What is your most heartbreaking miss when hunting.

William81

I have one that still haunts me. Two seasons ago, I missed a 45 yard shot at a tall, wide 12 point. It was spotted this year a couple of times near where I hunt but no one got a shot at it.

The gentleman that hunts the property next to where I hunt saw it after season this winter and believes it will net over 180 Boone and Crocket. I know I missed it because I was too busy looking at antlers instead of my sights.....I cringe just thinking about it....

Edited by - william81 on 05/04/2002 21:03:14

William81

I have one that still haunts me.

muley

About 35 years ago, I was driving a sandbuggy down a desert wash with high walls following my dad and a friend of his who was a little way ahead in a jeep. (Boy, what a sentence). The wash was spotted with Ironwood and Palo Verde trees along its banks. Anyway, I came upon the jeep tracks where apparently my dad had taken off really fast. Along side of the jeep tracks I could see where a deer had bounded down the wash. I gave chase and came upon the jeep stopped in the wash. My dad was pointing where the buck had topped out of the wash. I jumped out of the sandbuggy and climbed the 40 or 50 feet to the top. I scanned the area and couldn't see the buck. Finally giving up I started back down to the vehicles when I heard a rock roll to my right. I looked and saw the huge 4 point buck(10 point to you eastern boys) slowly climbing up the side of the wash practically in the tracks that I made to top out and no more then 50 feet away. I was carrying an old Model 94 family heirloom that I had never missed a deer with. I took careful aim and emptied the rifle at the buck and he never increased his speed to the top of the wash. He just kept looking at me over his shoulder. I ran back to the top and watched as he ran off across the flat. No blood. No hair. No nothing. He was the biggest desert muley I had ever seen and missing him still haunts me.
Thinking back, I must have passed within 10 feet of him when I first climbed the bank of the wash.
Please pardon my misspellings and sentence structure but my tears are making the keyboard slippery.

**I love the smell of Hoppes #9 in the morning**

William81

Muley, I am crying with you brother.....

Shootist3006

Just this last week, the state of Utah wrote me a 'dear John', told me I wouldn't get to hunt this year - talk about a heartbreaking miss

Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis

steve45

The NEXT one.

Pup

How about "missed opportunity"? Three years ago had the largest buck with the biggest rack I'd ever actually seen about 125 yards away. I've got a 16 point that scores 163 5/8, and this deer was much larger than that. I had iron sights on the S. Redhawk, and although I had it sighted in for about 75 yds I didn't feel comfortable taking a shot. He ended up getting to the river and we lost him. If only I would of had a red dot scope on the gun If I ever get within 125 yds of him again he's going on my wall.

Politicians, like diapers, should be changed often and for the same reason.

hacker

a chick in a long purple dress i met at a party a few years ago. she got away and i still think about her sometimes. i have forgotten most of the ones who got away over the years but i will always remember her.

i never make misteakes.

ndbilly

Little old PA whitetail when I was 12. Fist year hunting and it was COLD! I sat very still from before daylight until 9 AM. Couldn't stand it anymore. Stood up and stomped around a bit. Turned to face the direction I had come from and, when I turned back, there were two does and a four point about 40 yards away. They were stock still and staring at me. I had a sporterized Enfield and a nasty case of buck fever. Pulled the rifle to my shoulder and threw a shot a la Jimmy Cagney at the four point. Bullet struck a tree about three inches above the deer's back. They were gone in an instant. What has bothered me the most all these years is not that I missed but that I missed by so little. I know, I know, let it go...