Its amazing how you change as a hunter. I killed my last buck in December of last yr. Before that is was November of 2016. Over the past few yrs i have let alot of great deer go. This morning it was a buck named the water tower buck. He was a buck that i knew of but didnt use my farm much. He also wasnt a target buck for me. He came in with a doe at 12 yards this morning and came back 2 more times over the next 90 minutes. I couldnt run him away. Beautiful 10 pt. I guess i am getting soft but he just wasn't what I wanted and i felt no need to end the life of such a majestic animal. Their are better deer on the farm and their is one or 2 who could change my mind. He would have been hard to pass with my bow. Here are few pics (i have great video but dont know how to upload) i also put a pic from sept 1st of him.
Let a really good one go today...
- Thread starter redblood
- Start date
Antioch_Hunter
Well-Known Member
Would've been a hard pass for me. Much respect!
DoubleRidge
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't say your getting soft....I'd say that goals change in your journey as a deer hunter....and having two other bucks on the farm that are bigger motivates you to keep hunting......what an awesome opportunity to actually watch a mature buck do his thing....and you have pictures to remind you that you could have taken him if you had wanted too.
bowhunterfanatic
Well-Known Member
You're a better man than me! He's a dandy buck. Hopefully your patience is rewarded with his grandaddy!
Exactly ! But if you know you have bigger bucks I totally understand .
That would be hard. I have let bucks walk all year waiting on something that size
I'd have a hard time letting that one go. Awesome buck.
thirdwilliam
Well-Known Member
awsome deer. each hunter makes his own choice
I'd have let the air out of him but if he's not what you're looking for then by all means you did the right thing. Good luck on one of the bigger ones showing up.
Chief44
Well-Known Member
I thinks it's awesome. I commend you for letting him walk. I wish I had that kind of restraint sometimes. Hope you get the deer your after.
Crappieaddict
Well-Known Member
That's a dandy!
Definitely would be taking a ride in my truck! Hopefully you'll have some epic pictures next season!
Shanman
Well-Known Member
You're a blessed man to have property where you can let bucks of that caliber walk. You've done well and he gets to pass those genetics on again another season. Hope you can get a shot at one of your better bucks this season, good luck!
Thanks. I always felt it takes no skill to pull the trigger on a deer. They are a big target that are easy to hit. I get as much satisfaction now at knowing i could have killed it. Figuring out the pattern and hanging the stand in the right spot was the challenge, not pulling the trigger. Taking a life is a serious decision for me. I pray that i never do it to impress other with a kill, check a box, post a number or because i want to test out a new gun or load. Especially on a deer that took half a decade to reach this point. The later in the yr i get more selective because i know odds sway back in their favor with each passing day. Now, there are targets i have that i may very well may shoot. I guess i will know when i see them.
That is a nice buck.
Indeed i am. It takes big parcels of land and Selective neighbors with common goals.
I think the older we get we mature as deer hunters
Perspective is the single word that encompasses this thread. You are blessed to have lots of quality land with like minded neighbors. Most of us are not in that situation and never can or will be. So our perspective is different than yours. You pass up a giant and feel good about maturing as a hunter, knowing there are bigger fish to fry. A lot of guys hunting in TN are mature hunters who've hunted a lifetime & never seen a deer like that because they don't exist in their area, so they'd feel good killing that buck. For them it would represent a pinnacle, a crowning achievement to reward their lifelong hunt. For you the accomplishment was not killing him because you're after bigger ones. We all see things differently. No right or wrong, just different. Perspective.
