wtnhunt Posted November 16, 2016 Report Share Posted November 16, 2016 Wife has been hunting hard since i killed my deer Friday, she had a close encounter with a nice buck Monday morning but no shot. She went yesterday morning and saw nothing with a 4 hour sit so she was little frustrated. So yesterday mid day i dumped the carcass and guts from my deer in the bottom and slightly covered it with intentions of whacking some yotes there. Told Catrina this morning as sure as i take my varmint rifle i will see a monster. So i opted for the cva instead and took off this morning to my stand looking over the bottom where i had dumped the carcass and guts. At 6:10 am across the bottom i see a big body with the head in the trees, legal shooting light was 6:03 so it was still pretty dim and the deer was almost 200 yards away. He was broadside though and i saw antlers as he turned and i was getting the gun up. He was at about 180 when i got on him good broadside and pulled the hammer back. I have made shots that far on deer and coyotes with that gun with no problem. For whatever reason I hesitated and picked up the binos with my gun rested on the rail and he then turned straight on giving a pretty good look as he aimed towards a ridge where i eventually lost view of him behind the trees. Pretty sure it was this 9 point we have had no pictures of in over a month. Think he is pushing upper 120's, a very nice buck for this part of TN. Think i am close? We only have 60 acres and a lot of pressure around us. I hope she gets a shot on him before the rifle season opens this weekend. I don't think i can let him or one like him walk again. The closer he got the more I thought if he turned I was going to take him, I grunted but he never gave another opportunity. What is the biggest you have passed, and did you later regret it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 17, 2016 Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 I first passed a wide 120" to let him grow another year as my daughter would be a first yr. hunter the following year. fast forward the next season...... opening day, Ashley decided to stay home opening eve., to baby sit a nephew. To my dismay, he came out 40 yards broadside and stood around. He had blew up to a 21" wide 10 pt. close to 150 I let him walk, figured he was a sure thing for 2nd eve. sit. WRONG! ...2nd afternoon he jumped the fence chasing a doe, and the neighbors shot him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 His 3's are pretty recognizable. Hopefully Catrina can get it done before the rifle season opens this weekend. If not well then who knows, he may end up in front of our 11 year old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 Looking at a 40 degree temp swing tomorrow, gonna tell her to try an all day sit if she can manage. Yesterday afternoon in the 77 degree she watched a doe with dark stained tarsals that she thought was in heat, doe and a younger buck bedded together. She said he corraled her back to the field away from the woods several times. Bedded right in front of her at dark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted November 17, 2016 Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 It's easy to 2nd guess a shooter or not when you already have one in the bag William...especially when you have the rest of the family that's hunting too. I've had some pass I kicked myself for not shooting before too and seen them blow up into something bigger the next year. Had some that were killed by the neighbors too but they don't kill all of them. Hope Catrina or one of your daughters gets a good look at him. Good luck to all the family! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted November 17, 2016 Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 I never pass on a 3 year old. I don't see enough big bucks on the ground that I hunt to hold out for a 4 or 5 year old deer every year. I pass on two year olds most of the time, but have been known to take one if my season isn't going too good. Hopefully one of you will get a crack at that one. Is he a little piebald? Kind of hard to tell from the infrared, but looks like a little discoloration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 31 minutes ago, MUDRUNNER said: Is he a little piebald? Kind of hard to tell from the infrared, but looks like a little discoloration. Think it is his summer coat shedding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHawkeyeState Posted November 18, 2016 Report Share Posted November 18, 2016 When I first started deer hunting, I had big bucks pounded into my head. I watched too many TV shows and read too many hunting magazines. I've been deer hunting for 6 years and I passed a few the first couple of years that I would not now. I figured out that you cant set unreal standards that you see on the TV shows. The more I got into archery the more I enjoyed the work it takes to get close to deer and kill them with an arrow. With that said yes I've passed some that I have regretted, but it is what it is. Lately I have been happy with the experience of hunting and putting meat in the freezer. A rack is a nice added bonus. Good luck to you and your family. Hopefully someone puts him down. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Catrina got a real sick feeling when 2 rifle shots rang our Saturday morning 10 minutes before legal shooting light very close. No clue what was shot. She has not seen any deer since the rifle season opened yesterday. A lot of shots all around us yesterday. Can't go back and change it but guess another lesson learned here. Although she would never admit it my wife would probably be a little upset if I got 2 before she got one, but she would be more upset to find out someone up the road killed the deer after I let him walk. Hopefully that one or one better is still out there for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 21, 2016 Report Share Posted November 21, 2016 Oh no! I hope not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2016 As of 8:22 this am this buck was very much still alive. The trail cam pics do not do him justice. He is easily a 130 inch buck and is possibly bigger than anything i have killed. Don't know what exactly happened but i missed him at about 195 yards with my 270. Afraid my scope may have gotten knocked off the other day i will have to check it before i get out again. I had never missed a buck with that rifle before. Feeling sick to my stomach at this point. Anyway Catrina has renewed hopes. Was too cold for her this morning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2016 Checked my gun and it is ok. I have been battling a sinus infection and had fever and achey again this morning and did not really want to go, but she said it was too cold and rolled back over in bed. So made some coffee took some tylenol and dragged myself to my stand. Too bad she didn't go. About all I can think of is that I did not have a solid rest, should have been a dead deer. Catrina sent me a message maybe 30 minutes earlier telling me to kill him if i saw him. Really didn't expect to see him pop out in broad daylight in the open. He took off like he was hit and i found him in my scope and fired another round before he made it out of my view and off of our property. Waited about 20 minutes and walked down there and about half way to where he had been standing i hear a deer start