How many did you give a "pass" this season?

[twitchstick]

This year I only got out a few days but still passed up 10 to 12 bucks. I passed up a few of elk but I mainly was trying to get family members shots first. Last year I hunted almost the whole season and it was close to 50 bucks and 1 elk.

[huntryx]

One too many

[D. Key]

I bought several acres in SE Texas, where there are about as many poachers as there are deer so my opportunities are very limited.  We have an antler restriction (13" inside spread) on bucks so immature bucks are off the menu.  I have the luxury to hunt almost every day (morning, afternoon or both) so I hunt an average of 7-8 sits per week.  This year I have sighted 42 deer since Sept. 29 and passed on one small yearling.  Sunday afternoon while sitting on the ground, I had a 1 1/2 year old 7 point come by at 8-10 yds.  I had seen him 2 other times and just couldn't make him 13" (12 1/2" maybe) so even if a shot presented itself, I wasn't going to take it.  All-in-all, I have had a great season for my area by seeing more deer than ever before and even though I haven't punched a tag, it has been a great season.  Shoot straight all.

[longbowman]

I started hunting before treestands and cameras and hunting shows.  To this day I don't use a camera because I feel like it degrades the deer God placed there for me to hunt by saying, that one doesn't measure up or isn't good enough for me.  I still scout by sign and boots on the ground and while small buck have walked away from me it was never because they weren't good enough it was usually because I didn't want to stop hunting.  So "hit list", only 5 yr. old buck etc...that's for the private controlled and managed game farms they pass off as being normal fair chase deer on shows.  I don't shoot fawns and have antler restrictions in my hunting area so those that don't meet that walk.

[IndianaBowman]

I live and hunt in Indiana and we have a one buck rule. I killed a nice 133" 10 pt on Oct 14 and thus spent the rest of the season hunting does. Of course I had a parade of bucks and virtually no does. I "passed" on at least 20 different bucks ranging in size from spike to HUGE 12 pt (8 yrds broadside). It was a fun year. I finally killed a doe on Dec. 22nd. Very fun year.

[Terry Green]

Terry...you must have been hunting in western Kentucky

Yeah...probably so 

[Friend]

Have passed on 43 solid shot opportunities on bucks in 76 hunts.

Need the deer to get off the nearly total nocturnal pattern...am stacking up many zero sightings now.

Still after them...

[TSP]

Hunting in this area is going through tough times, unless you have your own land or can drive a long way north (it's a big state) most land is posted and public land is the only viable option...and it's not much of an option due to poor management practices and over-regulation.  I was able to get out with my bow maybe eight times this year, seeing no deer.  The best day (early November, just before peak rut) was when I cut fresh tracks on two different deer, again with no sightings.  I considered myself lucky that day. 

I do envy those who see deer regularly, in these parts it's not how many you pass on during a season, it's how many you hope to see before you die, lol.

[gordydog]

I shot a nice 4 1/2 year old 145# doe early, so I was hunting for a good buck. Passed 29 bucks under 16 yards on my left side with a good shot angle. If they were on the wrong side of me or had a bad shot angle, I didn't count it as a pass. 3 bucks were 3 1/2 year olds.  I did a lot of filming, but sometimes questioned if I was nuts.  That's the curse(or beauty) of trail cams, you get to see what's out there and what you want to wait for.

[Huntrdfk]

Had 19 shot opportunities in Missouri, one of which I took and missed high. I had a good week out there, thanks Kenny!

Home in NH I passed on 9, which is good for the area I hunt.

David

[dnovo]

At this time I have 2 weeks left to hunt. I’ve been out several times in the last couple weeks and these 3 keep giving me shot opportunities but I killed a bigger one early and just really want a doe.

[dnovo]

Another look

[valleysniper]

Let well over a dozen does, and a handful of smaller bucks, nothing too exciting.....also missed 2 bucks, so does that count as a pass...lol

[OkKeith]

I was picky in October and passed on this 3 and 1/2 year old guy...

Put two big does in the freezer in November and got picky on bucks again. I have passed on several big does and some younger bucks holding out for a tall 5 and 1/2 year old I saw early in the season. Season closes on 15JAN20 so I hope to kill another freezer doe before then. I doubt I will see any of the older bucks now. They will be everywhere on the sixteenth though!

OkKeith

[Crittergetter]

I’ve passed every deer in the woods so far those season! 
2 days left then I’ll start hog hunting!

[PICKNGRIN]

I passed on several yearling fawns and a particular buck that had a fork on one side and a spike on the other.  Had him within range at least 3 different times.  Kind of wonder if I should have shot him.  He ended up feeding the coyotes after getting hit by a car about 300 yds from my stand.

[JAH518]

Had 3 encounters within 50yrd with him this year but couldn't get it done. Best opportunity was when I grunted him into 37yrd but just didn't feel good about length of a shot ………. well until he walked off and I placed an arrow in a stomp he was standing in front of.