Hunting shots you regret passing on...

[2rocky]

15 minutes after first light on opening day of my 2010 tule elk hunt
Had a bull called into me that stepped in between my partner and I at 21 yards. She was 10 yards behind the bull who was quartering to me and my bow limb was against a branch. Definite pass.

But when the bull turned and trotted out to 40-45 yards and turned and looked, I couldn't commit to a range and pin and let down. It was a B&C bull for sure. I killed a P&Y bull 3 days later but that experience still haunts me...

 

[Horsenhike]

I followed a herd of antelope up a game trail outside the Badlands NP this last fall here in SD. Beautiful grass bowl on top with a buck and four does laying in the windswept grass. I still had a day and a half to hunt so let him pass as I thought I could do better. Forecast 40 mph winds turned out to be true and the Grasslands swallowed up every goat in the area.

If I had known how much I would regret not taking him I sure would have. Would have been my first big game animal.

 

[CoHiCntry]

I don't have any stories like these because I rarely pass any legal animail

 

[missjordan]

Couple years ago I stalked up on a small group of antelope and kept telling myself there just too far away to take with my bow. My biggest regret was never ranging them when they became curious and started coming towards me. Even though I never drew back it was still quite the experience!

 

[sambo3006]

Some gut wrenching stuff there guys. The only one I have took place about 20 years ago during Missouri firearms deer season. I had the opportunity to go on a short afternoon hunt so I grabbed a buddy and we headed out to some public land in SW MO that I had never hunted before. We walked along a two track that led through a series of fields interspersed by woods. When we came to the edge of the third field we stood there for a few minutes just watching. About 300 yards away a big buck walked out of the woods broadside. Before I even saw his antlers I knew he was a mature buck from the length of his body. When I saw the antlers I knew he was a stud. I dropped down to prone position and couldn't get a shot through the grass so I sat up. By this point the buck had stopped broadside and was looking in my direction. He was a heavy, tall and wide 8 pt (3x3 with big eye guards for you western guys). By far the biggest buck I had ever seen. As I tried to steady the crosshairs from sitting position they wobbled on and off his shoulder. All I could think of was blowing off a front leg so I didn't shoot. I told my buddy (who still hadn't seen the buck) to squat down and let me rest over his back-he had killed his first deer the year before resting over my shoulder. He was breathing so hard I couldn't get steady on the buck and he just walked away. I don't know why I didn't tell him to hold his breath, guess I had the buck fever too bad.
It took me almost another 20 years to get a crack at a deer of that size. Fortunately I sealed the deal that time on a near 150" 9 pt. I still think about that buck and wish I had done something different to get a better position but I don't regret not taking the shot.

 

[Work2hunt]

I have one. It was on what I still believe to be the largest whitetail I have seen on the hoof. I was in my early 20s and still trying to learn the ins and outs of not shooting the first deer I see while hunting. That particular year I wanted to shoot at least a 3.5 yr old and had plenty of chances at younger deer. One afternoon on my walk to my stand with bow in hand I spot a young fork horn walking in front of me trailing a doe. I estimated them at a mere 20 yds. As I waited I noticed 2 more bucks in tow. Each bigger than the next. The 3rd buck looked like he had pitch fork tines on his head. None of the tines were short. Just a pure monster. He walked the same trail as the fork horn, but as he came by I kept second guessing myself on the distance and with my rangefinder in my pack I let him walk. Now my MAX range at that time was 30 yds so I wanted to be sure of the distance. After we walked away and disappeared I got my rangefinder out and he was at 21 yds......To be so close.

 

[Team Kabob]

2013 in Alaska for bou! Had a double shovel backscratching bou at 350yds with the brooks range in the backdrop and couldn't confirm it as my range finder does not range non-reflective material (fur) pass 220yds. Lesson learned the hard way. Watched him trot away. He fuels my fire to go back soon!

TK

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

2013 in Alaska for bou! Had a double shovel backscratching bou at 350yds with the brooks range in the backdrop and couldn't confirm it as my range finder does not range non-reflective material (fur) pass 220yds. Lesson learned the hard way. Watched him trot away. He fuels my fire to go back soon!

TK

I'm assuming you have a new rangefinder by now!

 

[Team Kabob]

I'm assuming you have a new rangefinder by now!

Yes I do. Gave the bushnell 1000 arc to grandpa for bow and bought a Leica. No excuses. But last fall I did a whitetail hunt with grandpa in a makeshift blind and he started yelling out yardage of deer coming in. I couldn't stop laughing and missed. He's 82 years young!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Yes I do. Gave the bushnell 1000 arc to grandpa for bow and bought a Leica. No excuses. But last fall I did a whitetail hunt with grandpa in a makeshift blind and he started yelling out yardage of deer coming in. I couldn't stop laughing and missed. He's 82 years young!

Hey be careful now, I'll be 75 in a few months!!!!

 

[lucky guy]

I was hunting the Ft Rock unit here in Oregon last deer season. A BIG 4x4 stood up out of some downfall at the edge of a finger meadow at about 125 yds. I saw him as he was turning to walk into the woods, had it in the scope but just couldn't pull the trigger on the Texas heart shot (no disrespect intended.) I still think about it.

 

[Nebraska Outlander]

Last year I choked on an 180"+ mule deer at 100 yards, for some reason I couldn't get the trigger to set the rifle off. It was like it was stuck and wouldn't go. Later that day I filled my tag with a young 10 point whitetail and right after I shoot and saw the deer drop I thought "That was stupid!". At least he ate good!! Still didn't go to waste and still happy to shoot a deer. It's not always about the trophy but man i should have waited a couple more days.

 

[clacklin009]

In 2009 I was sitting atop a 10,400 foot hill watching a meadow opening. I had just stepped foot in the meadow 5 minutes ago and had just settled into my seat when I saw a cow elk start crossing. It was early October and opening morning of the general elk season in Utah and I knew there was going to be a bull somewhere close. I watched five cows walk single file out of the pines and then I saw a big rack move it's way forward. When the bull appeared I was on him quick and with one shot he dropped in his tracks. Utah had just started a bull/buck combo and I had both tags in my pocket. I had planned on going after a buck that morning but was out of my mind excited to get a trophy bull (general season over the counter) to the ground. I sat for 10 minutes and tried to make radio contact with my dad at camp...no response. I walked the 175 yards to the bull and I stood watching him, wondering how I was going to get this giant animal off the mountain. I was up the mountain by myself, I had bushwhacked 3 hours up the mountain and I knew my dad couldn't make it up. Well, as I was starring at the bull, a huge buck appeared from the same opening the elk had walked through. He was 40 yards away, I looked at the buck, looked at the bull, looked at the buck, then back at the bull. I decided it would be too much if I shot him so I crouched down and waited to see how close he would come to me. He got within 20 yards before he realized I was there and took off.

I think I made the right call, not shooting, but it would have been a fun campfire story. Every year I'm in that meadow I relive that 20 minute experience and wonder what if?