Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: The Ole' Bowhunter on November 23, 2014, 07:40:00 PM
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A few weeks back, I passed a ten yard shot on a nice, fat, mature doe. It was early in the bow season and I felt I could hold out for a little while hoping to fill my tag with any one of the nice young bucks I had on my trail cameras. Well, here it is gun season and I have yet to fill any tag let alone my archery tag. Anyone in the same situation as this ole' bowhunter?
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It has been said to never pass up a shot on the first day that you would take on the last day or you may have tag soup. And yes it's happened to me in the past. Good luck ole' bowhunter.
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I'm trying my best not to fill my last buck tag before Faith gets to me for the month of December...LOL
But, to answer your question, yes....been there, done that. Good luck with the rest of your season!
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Sign me up. Got tons of does almost every night offering me shots. But I have three buck in my area over 140 class size. I've yet to draw one close enough and don't know if I will before the end of the year when our season ends
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Originally posted by Kamm1004:
Sign me up. Got tons of does almost every night offering me shots. But I have three buck in my area over 140 class size. I've yet to draw one close enough and don't know if I will before the end of the year when our season ends
That's the story of my season. I have filled my doe tag, but have let lots of bucks pass, waiting on one of the good ones.
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That seems to happen to me more times than not! My wife and I really like a full freezer of venison, and by passing on some pretty nice deer it sometimes remains empty. I rationalize that my season would be over if I shot something early. Not sure how smart I am though by stretching it out into frigid temps with blowing snow! :knothead:
Bernie
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I had made up my mind to attempt a harvest of the first legal deer that that offered a possibilty. This one posed at 20 yards and I just couldn't resist.
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg183/newhouse114/hunting/2014buck.jpg)
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Yep, I'm in that boat right now. Passed on several gimme chances early in the season (under 15 yards) then proceeded to miss a nice 9 pt hitting a branch I did not see. Then with my vacation time approaching actually ending today I passed on a two more opportunities. Today I pulled a camera and have 3 different bucks coming in so I think I might hold out longer....try for my first trad buck. I've always said that I'm lucky to get 2 really good shooting opportunities per year but this year has been exceptional. Hopefully I won't be eating my tag but we do have until the end of December...
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It has happened to me a few times...but I try to harvest the big does early in the season so I am not pressured later on during primetime. But I am weak..lol...and passing up a mature doe at ten yards is very hard for me too do! Wish you the best for the rest of the season.
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I always say I'm not going to wait and take the first opportunity I can at a nice deer. Then I always pass on that opportunity anyway hoping for something better. After a miss at a dandy buck on the last morning of PA's archery season, I watched two doe pass barely 15yrds broadside in front of me that evening. I just watched and let 'em walk hoping that big boy would be in tow...he wasn't... :banghead:
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Your delima brings 2009 flashing back for me. I have dreamed of elk since the mid 80's. September 09 I finally went with some great friends. On day two I passed at 12 yard broadside shot on a feeding cow. I am still kicking myself. I learned something that day.
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I killed three cows before I ever got a chance at a bull. I live in elk country so I get to hunt them every year and I like EATING elk. Nothing legal gets a pass.
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Unless I know a buck is trailing her or she has fawns with her, a doe doesn't get a free pass.
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For me its all about the meat and hunting. I only let a doe pass if Its my last tag in my pocket and more than a week left in the season...otherwise arrow is on the way.
I don't like my freezer empty and I don't like being in the. House during hunting season.
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I'm wearing that same collar right now, as a matter of fact. To make matters worse, the freezer is out of venison and our gun season just started. But then again, I've ended my season early a couple of times in the past and was just miserable the rest of the Fall. "Tag soup" isn't so bad once you get used to it!
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My guidelines for what I will shoot change on a daily basis, lol. I don't go by the rule "never pass up a shot on the first day that you would take on the last day". More like don't pass up a shot on the first day that you will regret not taking the last day. Slightly different. I give a lot of does a pass early in the season, hoping that they will be bait for the rut. Then I shoot them later on if I have the freezer space.
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I'm in a different situation,I live in a gated community and we have a management control bow hunt.The Idea is to shoot the breeders,this season I haven't had a good shot at a mature does but I've passed on younger deer at least eight,we also have to shoot a doe before we can kill a buck,of course I've had many chances to shoot a buck.Late season no passes.
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Gambling experts will tell you not to risk it if you can't stand to lose it... ;) That doesn't mean you (and I) wouldn't like to have it back, though.
Good thoughts.
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I'm in the same boat....pretty cocky early on, passed on several "pretty good" bucks and countless does. Oh well.....I have the entire month of December yet, and one of my sons killed a does a week ago, so it will be ok.
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A bird in the hand is the same as a deer in the hand. I love venison. I'd choose a big buck over a doe or small buck anyday but am thrilled to take either.
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I am with you Izzy. Nobody will ever accuse me of being picky.
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Been there in 2010. I rhink every hunter that hunts very much suffers through it some time. It will pass. Good luck!
