What would you have done?

[Scioto]

Here are two scenarios that are really bugging me. Two tactical decisions that I'm really second-guessing. Would you have pulled the trigger? If so, what about that buck that I knew was lurking?

(1) opening of Missouri rifle season on Saturday. Early morning I see a beautiful shooter buck. 8 point. About a 200 yard shot across a bean field. He's only visible for a minute, maybe. I have the cross hairs on him, but don't fire hoping he will come out from the high grass a little farther. I miss the opportunity. About an hour later, a doe bursts out from where the buck was. I think he's in chase and don't shoot her. She waits in the field a little longer and I still don't shoot as I'm focused on him. I always learn something when I hunt, and this time it was take the shot that you have, not the one you think you might get. But, what about that doe? What would you have done?

(2) A couple days later and I'm sitting in a stand near a rub line in a thick, nasty area. Doe comes up from below and is obviously estrous. Hangs around, skittish, looking over her shoulder, etc. I watch her for 30 minutes, but let her pass waiting for the buck to show up. He never does. Another tactical mistake? Should I have shot her or waited as I did and let her pass since my target was the buck?

 

[deerhunter10]

I think you did the right thing if you wanted a buck you must wait for a buck.

 

[Football Hunter]

I think you did the right thing if you wanted a buck you must wait for a buck.

Yeah,just me,but not going out of state for a doe,too easy around here.

 

[HuntnMoon]

I think you made the right call with the Buck... if it doesnt feel right at the time you are making the right decision. The doe... that one is up to you.if you want to take a doe great... if waiting for a Buck and then then he doesnt show.... thats hunting... you win some you lose some.Patience wins.

 

[TN Larry]

The only thing that I would change is scenario 1. I will take the first ethical shot that I know that I am confident in making. If I would have had that in scenario 1, then I would have fired. I got burned on that once with a good buck. I had a good shot but hesitated because of an opening 10 yards in front of his path. He didn't make it that 10 yards and turned 90 degrees into a thick mess.

Me personally, I wouldn't have shot either doe.

 

[woodsman87]

I would have waited on a buck too. If I was out of state on a big trip, do not know if you were on a big time trip or what, I would wait on a good buck worth going out there for.

 

[Savage]

You didnt drive that far to shoot a doe. i'd have busted the buck, but neither of the does if I think a buck is in tow. I wont shoot a buck this weekend if I thing a buck is behind her.

I also wouldnt have shot either doe. You can do that in December.

 

[Mike Belt]

That depends on whether you wanted a doe or not. If you did shoot away. I am one who has intentionally dropped what I deemed to be a doe in estrous in her tracks in order to draw in a buck. It's worked for me 50% of the time. The buck/s might not be a shooter/s but I have taken 5 bucks by doing so. You may also get treated to quite a show. It doesn't work all the time and the last time I tried it the buck I was after turned and melted back into a thicket without ever showing his face. I don't know what the deciding factor is for a buck not appearing. They all have different personalties. Maybe one's smarter than another or more intimidated than another one or maybe even the doe wasn't in estrous afterall. Either way, it's a quick judgement call.

 

[jb3]

Depends if opening morning is the only day I have to hunt, I'd shoot the buck. If it's the beginning of a couple days of hunting maybe not. Shooter means different things to people. If you hesitated on the buck, then I think you made a wise decision. If I don't have a place to kill a doe in middle tn, I'd shot the doe and see if a buck came to her.

 

[185PY]

I would have, and have done the same thing many times. The times I decided to shoot the doe, the buck runs off. Considering you paid for an out of state licence, fuel, food, etc. I wold have done the same thing.

 

[bowriter]

1- Would have takent he shot on the buck.
2- Would have tried to drop the doe in her tracks.

 

[Scioto]

The only thing that I would change is scenario 1. I will take the first ethical shot that I know that I am confident in making. If I would have had that in scenario 1, then I would have fired. I got burned on that once with a good buck. I had a good shot but hesitated because of an opening 10 yards in front of his path. He didn't make it that 10 yards and turned 90 degrees into a thick mess.

Me personally, I wouldn't have shot either doe.

That's exactly how I feel about not taking that shot. I felt I had a good shot, just waited for a better one, and the buck, like yours, moved in the different direction.

 

[MUP]

I've learned over the years, that I'd better take the shot while I have it. I've regretted several instances that I waited. What I'm trying to say is, if I know I want to shoot the buck, I'd better take the first chance I have at a good shot, or I'm liable to be writing a thread like this again myself.

 

[W.Seay]

When I see a shooter, I NEVER wait for the perfect shot!! I shoot at the first opportunity!

 

[bigtex]

When I see a shooter, I NEVER wait for the perfect shot!! I shoot at the first opportunity!

X2!! That "perfect" shot may never present itself. I always take the first "good" shot that presents itself. By a good shot I mean a shot that has a very high percentage of hitting the vitals. I NEVER take a low percentage shot though, just not worth that sickening feeling of a bad hit.

 

[Scioto]

OK, here are the right answers.

As I stated in the original post, I agree that I should have taken that shot on the 8 point. It was an ethical shot at my estimated 200 yards, and I can handle that distance. I shot a 1 inch pattern at 100 yards the day before.

I was right to leave that first doe run. There was a known 8 pointer in the thick stuff she came out of, and he could have been the reason she came out. She didn't wait around long and I thought he might come out after her. I was wrong not shooting that second doe. I watched her for 30 minutes. Although she was hanging out amongst what I counted to be 7-8 rubs, if that buck didn't show up within 25 minutes, I should have dropped her.