Ever pass on a buck ?

[EastTx]

Ever pass on a buck to kick yourself
later. I passed a 7 pointer 2 days ago at 24 yards. Perfect long tines on his left, crab claw 2 in his right. 16-17 spread. I was hoping to see a different deer and an older one. Now I'm kicking myself.

I do it several times every season. Sometimes it works out, sometimes I end up eating tags.

[Ptedmonds3]

Yeah I'm too picky all the time. Still waiting on my first bow buck, but also waiting for my first mature buck. Which makes me kick myself when I've had chances at younger bucks in bow range.

[GarGuy]

That's a good one. Why did you let him go?

I have a lot bigger one coming. As a matter of fact, he showed up right at last light. I didn't shoot because of the rain. It was too late to guarantee a perfect hit and in that weather, I just didn't do it. Im mad at em this evening though. Gonna let the sticks fly!

[boy wonder]

I have a lot bigger one coming. As a matter of fact, he showed up right at last light. I didn't shoot because of the rain. It was too late to guarantee a perfect hit and in that weather, I just didn't do it. Im mad at em this evening though. Gonna let the sticks fly!

Hope you get the bigger one, but, that one will do!

[GarGuy]

Hope you get the bigger one, but, that one will do!

I agree. Passing deer like that in East tx is not a good idea. Sure wish we had two buck counties here.

[Big Brass]

Two years ago I was invited by one of our vendors to hunt their ranch out in Brady. We went straight out to the stands as soon as we arrived and unpacked. I had a lot of does and nubbin bucks and a few young 6's and 8's. Then this nice 10 showed up out of nowhere at about 120 yards quartering away and just stood there. I put the crosshairs on him to get a better look. He was a nice 10 point about 16-17 inches wide with long main beams and good mass. I held off because he had short tines. His G2's were only 5-6 inches, G3's about 4 inches and 2-3 inch G4's. His brows were the longest tines he had. I was guessing him at 3.5, maybe 4.5. I had him dead to rights but just wasn't sure if he met ranch standards for a shooter so I held off and he dissapeared back into the brush after a few minutes. When we got back to the ranch house that evening we went through pics of deer they had taken and had on camera. They had never seen that buck before but he would have been a good representative deer for that ranch. The owner gave me the green light but I never saw him again. That would have been my first buck. Still kicking myself over that one. I ended up shooting a nice doe the last hunt of the weekend.

The good news is I have a yearly invite out there and will be back in Brady the second week in December..

[SouthTX1911]

Didn't technically pass but videoed him too long at 60 yrds. Figured it was time to shoot my biggest buck yet and he started walking off as I was putting down the camera. Soon as I got my rifle up he stepped into the woods and didn't come back out. Beating the crab out of myself now. Still lots of season and he has no idea. I still have hope. His left side is not broken. He grew like that for some reason. I'm certain he is at least 5.5 so he is a definite shooter.
Here's a trail cam pic


And here is a pic off the video.

[Target-panic]

Yes many times, the killing part is the easiest. Letting a buck that you could have shot makes for some great stories and your mental trophy room can be amazing!!