Missed opportunities

[ironwood]

I started a topic earlier today asking for advice on improving some of my basic archery skills. It turned some what into an exchange of stories on missed opportunities on bucks for one reason or another. I thought it would be uplifting for me to hear more. Here is how I started.

I was sitting a late after noon stand on Halloween and a buck was walking passed me at about 150 yard. This was my first respectable buck opportunity as a bow hunter. I grunted several times but the deer seemed to ignore me. When he got out of sight I turned and grabbed one the rattling horns that where hanging on a hook behind me. I rattled lightly and turned to watch for a response. Shortly the deer was back in sight and looking around. I grunted at that point louder than before and he started coming in. By now I am starting to get pretty excited. He stopped and was looking in my general direction and I grunted again. He committed and was coming so fast that in my state of excitement I barely got my release on the string before he was coming out at 28 yards. He suddenly turned right and continued, giving me a perfect broadside. I put my 30 yard pin on him and thought I could do this with out stopping the deer. Turns out he was a lot closer to 20 yards and I believe with my lack of developed skills I adjusted in the arms instead of bending at the waist. I blame the clinometer for the miss, but only to keep that subject alive.

Anyways, I cut him across the back! He went about 10 yards and stopped looking back to try and figure out what the #%*@ that was. He never presented another shot but I'll always remember that one. I was mad at myself for some time.

Let’s hear your story.

 

[muddy]

ironwood

Sorry I got off track on your other thread, I'll fix it quick....Now, another missed opportunity story...

4-5 years ago I was sitting on a bluff in an area I had never hunted. It was just about dark and I had to go fetch my dad. As soon as I stood up I saw a buck up the logging trail from me. I had already come down off the bluff and was on even footing with him. I stopped, laid my bow down and hit the horns to see what would happen. I had never had any luck wtih 'em and figured what the hell. Well, my luck turned then and there. He stuck his head up and charged me. When he hit a small depression I ducked behind a large blowdown and knocked an arrow. I saw him standing at 20 yard with snot running everywhere!! I grunted softly with my voice and he started walking perfectly where I needed him to go. He was going to be walking quartering away when he passed me. Mind you he's now at 10 yards and I can hear him breathing hard and the snot is still running everywhere...he was MAD!! He came out and I raised up to shoot and my arrow snapped off my string and hit the riser. TINK,he was gone! When I had sat down a small small stick had gone in the vent on my broadhead and I didn't see it. When I raised up that pulled the arrow off and the rest was history. He stopped and grunted at me but wouldn't come back in. I stepped it off from where he was to where I was...5 paces. That's when I started shaking. He was a 120 inch buck but he looked friggin huge at 5 yards all walleyed and hackles raised!! I have had wonderful success with rattling ever since!

 

[horst]

I was working on this guys house out in the country this fall.After quitting work early to go deer hunting I had only made it about a half mile when i seen three deer coming out of the back of a grove.One was a nice 10 pointer, 8 or 9 inch tines, probably 17 or 18 inches wide.I sat there on the road and watched him till dark.The next morning I went back at daylight and waited in the car again.He showed up about three hours later, right at 9 oclock with the does.For three days he done this and all the time i was sitting on the road watching him.Finally I found the guy that owned the grove and got permission to hunt it.

The buck was always in the grove all day so there wasnt no chance to slip in and hang a stand.But Id never seen him come into it till late morning so my plan was formed.I snuck in just as the sun was coming up with a handfull of steps and a crotch stand.Things were going good, I could see the deer but they were clear out in the field and nowhere near the grove yet.

Heres where things went bad, there wasnt a tree in the grove my crotch stand was any good in, they all went straight up.To top it off something was making the deer nervous and they were heading for the grove slowly, two hours before they normally had been.Figuring this was a one chance deal anyway I hid near where theyd been coming into the back of the grove on the ground.The first two does showed up, walked into the grove and stood there not 10 yrds from me.The buck and other 2 does though went clear down the edge of the grove and came in the opposite corner.Somehow my mind convinced me it was only about 35 yrds so when the deer in front of me had moved off I drew, held my 30 yrd pin a little high, and fired.

The arrow clattered through the brush under the buck but he didnt even look up.I was starting to get rattled with this many deer on the ground with me so I nocked another arrow, layed the bow down, and waited to give me and the deer a chance to calm down.About a half hour later they were all bedded down behind a big brush pile maybe 60 yrds from me, between me and my car.

I couldnt see them so I figured they couldnt see me.I couldnt sneak out with spooking em so I did the next best thing and started to crawl towards them.it took me two hours to crawl the distance but i could finally see the bucks antler tips not 15 yrds away.I slowly sat up into a sitting position, started to draw back and a doe jumped up, right next to me.The buck stood to but i was already aimed at his shoulder, i moved the pin up with him when he stood and fired.When he stood hed put a small limb in front of his shoulder and the arrow deflected off of it, grazed him and was lost for good.

I was a wreck by this time.instead of running away the deer just slowly walked out the back of the grove and cut behind me about 25 yrds away.I was shaking and muttering curses and trying to nock my last arrow.when the buck hit the opening i freaked, i rammed the arrow on the string, drew back, found him in the sight and shot.unfourtunatly my arm hadnt quit moving yet and it went harmlessly over his back.Last time i ever seen those 5 deerbut it was the most exciting morning Ive ever had.

 

[rattle them in]

To read my missed opportunity go to Make changes/what first topic post number 16 I think you will enjoy this painful story!