2nd Chances

[MUP]

I was watching NA Whitetail and the subject was on 2nd chance bucks. I'm sure about everyone read my story this season on how I was able to get a 2nd chance at a buck during ML season, but got to wondering about how many may have had similar 2nd chances. As best I can recall, this is the only time I've ever gotten a 2nd chance at a buck after something went wrong. So I'd like to hear the stories from those who've had 2nd chances at a buck, or even more if that's the case!

 

[BSK]

I've kept very detailed records of bucks seen by hunters on my place over the years, and I can say in our situation that a 2nd chance at an individual buck 3 1/2 or older in the same year is quite rare. They've happened, but over 27 years, only a handful of times. Yearling bucks, yes. Even the occasional 2 1/2. But 3 1/2+, very rarely.

 

[landman]

I've kept very detailed records of bucks seen by hunters on my place over the years, and I can say in our situation that a 2nd chance at an individual buck 3 1/2 or older in the same year is quite rare. They've happened, but over 27 years, only a handful of times. Yearling bucks, yes. Even the occasional 2 1/2. But 3 1/2+, very rarely.

I'll 2nd that....

And many times it's another hunter on the place
that gets the buck, but it's his first chance

 

[7mminatree]

My 1st bow kill, let me set the stage. The year was 1976, my bow was a Bear Polar LTD, (yea Baby), no sights, no release used a 3 finger shooting glove. I was hunting a private farm in Washington Co. Tn. Hunting out of a Baker Climber (yea Baby) on the edge of a corn field. About 4:30 PM, a 7 point buck comes from the woods right under me. I had never shot straight down before and so I missed, the buck ran out about 10 yards and stopped. I shot again and missed. He ran another few yards and stopped, by this time buck fever had completely consumed my entire nervous system. I shot again and missed. He then turn a ran back to my left just stopping at the edge of the woods and looking around for what ever it was that was making stuff fall out of the sky :shock: about a 30 yard shot. So I let my last arrow fly and yes I missed again. The buck disappeared into the woods. After a few minutes of cursing myself out, I shimmed back down the tree, which sounded like someone kicking a metal garbage can. I went rounded up all my arrows and shimmed back up the tree. I was totally frustrated with myself and thinking about leaving. About about an hour had passed. I heard something coming back in the woods. Got my bow ready, I was shaking like a tree in a hurricane. The same buck stepped out 30 yards to my right. I let it fly, the shot was low, but the buck this time ducked and the arrow double lunged him. :super:

 

[MUP]

That's what I'm talking about! 5 chances, then gettin r dun! Might be kinda hard to top that one buddy!

 

[rem270]

I got a chance at my biggest buck to date back in 2011. It was also the very first yr for me to start running cameras. I got pics of the 9 i killed along with a 14pt and another good 8 he was bachelored up with early season. I got obsessed with this 9pt because of his huge brow tines. I was hunting a cut grass field on a Fri evening and about 530ish i seen him step out with the other 2 bucks. I knew immediately it was him because of his brows. I was xbow hunting and with the xbow i had at the time was good to about 35 yards. I knew he was about 50 and with adrenaline pumping i decided to aim high and let her fly. The arrow went under him and he jumped and looked around and went back to feeding. Him and the other finally jumped the creek and into the standing beans and didn't see him again that evening. This was about the first week of Oct.

He kept hanging around the property but never seen him in person, just getting lots of pics over scrapes and all at night.

Fast forward to opening weekend of Ky rifle and every remotely close shot i cringed thinking it was him .. On the Monday after opening weekend i hunted til 11 where i had been getting pics but he didn't show. At noon i went to our bottom field at the very back of our property and the wind was blowing 20mph. i didn't see a deer til about 4:40 and i looked behind me and directly down wind comes a small doe and a buck with a broken rack. I thought i'll scope him just to see. As soon as i scoped him i knew it was the brow tine buck and not a broke up deer. I immediately get on him and i am so tore up i can't hardly do anything. I shot and missed at 50 yards. How? I do not know but i did. He keeps after the doe and don't pay me no mine. I fire 3 more shots and think how am i going to explain this and i am almost in tears knowing i am about to lose this deer forever. Finally on the 5th shot i see him almost flip. So immediately get down and go up there and there he was laying. I connected on 4 of the 5 shots but he was so hard up on that doe it never fazed him. They were all double lung and one shoulder shot with a 270 with hornady sst's.

That is my biggest buck to date and my 2nd chance buck. Sorry for the long read. But i got excited all over again typing this!

