Biggest Hunting Mistakes
- Thread starter Hilltop
- Start date
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
I just figured out my "biggest hunting mistake". I did not buy a hunting license the first year Arizona started bonus points back around 1990. I was in my mid twenties and wanted to save a few bucks. Had I bought that license that one year, I would have drawn my antelope tag 10 years earlier, been in the thick of the drawing for some of the best desert sheep tags in the world, and I would have been chasing some of the best early rifle elk tags. I've bought the license every year since then. Fortunately deer points came later when I was on board.
ohbckhntr
New Member
One of my biggest was while out whitetail hunting, had a monster buck come in to 33yards, brought my bow to full draw when he was behind brush. Had to wait 5 minutes for him to finally step out and when he did my muscles were shaking (mostly adrenaline). I thought i was good so i took the shot. tracked him for hours that night and finally found him the next day. As it turned out i hit him in the rump, i learned to practice holding the bow back for longer than what you ever plan to when out in the field.
ohbckhntr
New Member
Team Kabob
Very Active Member
- May 9, 2014
- 793
- 148
Trusting a caribou hunt to a Bushnell rangefinder..... Enough said. Watched a nice bull walk. He was in my effective range; but me and my hunting partner couldn't agree on a range.
CoHiCntry
Veteran member
My biggest hunting mistake was starting to apply for several out of state tags years ago that I'll never draw in my lifetime. Somehow thinking all those trophy pics I see in the mags would be me if I just kept dumping money into every western states draw system thinking eventually I would draw... apply, apply, apply, was the motto. Now several years later and thousands down the tubes I've figured out I'll never draw those tags and am backing down all my out of state applications guaranteeing the money was just a waste. No doubt this used to be the way to get great tags and take some awesome animals. I suppose in some rare situations it still works.
I'm not that old but my advise to the younger ones is don't think a golden ticket tag is the only way to take great trophies out west. Hunt more, hunt hard, hunt the same units over and over and stick with units you can draw every couple years or so. After applying in all these states for several years, I still haven't drawn any great tags but have managed to kill some nice trophies right here in the state I reside in unguided, DIY, on tags that didn't cost me one of my paychecks!
I'm not that old but my advise to the younger ones is don't think a golden ticket tag is the only way to take great trophies out west. Hunt more, hunt hard, hunt the same units over and over and stick with units you can draw every couple years or so. After applying in all these states for several years, I still haven't drawn any great tags but have managed to kill some nice trophies right here in the state I reside in unguided, DIY, on tags that didn't cost me one of my paychecks!
hunt4duck
New Member
Good stories guys......So many dumb mistakes I've made over the years but here's a couple.
Similar to someone elses story, my buddy and I got into a group of elk and we each knocked one down (down but apparently not dead). We went over and checked on his first where we both put our guns down. Then went to get mine and I went back to where I had shot, maybe 50 yards or so as we were in some pretty thick pjs, I pointed my buddy to where the cow was laying and she was there but got up when he was just feet away, scared the crap out of him. Then he told me to shoot....ooops. I told him to shoot....ooops. She didnt leave much of a blood trail and we never did find her. Always keep an eye on the animal until you confirm its dead.
Also brought two guns to camp, one morning we drove 30 minutes to get to our area we planned to hunt when I realized I brought the wrong bullets. I ended up just being extra eyes that morning, glad I didn't see the big one. My buddies never let me forget that one.
....and I never let one of them forget riding the atvs to the trail head only for him to realize he was still wearing his slippers.
then there was the shotgun I leaned against the front of the truck, got in and drove 2 1/2 hours home.....then 2 1/2 back....then 2 1/2 home. Gun was there and undamaged.
Similar to someone elses story, my buddy and I got into a group of elk and we each knocked one down (down but apparently not dead). We went over and checked on his first where we both put our guns down. Then went to get mine and I went back to where I had shot, maybe 50 yards or so as we were in some pretty thick pjs, I pointed my buddy to where the cow was laying and she was there but got up when he was just feet away, scared the crap out of him. Then he told me to shoot....ooops. I told him to shoot....ooops. She didnt leave much of a blood trail and we never did find her. Always keep an eye on the animal until you confirm its dead.
Also brought two guns to camp, one morning we drove 30 minutes to get to our area we planned to hunt when I realized I brought the wrong bullets. I ended up just being extra eyes that morning, glad I didn't see the big one. My buddies never let me forget that one.
