1.) Triton Rich - 10/29/2015

[B]I was hunting last Sunday evening. After sitting a while, a group of does and fawns emerged from the brush and started heading towards me. I wasn't going to shoot a doe yet so I remained seated. Then I noticed a buck coming out behind them. I put glasses on him at 120 yards and immediately thought "book buck!". I stood up and grabbed the bow. As he approached, I recognized him from some earlier trail-cam pics. He is a tall and narrow 8 point that I thought was pretty marginal. Looking at him head on in real life, he appeared to out to the tips of the ears wide. As he made his way past me I couldn't decide if I should shoot or not. He would turn one way and I would think he was plenty big then he would turn another way and I wouldn't be so sure. Bottom line is I didn't shoot. He did stand out in front of my trail camera so I knew I'd at least get some pics. I didn't grab the SD card because I didn't have a spare with me and didn't want to miss a weeks worth of new pictures. I changed out the card this morning and oh my word did I screw up! I have no clue how I could have misjudged him so badly, he's huge! My brother (who's a better judge than I am) guesses him at 130". I misjudged the buck I shot last year thinking he was bigger than he is so maybe I've over-compensated and turned my big buck meter down too far. Now, in my defense, there are a couple of deceptive things about this buck. He isn't super wide like I said before. Also, because his main beams curl in sharply and almost touch in front, he looks short from front to back. He does have good mass and nice brow tines which I completely forgot to look at. I really need to learn to be a better field judge! I fear that I missed my only chance for the year. Hopefully, I'm wrong and he comes by again.

Here are the pics. The first one is from late Aug and the second is from last Sun. [/B]

2.) Swamp Fox - 10/29/2015

Ouch!

Get out there again, quick!


Ground shrinkage is the curse that keeps on cursing....Once it's happened to you it's hard to block it out of your mind.

In a perfect world, we'd all be better off gauging shoot-don't shoot decisions based on what we're feeling before the shot, rather than what we think we'll feel after.

Although I don't think that applies (should apply?) to small bucks, LOL

3.) luv2bowhunt - 10/29/2015

Wow, must be nice to hunt in an area where you would even consider passing on that buck.:wink Now is the time to park the butt in the treestand. Good things come to those who wait.

4.) Triton Rich - 10/29/2015

[B]On a somewhat unrelated note, I looked at what was happening rut-wise as well as moon phase and long range weather reports and decided today would be the perfect day to take off of work and go hunting. Winds gusting to 23 this morning and not a deer to be seen! Just one coyote that I scared the crap out of with a buck roar not knowing he was there.[/B]

5.) Swamp Fox - 10/29/2015

Rats!


Keep after it! :tu:

6.) Bob Peck - 10/29/2015

[QUOTE=Triton Rich;35856] I misjudged the buck I shot last year thinking he was bigger than he is so maybe I've over-compensated and turned my big buck meter down too far. [/QUOTE]
Bingo. We are all own worst enemy. It's the mental aspect of our sport that either results in a precise shot and the go/no-go response.

I didn't used to be the kind of bowhunter who hunted a specific animal but after a close unsuccessful encounter with a 170 class animal (exceedingly rare where I hunt) I became obsessed. Now I get it. :wink

[QUOTE=Triton Rich;35856] The first one is from late Aug and the second is from last Sun.[/QUOTE]

I assume the date on the camera is wrong?

[QUOTE=Triton Rich;35856][/QUOTE]

Um ... Are you kidding Rich?! Drop him! That's a very nice deer. And btw, If that's your home through the foliage just hang out with the coffee brewing and get ready to put your slippers on to sneak on in for the shot? :grin:

7.) Triton Rich - 10/29/2015

[B]Yes the date/time was all messed up. It's fixed now. That house is across a small river from where I'm hunting. There are 3 houses not counting the property I have permission on that are just outside of 100 yards away. I'm not supposed to be within 100 yards of a house unless they are aware that I'm hunting so I'm good. That's urban hunting for ya![/B]

8.) DParker - 10/29/2015

Isn't that the way you're [I]supposed[/I] to screw up? Y'know....go big or stay home? I salute you!

9.) Wild Bob - 10/29/2015

It's all your call...Good luck and keep after him!

I agree with Gerry - I've had some frustrating seasons over the years that paid off by not giving up and putting in the time.