 

[gobblegrunt]

Don't apologize! Good read!!

 

[Bone Collector]

I've done it once on a buck that had a small rack, but i know had to be at least 2.5 years old dressed weight was 140.

It was my first ML deer. I was hunting private land in Wilson County and I had been sitting in this stand through out bow season, and seeing deer, but they would never use the trail that I set up on right in front of my stand. I had just really started to take hunting seriously and was learning as I went, so I believed most of what I read in magazines and saw on hunting shows. I got to the land late (right at legal light) and pulled up to two small bucks standing where I park at the edge of a field. They ran off into the field but stopped and started sparring. I couldn't see them, through the scope and they trotted off down into the woods. I walked in as quietly as possible and got up in the stand. Once I got settled I could see the two deer I saw up top on the field, off to my right going away towards another property. I settled in and within 2 minutes i heard something over my right shoulder behind me. So like a true amateur I snort wheezed, because a TV show said it would bring them right to me. Well i kept hearing it and soon enough i could see a buck to my right down the trail i was sitting on about 75 yds out just eating leaves on trees. I'm right handed, so I stand up (no safety harness, so i'm nervous) I aim shoot, the smoke clears, and this buck is sitting there, looking around then starts eating again. I start to reload and I realize he is now walking up the trail and will be walking in front of me momentarily. I'm fumbling around, trying to reload (did I mention this is my first ever ML hunt) and watch him at the same time. I get the powder and bullet seated then have to open the breach to change out the 209 primer. I get it done and he is now pretty much in front of me just a bit to my right at 30 yds. I aim, shoot, he jumps 3 feet straight up, lands, and just stands there. I start freaking out, and trying to reload and I see him start to wobble and then I see the blood on his side and he just goes stiff leg and tips over (never seen a deer do that before or after that). I heard him take his last breath and sat down. no sooner than i sat down a 4 pt runs in to investigate sees him and runs out. then I hear something else coming off my right and it is two coyotes. I realize I never changed the primer, so I go to do that and they bust me. the big male is out, but the female circled into the woods and starts to make her way right down in front of me to a clearing, which she will have to cross to get to my deer, which is about 20 yds from her. I get the primer in and she steps out. BOOM! yote down!

I got down and went and got my buck and yote. FYI this all occurred within 20 minutes of me leaving my truck.

 

[MUP]

Good stories guys! Thats why I thought this would be a good topic, it has to be a super nerve racking experience, and I can feel the intensity of each story as well, having been there myself! Sometimes just can't comprehend how I got a 2nd chance at a good buck, that was tending a doe, and having to reload my ML to do it!

 

[rem270]

Good stories guys! Thats why I thought this would be a good topic, it has to be a super nerve racking experience, and I can feel the intensity of each story as well, having been there myself! Sometimes just can't comprehend how I got a 2nd chance at a good buck, that was tending a doe, and having to reload my ML to do it!

It was all that corn you had out is what kept him there oke: :stir: :lol:

 

[duckriver]

Only second chances I have had is with a muzzle loader. On 2 different deer. They just stand there like what was that? Lol guess because they don't have the percussion a hi power does

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Third chance buck. I passed up an awful lot of shots at nice bucks knowing that I was seeing a true mature giant on a regular basis.

First time, I shot an arrow straight through his rack. Second time, I shot an arrow 2 feet over his back.

Third time, I shot him with a Powerbelt and he went straight down.

 

[Os2 Outdoors]

I was watching NA Whitetail and the subject was on 2nd chance bucks. I'm sure about everyone read my story this season on how I was able to get a 2nd chance at a buck during ML season, but got to wondering about how many may have had similar 2nd chances. As best I can recall, this is the only time I've ever gotten a 2nd chance at a buck after something went wrong. So I'd like to hear the stories from those who've had 2nd chances at a buck, or even more if that's the case!

Define second chance? Shots fired? Close to stand but couldn't get shot off?

 

[knightrider]

I got a chance at my biggest buck to date back in 2011. It was also the very first yr for me to start running cameras. I got pics of the 9 i killed along with a 14pt and another good 8 he was bachelored up with early season. I got obsessed with this 9pt because of his huge brow tines. I was hunting a cut grass field on a Fri evening and about 530ish i seen him step out with the other 2 bucks. I knew immediately it was him because of his brows. I was xbow hunting and with the xbow i had at the time was good to about 35 yards. I knew he was about 50 and with adrenaline pumping i decided to aim high and let her fly. The arrow went under him and he jumped and looked around and went back to feeding. Him and the other finally jumped the creek and into the standing beans and didn't see him again that evening. This was about the first week of Oct.

