Better to have loved and lost?

7

74cj5

Guest
I've got a long question for all of you:

I spotted a true monster muley before my utah archery hunt began. I chased him religously through the archery season, never able to get quite close enough. I passed on several good bucks in the mean time.

Got back from my muzzy hunt in the same area last night. Found him opening morning and chased him the entire week. Was never quite able to make it happen, again passing on several other bucks. I was the only one in camp that didn't tag out.

SO... I almost wish I had never seen the beast, he's haunting me!

Would you preffer knowing there is a monster in your area, possibly pushing you to tag soup (and insanity) cause nothing else seems good enough. Or would you rather never see him at all and be happy with something less...
 
I would rather eat tag soup knowing that I chased the best one out there. Instead of thinking everyday for the next 10 months on how I settled for a smaller buck, even though a nice buck it still wouldn't satisfy you... Thats my thought
 
Wow, I really commend you, you have way more try than most , including me. I think your well on your way to being a successful trophy hunter.The above post hit it square on the head. Do you get another chance (rifle season)at him this year?
 
Thanks for your comments!

NMHUNTNUT1,
I do get to go out during the rifle season, but in Utah that means I'll probably find him on the front of a four wheeler several miles from any road with a 12 year old at the helm....

The rifle hunt seems to dissapoint me more every year, but I'm certainly going to try!
 
At least you know you are hunting the right area that produces good bucks. That is a bummer that you were not able to seal the deal though.
 
I'd absolutely, with out a doubt play it just the way you did!

I mean what the alternative? Shoot a 2 1/2 year old three point, and sit at home the rest of the year watching 30 rock!?

You've got 5 more weeks of expericence and memories under your belt and by damn you'll be that much better come next year!
 
74cj5

It happens to all hunters sooner or later, usually sooner.
In 1988 I started hunting a big buck in southern Utah. I saw him in late summer and returned in October to hunt him. Only saw his tracks and he never showed himself. 1989 came and I saw him and muffed it. Missed a broadside at about 300 yards with a rest. 1990 came and I saw him bed down late evening the night before season. Was waiting for him at first light. He stepped out alright, right into another hunters bullet. I walked over to the hunter and the buck and he taped out at 35 inches. Real nice 5x5. Later that night the same hunter stopped by my camp while I was listening to the World Series with my team being swept in four games, as I remember, and told me my team ( A'S) was the team he hated the worst in the league. Tag soup tastes better when not coupled with an a$$ kicking to go along with it. By the way he was wearing a Reds cap. This guy lives in Garrison, Utah so if he's a member he'll remember this, at least I'll never forget.

Ransom
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-05-07 AT 02:51PM (MST)[p]I would for sure be more happy seeing a big deer and chasing that one deer unsuccessfully, than just shooting a pretty good deer.
 
First off, thanks for not shooting a liitle forkie "just to fill the freezer".

I have walked in your shoes and gone two different directions in two different years. Both years I chased "career deer" for 7 days and probably experienced many of the same hi's and low's I imagine you did....Here's how they panned out:

One year I chased Mr. Big and he flat out won. I tipped my cap and ate tag soup only to wake up for months second guessing this stalk or that set-up. The way I look at it, I hunted him on the ground for 7 days, and then hunted him in my head for another 6 months or so.

Another year I hunted Mr. Big and he beat me up pretty good. On the last day I killed an average representitive buck for my area. You know, one of those 4x4 that are 20 some thing wide, average forks, average eyeguards....your average buck. The one you see ten times on a hunt when you have something bigger to get after. That buck that pops up around every bend or munches sage 25 yards from your stand ALL SEASON LONG. Well, I had enough of him being all cocky and I smoked him the last day. It did nothing to erase Mr. Big and once again I spent 6+ months waking up thinking about the toad.

The moral to this long winded (but informational) post. Stick to your guns. The true measure of the hunt isn't always the dead critter on the ground. Both of these years left me daydreaming about theat big 'ol sucker I couldn't close the deal on. Either way he'll haunt you.

