I missed an absolute MONSTER on Sunday

[Grizzlymudder]

i'm still sick about it.

hunting on the ground, armed with a 30-30. 3pm, sittin at the base of a pine tree, enjoying the day. i hear a twig snap behind me. i look over my right shoulder and see this huge rack comin toward me, 40 yards. his head down, mozyin along nice and slow. he strolled behind 2 big pines which gave me the chance to swivel around and get set up for the shot. perfectly comfortable, with my elbow propped up on my knee, right in my sweet spot. i **** the hammer on my 30-30 and wait for him to appear. he steps out from behind the trees enough to take a shot. the only thing between him and me was a small sapling about 5 feet tall, no leaves and minimal branches. i put the bead right on his front shoulder and let it fly. well he bolted outta there, back the way he came and disappeared down the side of the ridge. i watched him bound over a stone wall, and i tell ya, this deer was well over 200lbs. he was huge... i went over to where he was... no blood, no hair, no nothin. i couldn't belive it!! upon further inspection, i see that my shot hit the sapling and apparantly had deflected the bullet just enough to miss him. at that close range, that woulda ripped right through him no problem. i tracked him for about a mile, looking for blood or any sign that he had been hit, but nothing.

i still can't get that out of my head, and it's been keeping me awake at night! and to make things worse, i have to sit here at work! it's absolutely killin me!!! man, that was a bruiser...

this was only the 2nd time i've hunted this area. the first time, last year, i shot a big 8 pointer that dressed out at 185. i think i'll be going back...

[BULLTITAN]

Next time try not to hit those stupid saplings. When you hunt, do you actually use the meat or is it just for sport? The reason I'm asking is because I met this captain that only hunt for the skin of the deer so he can make manikins out of them for target practice in his back yard....I know, that sh!t don't make any sense. He bow hunts.

[Grizzlymudder]

i absolutely eat the meat. every bit of it. i can't think of a bigger disrespect to the beast. the precious protein is consumed, the hide is kept and tanned, and the rack (if there is one) is kept and proudly put on display. ANY and EVERY deer is a gift. to keep only the hide or the antlers and discard the rest is beyond disgusting.

[tnbowhunter]

Oh man, that really blows. But it is a fact that we don't always get them all. I've certainly had my share of misses and it seems that it is always the big one that got away unscathed.

I am glad that it was a clean miss, and I applaud you for spending the time to verify that you didn't just wound it.

Now get back out there and get him this time!!

[Grizzlymudder]

believe me, there is NOTHING i would rather be doing right now than being out there!! if i'm lucky enough to get another crack at him, or any legal deer for that matter, it won't happen again!

[njtitan]

sorry to hear about your mishap.....

I know this isn't what you want to hear...but its much better to miss cleanly than wound it and never find it.......go give that sucker another try!

[Grizzlymudder]

oh i absolutely agree 100%. i'm playin hookie from work on friday...

[njtitan]

Good Luck!

[Grizzlymudder]

thanks! love the avatar btw...

[Shane06fl]

I know exactly how you feel!!! I missed two nice racked bucks with a 350gr solid lead home cast conicle .50 cal slug. One do to a stuck rear sight and one , heck I guess I just missed. I redeemed myself this weekend

[Stoobie's Titan]

Its the nicely racked blondes that are OK to wound, and let get away ...lol

[njtitan]

YES....your absoulutely correct about that.......