He kept hanging around the property but never seen him in person, just getting lots of pics over scrapes and all at night.

Fast forward to opening weekend of Ky rifle and every remotely close shot i cringed thinking it was him .. On the Monday after opening weekend i hunted til 11 where i had been getting pics but he didn't show. At noon i went to our bottom field at the very back of our property and the wind was blowing 20mph. i didn't see a deer til about 4:40 and i looked behind me and directly down wind comes a small doe and a buck with a broken rack. I thought i'll scope him just to see. As soon as i scoped him i knew it was the brow tine buck and not a broke up deer. I immediately get on him and i am so tore up i can't hardly do anything. I shot and missed at 50 yards. How? I do not know but i did. He keeps after the doe and don't pay me no mine. I fire 3 more shots and think how am i going to explain this and i am almost in tears knowing i am about to lose this deer forever. Finally on the 5th shot i see him almost flip. So immediately get down and go up there and there he was laying. I connected on 4 of the 5 shots but he was so hard up on that doe it never fazed him. They were all double lung and one shoulder shot with a 270 with hornady sst's.

That is my biggest buck to date and my 2nd chance buck. Sorry for the long read. But i got excited all over again typing this!

ray: ray: :rotf: all jokes aside I still love this story

 

[MUP]

I was watching NA Whitetail and the subject was on 2nd chance bucks. I'm sure about everyone read my story this season on how I was able to get a 2nd chance at a buck during ML season, but got to wondering about how many may have had similar 2nd chances. As best I can recall, this is the only time I've ever gotten a 2nd chance at a buck after something went wrong. So I'd like to hear the stories from those who've had 2nd chances at a buck, or even more if that's the case!

Define second chance? Shots fired? Close to stand but couldn't get shot off?

Whatever you consider a 2nd chance I suppose. In my instance, it was a hangfire and a clean miss. I then was able to get my ML reloaded, while the doe and buck reconnected and resumed their courtship even closer than they were initially, about 30 yds away when I took the 2nd shot.

 

[Os2 Outdoors]

That's very tough to!

Think about if you'd blown it totally then got on him again, days or weeks later to kill him. I bet that even rarer?

 

[timberjack86]

Great stories! I have had second chances at small deer but never a mature buck.

 

[Os2 Outdoors]

This was the 4th time I had this buck on me within bow range this season. First 3 times was early season on feed pattern. October 15th was was the last time I had pics or seen him until he showed back up on camera in early December. Took a week before I got some rain an weather to hunt him again. I killed him on a food pattern December 20th eating standing beans at 20 yards. I believe him to be 4.5 from previous year pics.

FYI-This is my only "2nd" chance buck ever!

 

[MUP]

This is the one that was tending a doe. Unbelievably after a hangfire and subsequent complete miss, the buck and doe separated by about 30 yds, stopped and looked back at each other, then, started easing back in the direction they were headed initially, while the buck was easing back toward the doe, and were even closer to me than before. Don't think I've ever in my life experienced such an adrenaline filled few minutes of hunting in my entire hunting life! I showed his jaw here and the consensus was that he was 4-1/2.

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

I used to think there was no such thing until last year.I missed a big buck and killed the same buck 3 hours . Later chasing a doe

 

[Mike Belt]

I've made multiple shots at a buck killing him but never had multiple opportunities at the same buck on different occasions. I was hunting in Ky and a hunter shot at and missed a 170+ class buck after a doe in the morning. He was after a doe and they disappeared into a thicket after the shot. He sat all day and that evening the same doe came out in the exact same spot with the buck behind her again. He didn't miss the second chance.

 

[348Winchester]

This past season, I missed a nice eight point on a a cold, gray evening during muzzleloader. The shot was about fifty yards but there was some limbs that possibly deflected the bullet. I was upset but for some odd reason I just felt confident our paths would cross again as the area I was hunting receives very light hunting pressure. Three weeks to the day later, I was easing up a woods road in the same general area at early dawn in a heavy fog. A deer approached through the thick woods. Legs were all that was visible but gradually more of its body became clear. His rack finally betrayed him as the same buck I had seen previously. One shot from the 270 Handi-rifle did the job.

I have had several over the years that have given me multiple shot opportunities with bows, muzzleloaders, handguns, and rifles.