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Hahaha apparently tradgang needs a support group, simmilar to AA where all of us cocky hunters who pass up shots in hope of something bigger and better can all get together and vent our sorrows and regrets. Of course someone will need to bring store bought food and beverages since none of us will have any venison to provide lol it might just be the biggest, most emotional tradgang gathering to date!
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I've done it passed on a bunch of "gimme" shots on does early and it never paid off. I'm not happy pretending to be a trophy hunter sure I have killed a few nice bucks. But I'm not going to hold out for them there too far and few between. I hunt public land and the gun season is based around the rut. This year is really sucking for me. I did not even see a buck till the week before gun season. I did have a few encounters one of which I really wish I could have back. A 10 pointer at about 5 yds straight on looking right at me. A small,opportunity at an 8 and busted by a forky right Under me.
Well! All three were taken on opening day of the gun season : :( which I did go out in with my longbow after the fact. I was out Friday and had a nice doe present herself at 15 then 8 then 5 then Maybe 8 stopped facing away perfectly broadside nice little tuft of hair marking her vitals totally very calm oblivious to my presence my mouth was watering. Did I take her? Nope .. Bucks only in my part of the state.
So gun season ended yesterday very few deer have been seen in the past 2 weeks I wasn't even hearing any gun shots. All the tracks I'm seeing in fresh snow are small.
I don't buy into the tag soup isn't that bad. I'll take delicious doe chops or a roast any day. I'm feeling pretty dismal about the rest of my season. I wish you luck with yours and as the old saying goes. "Never pass up on the first day what you you would be thrilled to take on the last".
Tim
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For eating purposes Id much rather shoot a doe.
IMO the meat is better.
Bow shots are so scarce latley I never pass on a shot.
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The number of deer I see and the shot opportunities I have.......I pass on nothing! Still waiting......I did have another miss this year. That's 4 shots in 40 plus years. Now you know why I don't pass on anything.
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That's a problem we all face, especially if you are past the "kill everything" phase and you like to be out there hunting.
You can't control nature so you have no idea if you will ever see another critter, much less be within bow range of a relaxed animal.
All we can do is our best. I believe scotch was invented to help with the lamentation over the next half year till the new season is neigh.
ChuckC
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Yup. Same boat two weeks ago passed on a doe @ 6 yards, she had twins following. Made my mind up right away, she can pass, no regrets.
That was in regular firearm season. I have a week and smoke poke season starts, so times a ticking.
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I guess you have to ask yourself why you are hunting deer...if your primary reason is for the meat...I would always take a Doe...if you want a trophy first and meat is secondary...then pass on the deer early....I love wild game meat and will take a doe or cow any time I can...cause you don't eat the antlers...that said though alot of hunters like big bucks....when I see one I do try to take it...if my freezer already has meat in it.... full freezer then I try for a magnificient animal...but not before...just me though
If you have more than one tag then you could take both!!!! as long as there are good numbers of the species you are after !!!!
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I get a boat load of tags in Maryland. If it's not a spotted fawn or a non legal buck it won't get the pass from me.
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it is funny though the stigma we have as hunters to be awestruck with a big buck or big bull...because they really are not any harder to hunt but there are fewer of them....IMHO
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My choice to shoot is all made when it happens on any given day, in the past I've let the same deer pass multiple times and then later decide to kill him.
I have seen the same 5pt 5 times and passed up shots at him on 3 separate occasions. Last night I seen him again and decided I would kill him when he came into my shooting lane this time. I was already drawing the bow and He made a hard right turn and took off chasing a doe just a few feet from entering my lane and was gone.
Who knows what kind of mood I'll be in next time I see him.....he may get a free pass again. LOL.
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I hunt for the hunt. So, I usually stick it out until I get a good shot on a nice buck. I don't mind "eating" a tag. That being said, my standards usually lower the longer the season goes on.
I've passed on at least 5 different smallish bucks, and probably 20+ does and fawns(I don't shoot them) this season. No regrets.
Here in Wisconsin we also have the benefit of a fairly long bow season, so that helps. Still a little over a month to go!
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I had to pass on a couple bucks at 10-15 yards on public land this week since I'm tagged out and can only shoot antlerless.
One of them was a decent 2.5 year old and I could have shot him if I hadn't taken a 1 1/2 old buck on my first day out. I've had it both ways though! My first year with traditional I ended up passing on two different shots at young bucks and then never saw a good buck after that...ate tack soup that year
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T Folts- "It has been said to never pass up a shot on the first day that you would take on the last day or you may have tag soup!"
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well put!
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Well John, there is still time... But if you don't connect, I guess there is always the grocery store.
Good Luck
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Wow, I didn't expect so many replies and comments. Its great belonging to such a fine group of traditional bowhunters because we do actually understand each other and the traditional hunt. Thanks You all for your interest and well wishes...I'll be sure to give the tail end of the bow season my best efforts and you can be sure that whatever walks within bow range and offers a good shot opportunity...I will be taking the shot.
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Good luck!!!