Made a rookie mistake!
 

I made a rookie mistake today while deer hunting. I don't consider myself a rookie since I have put 14 deer on the ground in the last seven seasons with 14 shots. And I have watched hundreds of deer while deer hunting.

I first spotted him on the wrong side of the fence. He looked like an eight pointer. In a few minutes he jumped to my side. It was a 200 yard shot (I have the range marked at every 50 yards with markers on the fence posts). He was partially obscured by brush but the vital area was exposed. It was a do able shot. I have a solid rest in my shooting house and have a Nikon Buckmasters 3-9x40 on my '06. I decided to wait for a better shot. Wrong decision! He faded into the brush and I never saw him again.

Moral of this story? If you get a do able shot on a nice buck, you better take it. The big bucks don't get that way by giving hunters easy shots.

:goodposting:not a mistake. you knew it wasnt a good shot or you would have taken it. you did the right thing by waiting. Yes it sux when they vanish on ya,but thats why its hunting and not called killing. Its not over until its over and theres always next season. You did the right thing, dont beat yourself up over it

x2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I know you are right. Still, it was a let down when he disappeared. Two things probably enabled me not to shoot. The first is I killed a seven point on Dec. 10. The other is the season runs through this month so I still have almost a month to try to get him.

I let two does walk that came out after he did.

BTW, here is the deer I killed.

http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/...ter/Deer/1.jpg

http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/...ter/Deer/2.jpg

http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/...ter/Deer/3.jpg

Nice buck there---- am I missing something? I thought you said you didn't shoot?? lol,, congrats either way!

Nevermind- I re-read your post! my bad!

That was one I had killed earlier in the season.

Yeah i figured that out after I re-read your post! Nice buck there