I owned him at 20 feet and let him walk

[Knawbone]

Not passing any kind of judgement, the judgement was his to make. In light of the fact that the event was posted here on TG, is it not relevant to inquire about his mind set at the time. There is always a reason we do something or don't do something. Just curious about the mind set at the time....... it's interestingly different from mine!

[TxAg]

Good on ya. Thanks for sharing. Nevermind the naysayers.

[SheltonCreeker]

That's cool. I have done that. Not on a pig but on a whitetail. It is a moment that often makes me wonder why I passed. I believe some things are meant to be some aren't. Thanks for sharing.

[Thumper Dunker]

Originally posted by ron w:
 

Originally posted by longbow fanatic 1:
Bjorn,

IMHO, no matter what anyone's opinion is, you needn't justify your decision to pass on a shot to anyone.

I agree....... [/b]

+2

[cahaba]

+3 Thanks for the story too.

[Roughrider]

Your choice to make at each opportunity.  Me, I'ld have tried to kill him, but I haven't shot many hogs and really enjoy hunting them.

[30coupe]

Originally posted by LCH:
Sounds like you just didn't want to pack him out of there. That has happened to me a few times with deer since I have aged a little.LCH

Now that reminds me of me!  

[Bobaru]

Not sure I've ever owned my prey.  Not sure how that works.  ...  The concept doesn't seem to be for me...    Sorry.

[Knawbone]

I think it was just a figure of speech Bobaru. I hope no one thinks asking" WHY" makes one judgmental or a naysayer!! It doesn't!! Expressing an opinion does not make one a naysayer either. Relax guys, there just opinions. Not everyone thinks that just because someone posts a hunting event, that it's automatically noteworthy or deserving of praise.Not saying that that is the case here, but then again, maybe it is. Therefore is it not prudent and logical to ask why? I think it is! JMO

[TonyW]

Soon I spied a boar at 30 yards through my binos, he was sleeping in a tangle of logs looking just like another fallen trunk. I stalked in and got to about 12 yds, he was snoring away and a log was protecting his vitals.

I always thought if you snooze, you lose.  

Your stalk; your call.

[Big Lefty]

Toward the end of my compound days, I climbed into a stand I always saved for the rut.  This stand required an ENE wind, which is extremely rare here.  I had no sooner hung my highly engineered machine up, when what would have been my best buck stepped out at "gimme" range and stayed there for a long time.  With several hours left until sunset, I was never tempted to pick up my "bow".  Turned out he was the best deer I saw during that sit.  My Dad, and several close friends that saw the pics I snapped of him, thought I was crazy.  The fact was, I had already sought more out of my hunts.  It was that hunt, along with numerous others that season, that made me realize I needed to change the way I hunted.  

I will never judge anyone's choices on a fair chase hunt.  To each his own, as long as its done on a level playing field.

[Lefty]

You don't own anything until it is in the truck!  Party on Garth!

[stumpinkaiser]

Very cool story, nice to know there are true sportsman out there. What I love about hunting and always will is getting close and seeing animals in their worlds.

[Sixby]

Bjorn, Surely you know that there would be very diverse opinions on this. They went from understanding and full agreement to why?? to disagreement , clear to condemnation and almost accusation.
I agree with what you did and fully understand. Been there and done that quite a few times. We are all individuals with different experiences. different backgrounds, different perspectives on life. One may be in complete disagreement now and life experience change that to complete agreement later in life . Or Nottttttttttttttt. I am one that changed from a stone cold killer to one that does not especially like killing but knows that you must kill to eat the meat. No way am I going vegan. LOL Or quitting hunting , butttttttttt its nice to maintain autonomy of choice.


God bless you all, Steve

[Bjorn]

Hope y'all enjoyed this thread as much as I did. Great responses form some serious woodsmen and hunters. Thanks  

[Alexander Traditional]

Glad to see you weigh back in. I've never passed on a hog,but I did pass on a bobcat that was seven yards away. I just enjoyed watching it way too much.

[longrifle]

I respect and give kudos to the guy or gal who has a certain standard or goal in mind when they set out on a hunt, the 6 point they don't shoot today, they may shoot the small 4 point tomorrow. We have all passed up shoots at different times me included. My feeling is the same as Lefty, you don't " own him" until he's in the truck, period. And probably most of my problem comes from hearing guys mostly long range wheelie bow guys state" Yeh well I had a buck in at 30 yards but, he wasent a shooter buck so I let him pass, coulda shot him easy". No , he ain't dead to he's dead.