blowing, pretty sure the deep tone was that buck so i stopped. I walked on back to the house gave a little time and got Catrina to come back with me. We looked all over and no sign of a hit anywhere. While we were looking for sign I hit him, two does popped out of the woods right near where he was standing when I shot. Catrina is back down there now until dark. There were 3 does around that circled around and back a couple times plus a fourth one he was not far behind when he showed up. Watched him walk back and forth a little along my fence tracking that doe before I had a clear shot and noticed he was limping a little on a front leg, hopefully he is still close and she gets a shot on him this afternoon. fwiw using 150 grain core lokts from a 270. Have had a few go a ways but i don't recall any not leaving any blood within a reasonable distance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 22, 2016 Report Share Posted November 22, 2016 Fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 On Monday, November 21, 2016 at 7:15 PM, fly said: Fingers crossed! Catrina shot a different buck from the same stand early yesterday morning. I went with her to help her find it. When we got to the riverbed out from behind some brush a buck blew and turned and took off but not real fast, I could see just one beam through the brush and my gut tells me it was that 9, so he was probably coming back to that area later yesterday morning. Looked all over again for sign I hit the deer yesterday and no sign. Was going to head to that stand this morning, but it is in the 50's and raining and cannot stop coughing. Have to take a trip later in the morning anyway. Dunno, maybe should wait for a better day and hope he is still around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 24, 2016 Report Share Posted November 24, 2016 Wait till you stop coughing. I've been battling a cough for two months now. Going to see the doctor next week.Did Cattina get her buck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted November 24, 2016 Report Share Posted November 24, 2016 3 hours ago, fly said: Did Catrina get her buck? Ditto...Same question? Bummer you didn't get the 9 William but it sounds like he's still around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2016 4 hours ago, fly said: Wait till you stop coughing. I've been battling a cough for two months now. Going to see the doctor next week.Did Cattina get her buck? Well I went anyway, and yes I am going to try to get in to the doctors office tomorrow if they can get me in. Tired of this crud, will take a shot if they offer. Had to get down a little early yesterday morning when I could not fight back coughing, but it was a fun sit. Yesterday morning sat that same stand again, had 6 antlerless and a little buck. The big boy never showed up. Gonna move a trail camera to that area this weekend. Really I am more unsure with each sit of how I could have missed, put my rifle up and got in the same shooting position and all I can think is there is a little leaf and twig a few feet in front of me that I could have possibly hit if I were more to my left than I think I was. Shooting rail on that store bought ladder stand will not go high enough for me so propped on it with my elbow rested on the rail. Had some buzzards hanging around down there this morning sitting in the tree tops. Walked down and looked around and they did not fly off until I got practically under them, but found nothing. And yes we did recover Catrina's buck. First deer taken from that stand. Was hoping she would post her story and pics. She needs a little help with posting her pics so I am gonna need to help her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2016 Moved a camera back to the bottom this morning. We had seen this buck from two different stands, Catrina saw him around 9 am about 400 yards away from where I had seen him. I saw him from the same stand at 6:10 am right at very first light and then 5 days later at 8:22 on a bright clear sunny crisp cool morning. Would tend to think he is probably bedding somewhere nearby. We had had several pics of him on the other side of our property back over the summer before the neighbor on that side had his property logged. After the loggers moved in we quit getting pics of him on any cameras. Been hunting with this same 270 for over 20 years, probably killed 40 deer with it and numerous other animals, and had never missed a buck. Til now the only buck I had that I did not find that I had shot with that gun was a year I used winchester power points, had good blood on that one but he made it off our property and never could find good sign after he crossed the old river channel. Had never lost one with the core lokts. Fortunate maybe to have not missed one until now. Guess I am maybe in denial though, didn't have the shakes, should have hit him but there was absolutely no sign. Hopefully he is still around and we get him on camera or someone gets another shot on him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 26, 2016 Report Share Posted November 26, 2016 I saw Catrina's buck - big body and looks mature. Great looking TN buck! Ya know, every night before bed I think to myself... "How in the heck could William have MISSED that buck!" LOL I wouldn't worry about it - could be that that particular round was defective for some reason. Could be odd timing in that the buck heard something (not you) just before you shot and was in the process of doing the duck and run and the bullet sailed over his back. Perhaps a small twig or something fell from above and right into the barrel and you never knew it causing the bullet to stray a bit. Whatever the reason - I"m POSITIVE it wasn't your fault. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2016 4 hours ago, fly said: I saw Catrina's buck - big body and looks mature. Great looking TN buck! Ya know, every night before bed I think to myself... "How in the heck could William have MISSED that buck!" LOL I wouldn't worry about it - could be that that particular round was defective for some reason. Could be odd timing in that the buck heard something (not you) just before you shot and was in the process of doing the duck and run and the bullet sailed over his back. Perhaps a small twig or something fell from above and right into the barrel and you never knew it causing the bullet to stray a bit. Whatever the reason - I"m POSITIVE it wasn't your fault. Yep, no doubt if I missed it was my fault. I may have jerked the trigger, don't know. Seeing more buzzards circling low in the area yesterday afternoon and again this morning sure does not help ease my mind though. Will try to keep a close watch and if I see them again see if I can pinpoint where they are keying in on and try to search again in that area. Hunted that stand this morning, 4 hours and saw nada. Should have been a great morning. Catrina's deer was a decent body sized buck, probably 175+ lbs on the hoof, although dragging in the sand he felt over 200. lol Luckily was not too far of a drag to get back to the tractor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Congratulations to your wife on her buck. Good luck with the rest of your season. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 redemption is sweet! story and pics to come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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