MIssed a GIANT, spooked him, what now?


GoshenGrunter

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Well, I hunted a ridge top bedding area tonight. first day all year in this tree. about a one acre thick honeysuckle bedding area with rubs all over. About 5:15 I was about to shoot a doe when I saw a giant rack coming through the woods. He was coming at 30 yards to give me a broadside shot. I drew while he was behind some brush and instead of continuing on the trail that would take him broadside, he turned and came straight at me. He got to ten yards and looked right up at me. I was drawn back and couldn't let down. I have practiced a head on heart shot every day before hunting so I was ready for it. I couldn't hold back any longer an knew he would bolt if let down. I put the pin on his chest and let fly. Unfortunately irked.gif from holding so long i didn't notice my cam was touching my tree stand which kicked off when i shot. I missed by a clean 5 feet. He ran about 20 yards and hung around for a minute before trotting off tail up. He never winded me or anything but I'm pretty sure he saw me.

What do I do now? There are other trees to get up in but most are upwind of the bedding area. This was a 190-200" buck. 12 typical frame with kickers and splits everywhere. He couldn't walk through the brush without turning his head sideways. I'm bummed, but i think i didn't blow it too bad. the doe that was around didn't spook at all. she hung around till dark. WHAT NOW!?!?!?!?!? I can't eat, sleep, hardly talk I'm straight sick guys!

P.S. He wasn't interested in the doe at all! weak rut out my way so far.

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Like a wise old hunter told me if not once, several times....deer get spooked several times a day.....several times a day...hang a wick stick, make sure that the deer can't get too close to your stand....I put brush all around my tree, so they dont get too close....clean up a trail in front of you, for him to choose the trail with the better shot...he is cruising, he will be back....maybe try and get higher.......you'll get him, just gonna take some work.........good luck. al

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ive jumped a nice buck in a bed area one morning around 10:30 and a friend had shot him in the same stop a month later. chance of u seein him a good and theres hot does in the area hes not even thinkin about you all that much. the end of it all he will probly still bed there often. my opinon cause ive had a few jumped on me but never ran them out for good. just have to be careful. i also like to be in my tree or where ever im huntin a least a hour or hour and half before 1st light

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The "spooking" will not keep him away. What will keep him away is your SCENT.

The best time to kill a big buck is "the first time you are in your stand". Why? Because there was no previous scent in the area and you had him fooled. I bet that he has since crossed your trail and scented you. This will make him more alart when in that area. Keep hunting him.... you have nothing to loose.

good luck to all

the dog

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I had a similar thing happen on saturday morning. I was way late getting to the bush it was still dark but barley. I was walking around trying to find the spot I had picked a few days before when I had been out scouting, settled on a spot a little ways away 'cause it was starting to get light ( I don't have a stand there so I have to ground sit) I set my stool and Knapsack down, sit and as I am pulling my mask up from around my neck I hear something walking straight out in front of me as he steps around a tree 30 yards away I can only make out the white from his tail and rack but count at least 3 on each side and could not tell for sure but he likely had brow tines as well I would assume. He started to move behind the tree and I grabbed my bow off the ground ad pull back ( my bow is a old outcast that I got from a friend to get myself started last year so it is all but quiet) He stopped looked around the tree at me for a few seconds then carried on around the tree and stopped, I held up on him for what I think was about 5 minutes and could not wait any longer. I shot and missed high, not sure if the arrow hit a branch in front of him or if I simply missed. He ran a little ways away but not far although I could not see him, hung out about 10 minutes then trotted away.

Hopefully I will see him again and next time hopefully be more patient

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