Nerves or a poorly sited weapon? Check the gun or you might find yourself in a worse scenerio and shoot a deer, find blood, but never find the deer. That's worse than shooting the little guy!!!!

I missed a nice doe last year. 100 yard shot. right over her back.
why, because I sighted in at the 25 yard range.

This year, I took a 2 hour drive to the 100 yard range, and I was about 12" too high !!! So I re-sighted for 100 yards.

and this year. there are no deer in the woods.................. :confused0024:

Sighting in at 25 yards is not going to make you 12" high at 100 yards---try another excuse, LOL!!!

Your wrong. DEAD wrong. you have no idea of my rifle setup, or the size scope I have, or how high the mounting is on the scope.

I shot a doe once with a 20 gauge. It donkey kicked and ran off with the group. There was alot of blood. My dad tracked it and we caught up to the group and i shot at it again. still no no dead deer. My dad tracked it and caught up to it again.(I was impressed by his skill) It crossed the river and disappeared. We covered alot of ground. it reminded me of a time I found a deer skeleton under a bush along side a creek with an arrow in it. There is a point were knowledge becomes wisdom......

I still have the fork antlers from the skeleton. it was a poorly placed shot because I was inexperienced hunter and learned alot from that hunt. I was not prepared to swim with snow on the ground to track it a third time... lol

Only once so far. I won't go into detail, why give the anti's more fuel?

I wana shwoot a bunny wabbit, but i miss 8 twimes :(

blur
Fork Horn


Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 177

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Topgun 3006
Sighting in at 25 yards is not going to make you 12" high at 100 yards---try another excuse, LOL!!!

Your wrong. DEAD wrong. you have no idea of my rifle setup, or the size scope I have, or how high the mounting is on the scope.

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Last edited by the blur; Today at 05:38 PM.



You obviously didn't know your own setup to screw up like that and are telling me I don;'t know what I'm talking about, LOL! It must be a really weird one at that if it caused you to miss 12" high at 100 with a zero at 25. If that's really the case, you should have know it and done followup practice so as not to take a chance on a miss, or even worse, wounding an animal at normal hunting distances. With a normal setup on most centerfire rifles a 25 yard zero shouldn't result in more than a 3 or 4 inch difference at 100 yards. You must have a really odd setup if what you say is true, so why don't you tell us what it is and maybe even show a picture or two of it instead of telling me I'm dead wrong.

I agree Topgun, I always zero my gun at 25 yards then step back to 100 yards when it is dead on at 25. I then fine tune the adjustment from there, which is never much.