....and I never let one of them forget riding the atvs to the trail head only for him to realize he was still wearing his slippers.
then there was the shotgun I leaned against the front of the truck, got in and drove 2 1/2 hours home.....then 2 1/2 back....then 2 1/2 home. Gun was there and undamaged.
I'm in exactly the same situation. It's all on my own. Tough lessons to learn, but I will give it my best try.
It will get frustrating but never give up. It will come together. I waited 4 years to get my archery buck, and it was worth the 4 years
hoshour
Veteran member
Not being patient on my first mule deer hunt. While a buddy and I were walking to where we planned to hunt we saw a nice buck in his bed at the edge of the woods about 30 yards on the wrong side of a low fence dividing private land from public. We watched him for about 30 minutes and the buck had no clue we were 100 yards from him.
The guy I was hunting with was a bird hunter, not a big game hunter and he wanted to move on. I was trying to get him interested in deer hunting and stuck with him so we went on.
What I should have done was sent him on and stayed for a while to see what the buck would do when he got up to stretch or feed. Or, I could have sent my buddy to where the buck would see him and have my buddy stop. That might have gotten the buck to get up and move the short distance back onto public land.
It was not a great unit (we drew it with no points) and as it turned out that was by far the best buck we saw all week.
The guy I was hunting with was a bird hunter, not a big game hunter and he wanted to move on. I was trying to get him interested in deer hunting and stuck with him so we went on.
What I should have done was sent him on and stayed for a while to see what the buck would do when he got up to stretch or feed. Or, I could have sent my buddy to where the buck would see him and have my buddy stop. That might have gotten the buck to get up and move the short distance back onto public land.
It was not a great unit (we drew it with no points) and as it turned out that was by far the best buck we saw all week.
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hoshour
Veteran member
Actually, I thought of a far worse one because it put my life in real danger.
I have a climbing stand that I use, a Summit Viper. One time I used it to climb between 25-30 feet up a pine tree. I had the cable set a little loose but didn't pay it any mind because it made climbing faster. I figured I would tighten up the cable a notch when I got down.
After hunting, when I started to come down the cable on the bottom portion of the stand stayed around the tree but because it was a little too big for the tree diameter the foot platform front swung down to where it was vertical instead of horizontal, pointing down toward the ground instead of out from the tree.
When it droppped down, my foot support was suddently removed and I immediately fell, but just as quickly caught myself by my elbows and forearms on the top portion of the stand, my feet hanging helplessly in midair. I hung there for a moment and then figured I only had a limited amount of time before my arms got too tired. I was unable to each the bottom half of my stand with my feet.
I actually did have a rope tied between the top and bottom but the way the stand bottom was hanging down I had tied the rope too long for my legs to reach it.
Hanging by my forearms on top of the side rails I fished with my feet to see if I could snag any part of the stand bottom with the toes of my boots. Eventually, after what seemed like a very long time, I was successful and worked it up the tree to where I could straighten it horizontal again.
Then I carefully but quickly climbed down and thanked God for saving me from my own nearly lethal carelessness. But for the grace of God, I came very close that day to turning my wife into a widow.
Before I left the woods I shortened the rope between the two parts of the climber. When I got home, I put a matching rope on the other side and reattached the strap in the front that serves to carry the stand on your back.
Now, whenever I use my climber I check the rope lengths and knots and the strap. I also use a harness and safety system.
I never told my wife.
I have a climbing stand that I use, a Summit Viper. One time I used it to climb between 25-30 feet up a pine tree. I had the cable set a little loose but didn't pay it any mind because it made climbing faster. I figured I would tighten up the cable a notch when I got down.
After hunting, when I started to come down the cable on the bottom portion of the stand stayed around the tree but because it was a little too big for the tree diameter the foot platform front swung down to where it was vertical instead of horizontal, pointing down toward the ground instead of out from the tree.
When it droppped down, my foot support was suddently removed and I immediately fell, but just as quickly caught myself by my elbows and forearms on the top portion of the stand, my feet hanging helplessly in midair. I hung there for a moment and then figured I only had a limited amount of time before my arms got too tired. I was unable to each the bottom half of my stand with my feet.
I actually did have a rope tied between the top and bottom but the way the stand bottom was hanging down I had tied the rope too long for my legs to reach it.
Hanging by my forearms on top of the side rails I fished with my feet to see if I could snag any part of the stand bottom with the toes of my boots. Eventually, after what seemed like a very long time, I was successful and worked it up the tree to where I could straighten it horizontal again.
