Shoot? or Pass?

[velvet28]

I know with rifle hunts, you can pick and choose more than archery, and i have heard people say to never pass on a bull you wouldn't on the last day if you had an archery tag. Everyone has there own opinion and decision on wether to shoot or pass. I have been on hunts when people have passed and i thought they should have shot, and i have been on hunts when they have shot and i thought they should have passed. Sometimes you have to pass on good bulls to kill great bulls. But my question is how many of you have passed on bulls that you regret not shooting? Seems a lot of people pass on bulls with archery tags and end up killing a smaller bull later in the hunt or eat there tag hoping for something bigger. I had a freind pass on a bull at 15 yards opening morning of the wasatch archery hunt, and never get an opportunity again at a bull like that. And i had a friend find a bull in july and was determined to kill that bull. He passed on many bulls, and ended up killing that bull on the last day of the hunt after hunting it for 20 plus days. Do you set your standards before you go and hold to them? Or would you shoot something smaller than you hoped for if you had a good shot? Have you ever passed when you wish you didn't? What hunting experiences have you had?

 

[lundellhunting7]

I set my standards before hand and keep them up until the last minute of the hunt... You cant shoot a big one if you shoot a smaller one

 

[sambo3006]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-26-12 AT 01:18PM (MST)[p]I personally would rather kill a smaller animal on the last day than go home empty handed. Some people will hold out for a big one to the bitter end, just a matter of personal preference. Also to be considered is the size of animal that is likely to be encountered. If you are holding out for a 360" bull in an over the counter tag area, you may as well just pee into the wind. On the other hand, if you bust a small 5x5 the first day in the San Juan of Utah you missed out on a golden opportunity.

I just recently returned from a bear hunt in Ontario. I passed up a small bear on the second day and never saw another bear the whole trip. I don't regret passing up a little one early in the hunt but had I seen that same bear on the last day I would have shot it. I would much rather have come home with a small bear than none at all(would have been my first).


NRA Life Member

Leftys are the only ones in their right minds--and I ain't talkin' politics!

 

[HorseCreek]

Shoot the first one that gives you a hard on! No regrets after that!


Traditional >>>------->

 

[dang302]

I like to harvest and on the last day I want to shoot anything legal...typically.

If I draw a really good area thats a difficult tag, then I will want to hold out. If I pass a decent bull the first day and then don't kill anything thats ok. But by the last day my standards have dropped, and I think thats ok too.

I guess I am wierd, but with a good tag in hand, I am ok passing something on the first day that would make me happy on the last day.

Anytime I pass, I am making the decision that it is ok to go home empty handed....but the risk makes sense if the reward could be huge!

If in CO...shoot the first legal bull you see!

 

[Hoot]

A couple years ago I had a LE tag in so. Utah and passed on a 340ish bull the first day. I had been watching a 380 plus bull and was determined to find him ended up killing a 320 6x6 on last day. I regret not shooting the bull the first day but if I could do it again I would do the same thing and just hope for a little more luck.

 

[YukonDall]

IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHERE YOUR AT, ..............YD.

 

[BrowningRage]

Let's face it, there have been plenty of regrettable hunts for many of us. Missed or passed opportunities. I once passed on a 140" 3 point buck with a general season rifle tag at like 60 yards... The same day I found a 180" buck and missed him at over 300 yards. Oh well- I was happier with the chance at the trophy buck instead of the 3-point. It might be different now with the way general season hunts are...

I doubt I'd shoot a spike elk the first day, though if I had waited 15 years for an archery tag, had experienced a tough hunt, and then had a dink come in at dusk the last day- I might stick him... it's all about perspective at the moment you are there.

Cool thread...

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24

 

[velvet28]

Thanks Browning, yeah with the way the general season deer hunt has been going, it's been tough. I have always killed a better buck each year, and my second year into hunting i killed a pretty good buck. So it's been tough to beat, but I have had fun trying and have shot 3 better bucks throughout the years. Not that I am a killing machine, but i haven't killed a buck in 4 years. So this year I am switching back to a long bow, or recurve. This way I feel like if I shot a decent buck, it would be an accomplishment. Like I said I don't have to kill to enjoy the hunt, but seems like the last couple years of bow hunting have not been as fun passing on deer after deer, trying to kill a giant.

 

[destroyer350]

When you get to the point you don't have to kill to show everyone you can, unless you're actually hunting for meat, it's easy to pass with no regrets, even with an otc tag!