Mine for the taking?

O

outdoordude813

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I was out for the first time this past Monday in my deer stand. Was looking just to relax and didn't really care at this point if anything happened. Was sitting by 4:30 and things were pretty quiet for the most part until just after 6:30 when I heard the tell tale snapping of twigs and small branches that alert you to the approach of a deer.They were passing to the right of me just out of sight. (they seem to love this particular run I'm not on, But that is the small deer run) I was straining to see what was going by me when I heard a big branch break behind me and to the left. I slowly turned my head and saw nothing. I tried to see the original deer and head more activity behind me so I decided to reposition my self and wait for this animal to clear the bush. I didn't wait long.
When he cleared the bush my jaw almost dropped. I have never seen an animal like this ever with a weapon in my hand. He was a huge 8 point, very wide, very tall, and a body size that would have rivalled a small cow.
The problem was that when he came out (20 yds away) he imediately turned 90 degrees and came towards me. I decided when he got a little past my stand that I would shoot him as he quartered away.
Well he decided to sniff around and when he tilted his head up guess who he saw with crossbow pointed at him.
Now here is the problem. I'm not 100% sure of a bows capability. The only shor I had was a straight on chest shot at a sharp downward angle. I am an excellent shot so placing the shot there wasn't the issue. My problem was that I wasn't sure if the arrow had enough energy to penetrate the sternum, and at the angle I was afraid to skip it off his chestor slide it between the shoulder and the rib cage. I was uncomfortable with the shot and decided that I would rather let him go than risk wounding him. I feel I made the smart choice ( even though it totally sucks) but I was wondering if I am alone in this thought or if any others would have done the same thing.

Would the arrow have made a 100% kill shot.

We had a 5 min. stare down before he decided the hell with this and he took off.

I have private permission on this spot so I know he is still there. I'm leaving him alone for the week and I'm going to move to a different stand location to try and trick him again come the weekend.

what do you think?

813
 
I think you did well to pass on a shot you weren't comfortable with. I think I would have waited for a bit better angle in your situation myself.
Some of my best trophies have been animals I let walk!
Pat
 
X2.....good call......I have been in those situations before as well...sure you could hit him...no question about it...BUT....what about after the shot :? it's anyone's guess....tough call,but you did the right thing in my opinion as well.....

For example, I let a nice bull walk last night after I called him in finally,45 minutes.....I was 90% positive he was 6,but there was that 10% of uncertainty....he just wouldn't hold still long enuff,or step into a decent clear spot to get a really good count, and I was losing light fast. I just like to be 100% positive...Oh Well...this is why it's called hunting and not killing I suppose:wink:





Bob
 
8 point

I use a crossbow my self and have shot a few deer with it, and yes that arrow may well have being deflected, i had it happen to me exactly the way you exsplained it. I did not recover the deer till the next day 200 yards from where i arrowed him, if it was'nt for my pointer following the scent trail i may not have found him. Good call on your part.
 
He would have died in his tracks and now you are cursed to see only spikers for the rest of the season.......... :twisted: :wink:

Seriously, you made the right call. Most guys wouldn't have.
 
good for ya in not taken the shot holding back is some times hard to do.
but thats also why i dont hunt with bows only rifes you could of tooken the shot with out a problem if you had a .270 or 30/06.
talk to ya all later
Riley
 
Good call, death-junky I know rifles would put them down but southern Ontario does not allow that option. With a bow you have to be positive of your shot, if you are not better to let the deer go.
 
Tough decision, but you made the right one... I passed on a really nice 8 point several years ago when the dog bumped him and he ran to about 75 or so meters... I only had a buckshot round and chose NOT to shoot as I had one previous bad experience with buckshot at a questionable range... Tough calls make hunting interesting AND develop character!!!

Cheers
Jay
 
Tough call, but clearly the right one.

For a hunter, there's nobody in the bush to judge your decision - only you. You made the right call and that's all that matters.

I'd try setting up in the same spot next time, just be super-careful about laying down cover scent when you're going in to the stand.

Several years ago I had a similar situation occur when a buck caught my scent at the base of my tree (he was right behind me and I couldn't take a clear shot).

I had good luck re-engaging the buck from the same stand the following week. Cover scent (skunk) going in plus a few spots (scent bombs) of "doe-in-heat" about 10 yards in front of my stand resulted in a nice harvested buck.

Whitetails are notorious creatures of habit. So, you may well see Mr. Big again :wink:
 
Good decision. Even if you never see that deer again.
"...a bows capability..." It'll penetrate if you can hit that small of a target. Just under his chin would be better. It's miss the sternum and still have all kinds of arteries and lungs to poke a hole in. Only if you can hit a cigarette package every time at 20 yards though. I'd move the stand about 10 yards left or right hoping for a broadside shot.
"...Southern Ontario does not allow..." It's not all of Southern Ontario.
 
Sunray is correct, there are still a few spots in southern Ontario that allow deer hunting with rifles. The season for rifles and shotguns doesn't open till next month however, so its bows only right now.

I would have passed on that shot as well, by the way. Good call.
 
Thanks for making me feel better about my choice. I picked up a new portable stand and I'm going to move it down the run a little to try and cut him off before he gets to where he had his "scary moment". The good news is I have a whole season in front of me to try and tangle with him again.
With my 270 I would have been admiring him in the garage right now, but if I can get him with an arrow, the satisfaction will be even greater. Will get the meat during the rifle hunt in a few weeks, but for now, We'll see how it goes. Here's hoping.

thanks again,813

If it works out in the end you'll hear all about it here so keep an eye out for the post.
 
You may have been wrong to think that you couldn't make a clean kill, but since you thought that, you were certainly right to decide to pass it up. You are a good example.
 
i'd say givin the situation you were placed in you made the decision a good hunter would make, so you didnt get him this time at least he wont have to risk suffering a slow and painfull death, and he'll roam another little while till you get a clean shot on him

so yeah you made the right one
 
A couple of questions to ask...

1)Was it a crossbow or a compound bow you were using?
2)What types of bolts/arrows were you using and how much did they weigh?
3)What types of broadheads; Conical, Chiseltip, or Cutting edge?

All of this has a great deal to do with your shot choice as well as your comfortability with making that shot. You were right to choose abstinance as your experience is a due factor to making it all work out in the end.

I for one use a homemade longbow with a 62# pull @ 28"...I make my own wooden arrows with tied on feathers(using waxed dental floss) and locking self-nocks cut out of the back part of the shaft. My broadheads I use are Zwickey Zudos and Magnus Tripoints all for bigger game...they are cutting edge broadheads that require less pressure to get past the hide of a game animal but require proper shot placement as they dont break bone very well(ribs ok, but not scapula etc).

Even though my choice of arrows has it's limitations on bone and even though they can still break a rib I still choose the prime shots everytime. Skill in stalking and knowledge of game movements in my area is a nessecity for me as I don't use treestands. So I can prep my shots and plan for them in my stalking patterns and holdoffs.

You were perfectly correct in abstinence as your comfortability has the most to do with the shot...after you get your buck you should try the shot you were describing on the dead animal to see exactly what the bolt/arrow would do at that distance and angle so you can be sure the next time if it happens again.

Hope you get him :wink: good luck
 
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