10.) Triton Rich - 10/29/2015

[B] Well I'm back in the saddle and the wind is dying down. We'll see what happens...[/B]

11.) Swamp Fox - 10/29/2015

Good luck!...And stay off the phone! LOL

12.) billy b - 10/29/2015

That's a good looking buck Rich, I have made that same mistake a few times, it did pay off on one occasion, I was able to take a bigger buck by about 20 inches, maybe you will do the same.:wink

13.) Triton Rich - 10/30/2015

[B] Well, nothing doin tonight. After seeing deer every sit on that place, that's two in a row with nothing. Hopefully, they're just hunkered down from the wind. I'll be back after them over the weekend.[/B]

14.) Swamp Fox - 10/30/2015

Two in a row as in AM and PM, or two days in a row?

15.) Triton Rich - 10/30/2015

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;35887]Two in a row as in AM and PM, or two days in a row?[/QUOTE]

[B]Just today, morning and evening hunts. It's not the end of the world but discouraging after the buck debacle a few days ago.[/B]

16.) Triton Rich - 10/30/2015

[QUOTE=billy b;35879]That's a good looking buck Rich, I have made that same mistake a few times, it did pay off on one occasion, I was able to take a bigger buck by about 20 inches, maybe you will do the same.:wink[/QUOTE]

[B]I like the way you're thinkin Billy! :hb:[/B]

17.) Jon - 10/30/2015

I screwed up the other way last Friday Rich. Watched 2 bucks go into the field 140yds from where I was planted, they immediately started fighting which was kool to watch. I had one 5' wide opening to shoot through (muzzleloader) if they decided to go that way. I saw the one was a very nice 8pt and a solid shooter. The other was decent but narrow. They got into the opening and clear of eachother and I dropped the wrong one. Perfect shot, went down right where he stood. I looked at him in the binos and knew it was the wrong one. I'd rather say I wish I shot after holding off then do what I did.
You'll see him again.

18.) Triton Rich - 10/30/2015

[B]Oh man, that's rough! Nice shooting though, a clean kill is always something to be proud of. Yes, the one benefit I do have being in an urban setting is that there aren't many places for them to go. I have a decent chance of another encounter.[/B]

19.) Triton Rich - 11/16/2015

[B]Well, I had a long distance encounter with the buck again. He was 150 yards away and I did some calling. He turned and trotted in my direction for a bit but eventually turned and continued on his way. The latest trail cam pics though, reveal that he has broken off most of his G3 on the right side. The only P and Y buck around as far as we can tell and he is no longer P and Y. Now I'm REALLY bummed that I passed him![/B]

20.) billy b - 11/16/2015

He'll make to next year & be even bigger:wink

21.) Swamp Fox - 11/16/2015

I've got my fingers crossed for you!

Pretty cool to be able to see the same good buck twice.

22.) Triton Rich - 09/09/2016

[QUOTE=billy b;36360]He'll make to next year & be even bigger:wink[/QUOTE]

[B]You were right Billy! He's back around and he's HUGE! Probably pushing 140 and now has a split brow and a crab claw. That makes him a main frame 8 with 10 points total. Here are the pics. Two different places 1 mile apart. The first couple are right by Dad's place and the second couple are the same tree as last year's pic. Notice in the first set of pictures when he is walking away. He looks like he's 20something inches wide. I swear it's some kind of illusion because the close pics don't show him being nearly that wide.[/B]

23.) billy b - 09/09/2016

He's a beautiful deer Rich, but he will not be easy to get, he'll likely change patterns when the rut gets here, better hunt hard before that, good luck.:tu:

24.) Swamp Fox - 09/09/2016

Bill Winke had an interesting article at some point about bucks being easier to kill as they get older. It got into the idea that some bucks that begin life as strictly nocturnal may become daylight-active at an advanced age---say six years. It looks like this buck is not as nocturnal as the worst of the lot, so as Bill Murray would say: You have that going for you. :wink

Good luck!

25.) crookedeye - 09/10/2016

that kinda looks like the one i'm after, but a little smaller...

26.) crookedeye - 09/10/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;43709]Bill Winke had an interesting article at some point about bucks being easier to kill as they get older. It got into the idea that some bucks that begin life as strictly nocturnal may become daylight-active at an advanced age---say six years. It looks like this buck is not as nocturnal as the worst of the lot, so as Bill Murray would say: You have that going for you. :wink

Good luck![/QUOTE]

phuck bill winke..lol

27.) Swamp Fox - 09/10/2016

I said almost the exact same thing when he pointed out that he'd only noticed it at 6 years-plus....LOL

28.) crookedeye - 09/10/2016

dont get me wrong, i think bill winke seems like a good guy and i'm sure he is..but he's not the only one that hunts deer.. me and luv 2 were the first guys in the hunting industries to ever hang game cameras.. not ground level ..but up in the trees.. thats somthing the hunting shows ever show you..
i always admired luv2 for challenging the dury brothers, mark and tim in a heated discussion on here about hunting big land deer..it never came about..but it was the effort that luv2 put forth challenging the so called hunters of the commericialize industries..a heated battle between luv2 and the dury brothers on here would have been epic...

