Close But No Cigar

Ben S. · Post by **Ben S.** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:25 am

I was sitting in my stand on Saturday morning. It's a new location down in a ravine. I'm right along a creek. About 7:45 I catch movement out of the corner of my eye on the other side of the creek. It's in some thick brush but I can see it's a buck (either a 6 or 8 pt.). he comes within 12 yds of me but I can't get a clear shot across the creek. I could tell he wanted to get a drink. I needed him to move about another 3ft and I could have had an easy double lung shot. I swear he stood there for 3 or 4 minutes not moving and I was searching for a way to get a shot at him but I just didn't feel comfortable enough to shoot. He finally started to move but it was the wrong way. He doubled back and went behind me to the creek and started drinking. I still couldn't get a shot because my crossbow limbs couldn't clear the branches in that direction. I thought I could wait him out but The wind switched a little and he got my scent. Goodbye buck. To have him 12yds away and not able to get a shot off is still driving me crazy but in my mind I made the right decision. It's funny how it goes sometimes.

russm · Post by **russm** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:56 am

You made the right decision, and the hard decision. Look on the bright side, at least you got a look. And I'm sure it got your heart pounding. Much better than the days we go in and come back with out even a twig snap to get you excited.

North2South · Post by **North2South** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:02 am

Absolutely you made the right decision

...Had a similar situation last week where I had clear lanes but no assured "quick kill" shot presentation. It was a decent (for Florida) buck that had battled one side of his rack off and still had a sizeable (again for Florida) 3 point single-sided rack.

But ohhhhh does your heart pound or what??!!!

Just think, you'll get to do it again soon!

He'll be back.

Ben S. · Post by **Ben S.** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:10 am

Not only was my heart pounding , my left leg was doing the twist.

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:32 am

Another time ben s, you did right....

Hoss · Post by **Hoss** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:58 am

yep you did right....... I still remember when a nice 10 point came within 20 yds of me but he was just behind the thick stuff..he never presented me with a good shot..I could have shot throught the crap--- but to wound a nice animal like that and never recover it which is a great possibility so i didnt...MAN did that wear me out..I never saw him again, but I am glad I didnt take a bad shot.... I had a great day anyway..that was a thrill..Im proud of you Bro and I dont even know you...

franklinm · Post by **franklinm** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 3:19 pm

I also thoink you did right
north2south what part of florida are you in .

ComfyBear · Post by **ComfyBear** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 4:02 pm

I had a spike-horn at twenty-five yards in a clear cut. With the accuracy of my Exomag it was an easy shot,

but with him coming at me straight head-on I had to just watch and let him walk and disappear.

Things like that happen, but with patience and preserverance, sooner or later the right shot will present it. For instance, just an hour later, I had a 32 yard shot. Looking through my scope, I watched as my SlickTrick tipped GoldTip Laser II nearly decapitated and toppled a grouse.

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 4:04 pm

Way ta go ComfyBear.....

North2South · Post by **North2South** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 9:57 pm

Ben ...where were you hunting? Tecumseh area? Amherstburg? I used to live in LaSalle and Essex before heading south...

Hope you take him on real soon!

Ben S. · Post by **Ben S.** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:11 pm

Hey North2South. I actually hunt area 93 somewhere around Watford. It's about 1hr 40 min drive from Windsor. I'd love to hunt around Amherstburg but I've never had any luck finding any land I could get permission to hunt.