I Passed A ten Yard Shot At A Mature, Lone Doe

[glenbo]

I am with you Izzy. Nobody will ever accuse me of being picky.

[ISP 5353]

Been there in 2010.  I rhink every hunter that hunts very much suffers through it some time.  It will pass.  Good luck!

[Kamm1004]

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!

[Mr. fingers]

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

[Slickhead]

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.

[ron w]

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.

[ChuckC]

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

[northener]

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.

[trubltrubl]

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 !!!!

[Cwilder]

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.

[trubltrubl]

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

[Brad Arnett]

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.

[Doug_K]

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!

[Michael Arnette]

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

[Michael Arnette]

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!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Well John, there is still time... But if you don't connect, I guess there is always the grocery store.

Good Luck

[The Ole' Bowhunter]

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.

[Brad Arnett]

Good luck!!!