29.) crookedeye - 09/11/2016

i mean hanging youre cameras up in the trees and not ground level..i dont think the dury brothers even thought of that.. are put the effort in on there high price ground.. luv 2 dam near killed himself hanging his camera's up in the sticks..

30.) crookedeye - 09/11/2016

where is that pic of luv 2 and that buck he shot last year on Pa public land?? i mean he wasnt dressed up in mossy oak camo and spraying scent killer all over himself..he was dressed up in his tight ass geans and a cowboy hat..

31.) crookedeye - 09/11/2016

speaking of which..where in the hell is deerminator??

32.) crookedeye - 09/11/2016

....

33.) crookedeye - 09/11/2016

,,,,,

34.) Swamp Fox - 09/11/2016

LOL...

Winke is one of the few guys I look for in magazines, and always read him when I find him. But 6-year-old bucks? LOL. He made the point in the article that it doesn't apply to everyone. :tap: So at least he's self-aware. LOL.


There was another guy who was putting out very good articles out of Tennessee and Illinois...I want to say his name was Worthington, but that's just a guess. I haven't seen him in a while, but it's possible I haven't been looking hard enough.

Believe it or not, Lee Lakosky wrote some good stuff before he met Tiffany and she took his legs away...

35.) Swamp Fox - 09/11/2016

[QUOTE=crookedeye;43729]....[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=crookedeye;43730],,,,,[/QUOTE]



Excellent. :beer:


I sent Deerminator a PM a couple of weeks ago hoping he was okay, but I haven't heard back.


Deerminator and Luv2 should tag-team the Drurys and Cameron Hanes...

36.) crookedeye - 09/11/2016

now its lee and tiffany..i like both of them..but there no luv2...

37.) Swamp Fox - 09/11/2016

If Luv2 gave a seminar, I'd go to it ...I'd sit in the back.

38.) crookedeye - 09/11/2016

i can text now with my new phone..

39.) crookedeye - 09/11/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;43735]If Luv2 gave a seminar, I'd go to it ...I'd sit in the back.[/QUOTE]

lol i wouldnt ask any questions..i would just listen..

40.) Swamp Fox - 09/11/2016

[QUOTE=crookedeye;43736]i can text now with my new phone..[/QUOTE]



Everyone learns at their own speed. :wink


I don't think texting on a touch screen is for me. I think my thumbs are too big, LOL. My best texting phone is probably 8 or 9 years old and it beats the piss out of anything I know of. Maybe there's some secret of which I'm unaware.


Basically, I just tell people don't expect me to text, and don't send me email...

41.) DParker - 09/11/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;43739]Everyone learns at their own speed. :wink


I don't think texting on a touch screen is for me. I think my thumbs are too big, LOL. My best texting phone is probably 8 or 9 years old and it beats the piss out of anything I know of. Maybe there's some secret of which I'm unaware.


Basically, I just tell people don't expect me to text, and don't send me email...[/QUOTE]

Have you discovered your phone's speech-to-text capabilities yet? If you're in a situation where you can talk you can dictate your texts with the touch of a button.

42.) crookedeye - 09/11/2016

texting is the new future you should try it..

to be honest i really dont care for it either..its kinda fun keepin in touch with people around the country..

like you i would text foul language and tell you dont no nothing.

43.) crookedeye - 09/11/2016

i have good conversation with my new phone..

44.) crookedeye - 09/11/2016

my phone actually talks to me..

45.) Swamp Fox - 09/11/2016

[QUOTE=DParker;43740]Have you discovered your phone's speech-to-text capabilities yet? If you're in a situation where you can talk you can dictate your texts with the touch of a
button.[/QUOTE]



I'm vaguely aware, but haven't tried it...Maybe I should put it on the to-do list. LOL... But it is a lot simpler to just avoid texting altogether...:dh:


Also, I know there is some kind of auto-reply feature which I might employ....I think...

My auto-reply would be, " I'm driving and can't text anyway...Call me on the phone."

46.) crookedeye - 09/11/2016

she's 5'8 has red hair..

47.) Swamp Fox - 09/11/2016

Irish accent? Or Australian?

48.) bluecat - 09/12/2016

English or European?