Wasn't my Year.....

[Teknys]

I can't say I didn't see many bucks. I actually saw a couple that I should have probably taken, they were pretty nice 5x5 whitetails but I was holding out for Mr. Big Buck.

My Elk archery season I missed a 6x6 that moved three bounds after I had hime on sight and I didn't change pins and shot under him by mere inches.

After passing on many bucks I jumped a VERY Nice buck and I swear he was a stand in for fighter jet videos. He had only 40 yds to go to the timber and he was going so fast that I thought I was shooting station 6 on the skeet field. I missed..... caught me by surprise.

Had a late muzzleloader buck tag and at one time had a 6x6, I'm guessing a 150s buck at about 75 - 80 yds but behind a tree and then brush when he would come out for about 5 - 10 minutes. When my brother entered the draw the buck ... OF COURSE ... went the other direction opposite of me and I didn't get a shot. We had rain the first 4 days of the season and then a storm came in dumping snow. Great conditions now but I'm getting on a plane for the east coast. When I return my season is over.

So my shooting score this year =
6x6 Elk .... miss
Large/Heavy Whitetail Buck = miss
Large WIDE Whitetail Buck Muzzloader = No shot.

I had a couple of guys think I was nuts for not just throwing lead into the brush that buck was in because of how big he was. I was told to "just take your chances on a buck that big!!!"

If I can't get the shot then no shot is taken.

My wife will be waiting so we can go out and I'm going to try and film her hunting on a late cow tag. That should be a lot of fun.

 

[DrMike]

And there are season like that. When we set a standard, we realise the risk. We may get skunked, but we will have had a true hunt. It sounds as if you were successful. You walked where the big boys walk, and that is never a failure.

 

[billbam]

Teknys, I've had the same type of year so far.
In Colorado, it seemed the elk were at the morning meeting and knew where I was going to be. They were close but no shots. While bow hunting at home, I saw a real nice 8 pt while hunting one of my best spots on state land. About 10 minutes before dark, he came through the thicket above me and came out on the trail at 40 yards. I had my longbow and was not going to shoot that far. About a week later, he did it again but going in the opposite direction. The following Mon and Tues were muzzleloader days and he was a no show. This week was firearms week where you can hunt with a shotgun or muzzleloader. I have been using a muzzleloader during this time for the past several years. Monday, I had a big 8 run past doing about 50 MPH. Thursday I went out at 11:30 and started seeing deer at around 1 o’clock. I had an 8 and a 4 pt sparring at about 150 yards. Then a bunch of doe were hanging below the bucks at 100 yards out. The doe left a little after 3. A few minutes later the 8 was going past my shooting lane back up to where he was earlier. He was at 80 yards but I did not see him until he was past where I had a shot.
Yesterday I went out at 12:30. I started seeing deer at around 1 o’clock. There were a bunch of doe again where they were earlier in the week at about 100 yards. After a short time they went back the way they came. Then I heard something to my left and saw a few doe coming out of the swamp at 40 yards working their way to the field in front of me. I then caught movement at 30 yards and saw a basket racked 8 looking at me. He turned way and started walking slowly when I crouched down and shot. pop, NOT bang. The powder must have gotten damp from hunting in the rain a few days. I threw another cap on and watched the buck slowly walk away. I thought he might circle above me to meet with the doe but he never came out.
I packed everything up and left. On the way home I stopped at the range to try to clear the rifle and the first cap did it. Figures… Muzzleloader season goes into the beginning of Feb here so I’m waiting for the luck to change

 

[PJGunner]

So far it looks like it's not my year as well. First off, my wife and I drew coveted deer tags for the Kaibab. Hardst tags in Arizona to draw. My wife gets a premonition that we should stay home. I know it sounds crazy but when she gets "premonition" and I don't listen, I get into trouble. Now I listen even when I don't want to.
Then, about two weeks ago, I get an E-mail from the fellow I'm sharing a guide with on a cow elk hunt and he included the E-mail from the outfitter about the weather conditions. Too hot, no snow, elk up high and badly scattered, what do we want to do? Well, we re-booked for early January but watching the weather it's still too hot and no snow. Sure don't look good.
Paul B.

 

[Kodiak]

When deer hunting here in my home state, my guidelines are; shoot the deer where I can drive a 4x4 to it, no dragging. Some years this works great, others not so. This year was one of those .

My western hunts are different, as I have the use of a horse to carry/drag any game shot, also to ride :grin: . A big red Wyoming ranch horse, Ol' Ned, is the best elk hunter I know!