Three cheers for ethical decisions

[Tradcat]

Caleb...you WILL be rewarded for that mature, and wise decision. I'm sure you were torn but you made the right call

[30coupe]

Caleb, I get down that way once in a while. My sons are in De Witt, and I usually hunt with them a time or two each year. Of course, I visit them more than that.

[Igor]

Bravo....I've passed on a number of deer within 10yds - still hunting the last couple of years because I wasn't positive I could tread the needle in the heavy stuff I hunt in...but never second guessed the decision - being that close and deciding to pass is a thrill in itself!

><>>
Glenn

[Kingsnake]

As we teach in the firearms safety classes . . .You will regret any shot you should NOT have taken, much more than any shot you SHOULD have taken.

Good call.

Kingsnake  

[moleman]

Good on you! .... I myself have passed up on shots because it didnt feel right or my confidence in making the shot just wasnt there.
I figure ive got lots of hunts ahead of me, no need in making choices i will regret.
We owe it to the game we hunt and to ourselves to make those ethical choices.

[Roadkill]

We hunted cow elk on the first of the month. A guy camped near us shot at an elk a couple hundred yars with his rifle.  He thought he missed, and checked anyway.  No blood no hair.  The next day, magpies showed up and upon investigation, found the cow.  He was dazed.  He then punched his tag complted, with a "wounded, unrecovered" box.
I applaud that,  true sportsmanship

[ripforce56]

Weather has been brutal up here in N Michigan, lots of rain a wind! Did get out a couple of times between rain storms in the PM! passed on a nice doe on Friday nite was getting dark same deal doe was spooky so didn't even draw! She never spooked just walked off! the problem up here is that if you hit one at dark and do not recover it real fast coyotes will be on it within a couple hours!

[Richie]

Good for you  

[EHK]

Congrats on a good decision.

Two years ago I had a small 6 come running into my stand chasing a doe.  Right behind them was the biggest buck I've ever seen in the woods.  Eventually he gave me a broadside shot at 11 yardsbut it was a very small window through some small trees.   I did not feel confident andhad to let him walk.  Never saw him again, but I'm happy to have that memory instead of forcing the shot nd possibly wounding such a beautiful animal.

[Bernie B.]

Boy, I can relate to this!  Last year I passed on a true 180" massive buck at twenty-one yards.  In my forty five years of deer hunting, this buck was truly the best buck I'd ever seen.  Even though the buck was broadside I just didn't feel comfortable with the shot.

I told my son Jay (JJB on here) that if I didn't see another deer all season I probably had one of the best mornings ever in a treestand.
The good news is that no one harvested this buck and I'm hoping we'll have another encounter this fall.

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[PaulRoberts]

Early on in my hunting career I saw enough of the results of poor judgment to have it stick. That is not what I'm out there for.

You know what you are capable of, and if you don't, you should practice more.

Good call.

[KentuckyTJ]

Originally posted by longbowben:
Last year i had a 160 plus buck 17 yards away just didn't like the angle so he is still alive.Couldn't take the chance of wounding him.

Now that would have broken down most. Good for you Ben!