Then I carefully but quickly climbed down and thanked God for saving me from my own nearly lethal carelessness. But for the grace of God, I came very close that day to turning my wife into a widow.
Before I left the woods I shortened the rope between the two parts of the climber. When I got home, I put a matching rope on the other side and reattached the strap in the front that serves to carry the stand on your back.
Now, whenever I use my climber I check the rope lengths and knots and the strap. I also use a harness and safety system.
I never told my wife.
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Following a herd of elk over the top of a steep, snow covered 11,000 ft peak. I thought that if the elk could do it, then I could as well. Cut their tracks and followed them down for about 30 feet, then heard the worst sound of my life. I look back and see a 6 inch crack in the snow all above me. After careful consideration I found a small 6 foot tree about 40 yds down, but it was a little to my left and the only tree close. I carefully moved above it and strapped my rifle to the front of my chest and sat down. Instantly triggering the slide. I hit that tree pretty hard and wrapped my arms around it, about bending it in half as the snow passed me by. My leg hurt and I saw a large tear in my wool pants. I knew better then to look at it , as I had a long way down and to camp. I moved over away from the tree and slid like a rocket to the bottom of the slide. I finally hit the jeep trail and it was dark and had 4 miles to camp. About 10 minutes into my hike I see headlights and it was my hunting buddy coming to look for me. I had a good size cut on my leg and some good swelling but nothing that needed stitches. Critters with 2 legs sometimes have no business going where critters with 4 legs can go.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
How about 2 for the price of one! In 1999 My Dad (who was 81) and another friend got our tags for Wyoming Deer. My friend had just started hunting and had never even shot at a deer! We took my travel trailer and my new 1999 F350 4x4 diesel. Set up camp on a big ranch I had hunted for years and waited for opening day. Did a little scouting and saw plenty of small bucks.
Opening morning there was 6" of new snow on the ground and it was still snowing! We managed to get around, but did not see anything opening day. 2nd day was clear, cold & sunny. Lots of deer tracks everywhere. We were driving to an area I wanted to hunt and found a stuck pickup, it was the ranch security guard. Got him out and decided that the area we wanted to hunt was not doable that day, too much snow & mud. On our way to another spot, we saw a 3x3 standing next to a big haystack and my Dad said "Stop, I'll take him". He dumped the deer and we walked over to gut him and get him in the truck. Mistake #1....Dad left his rifle in the truck! As we approached the deer, it got and took off running. Ran back to the truck and got the rifle and Dad shot him again. This time down for good. He was laying right next to a 2 track road so we drove right to him and got ready to gut the deer. Mistake #2...we all got out and closed the doors with the truck running. As this was a brand new truck, I didn't realize that the alarm system would lock the doors...which it did! Spare keys in the trailer 10 miles away. What to do now. I sure as hell was not going to break a window in my brand new truck, so I started walking. Best luck of all was that the security guard we got out of the mud happened by and gave me a ride both ways.
We did fill our tags and I learned a lesson about keeping a hideout set of keys on the truck. Had a great laugh about everything that evening over a glass of good whiskey!
Opening morning there was 6" of new snow on the ground and it was still snowing! We managed to get around, but did not see anything opening day. 2nd day was clear, cold & sunny. Lots of deer tracks everywhere. We were driving to an area I wanted to hunt and found a stuck pickup, it was the ranch security guard. Got him out and decided that the area we wanted to hunt was not doable that day, too much snow & mud. On our way to another spot, we saw a 3x3 standing next to a big haystack and my Dad said "Stop, I'll take him". He dumped the deer and we walked over to gut him and get him in the truck. Mistake #1....Dad left his rifle in the truck! As we approached the deer, it got and took off running. Ran back to the truck and got the rifle and Dad shot him again. This time down for good. He was laying right next to a 2 track road so we drove right to him and got ready to gut the deer. Mistake #2...we all got out and closed the doors with the truck running. As this was a brand new truck, I didn't realize that the alarm system would lock the doors...which it did! Spare keys in the trailer 10 miles away. What to do now. I sure as hell was not going to break a window in my brand new truck, so I started walking. Best luck of all was that the security guard we got out of the mud happened by and gave me a ride both ways.
We did fill our tags and I learned a lesson about keeping a hideout set of keys on the truck. Had a great laugh about everything that evening over a glass of good whiskey!