I look back with greater pride on the hunt in which I ate tag soup compared to dropping the "average" buck. The silver lining is that average buck just might be the smoker you chase next year!!


five_point_buck
C.B.C.S.
 
74cj5

I know exactly what your feeling right now. I was lucky enough to draw a LE muzz tag this year and I too had an encounter during preseason scouting with MR. BIG. After watching this bucks every move over the last 3 months I was just not quite able to put it all together in the end. For 7 straight days I tried everything I knew to try an get this amazing buck and was unable to. I ended up eating tag soup also. I do not regret this hunt in the least. I feel privelaged enough just to have even encountered such an awesome beast. I will have those sleepless nights for months wondering what I could or should have done different. I commend you for letting the little ones grow up, maybe someday they to will grow to be great deer. On the last day of my hunt I had an average buck less the a hundred yards away and just couldn't bring myself to shoot him knowing what I had already seen in the area. I know your pain. Keep after him on the rifle you never know you just might get that chance you've been waiting for. Good Luck
 
You will be haunted until the day you die !! 15 years ago I spent two weeks bowhunting two bucks that stayed with each other, one a 5 by 5, 34 " wide monster, his buddy was a 4 by 4 36 " monster with no eye guards. I passed way too many bucks 26" to 32 " wide 4 by 4's in order to harvested one of the two monsters. I failed to put them on my wall, but had a blast doing so. Yes , I am still haunted, and a 26 " 4 by 4 is trophy any year to me since then. In fact any deer with a bow is a cool thing to me now!
 
Let me change the topic, would you rather have shot and MISSED, or never have gotten a shot at all.
 
That one can be debated both ways. I think I would pick the third option and it would be shoot and score.
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Deerlove,

I hate to admit it, but I did take a shot on the muzzy hunt, and I missed. Straight up hill, didn't adjust for the angle..... just missed




thanks for bringing it up. Insult to injury.
 
Quote...

"You will be haunted until the day you die !! 15 years ago I spent two weeks bowhunting two bucks that stayed with each other, one a 5 by 5, 34 " wide monster, his buddy was a 4 by 4 36 " monster with no eye guards."


Amen Buddy.
Everytime I close my eyes, I see two giant muleys that outsmarted me.
Despite that fateful day, I still burn to hunt the big guys.
I just returnred from a muley hunt and despite seeing several decent bucks, refused to pop a cap.
Same thing on my high country blacktail hunt.
Those whoppers will truly haunt you.
Maybe that's a good thing...
HH
 
I feel your pain. On my Muzzy hunt here in Utah, I had a 180ish buck located. I hunted the thing every morning and night until I finally found him and his buddy out where I could make a stalk on him. I was amazed at my good fortune. I took my time, the wind was constant and in my face, perfect, the sun was in their eyes while I was in the shade, they were bedded down facing away from me..couldn't have been more perfect. I took my time so I wouldn't make any mistakes. I closed to 200 yards and was able to go about 10 yards per minute. I was just making my final plans when booomm! Some tresspassing jackass decided he needed to take a 500 yard pot shot at the buck from the road above me. Never the less the two big boys wasted no time getting to the thick stuff before I could even find them in the scope. 5 minutes and he would have met his end. Given the situation, I probably could have taken him with my bow. I should have known I couldn't take my time in Utah.. someone always there to screw it all up. Talk about a season ruined in an instant. I propmtly hiked up to the fool who admitted he was tresspassing and he "didn't know" I was in the canyon so he thought what the hell, I'll giver a shot. Seriously, they will give any old A-whole a tag these days. Never the less I don't expect to see that buck again this year and I hope I never see that ##### again ever!

Sorry for the rant.
 
muzzle!!!

REMINDS ME OF A FEW YEARS AGO!!!

I WAS SNEAKING UP ON A NICE BUCK WITH MY MUZZ!!!

I WAS IN RANGE BUT WANTED TO GET JUST A LITTLE CLOSER!!!

I FIGURED IF I COULD GET 25 YARDS CLOSER HE WAS GONNA TAKE A HIT!!!

JUST AS I STARTED MOVING 2 UTAH JACK-ASSES UP ON THE RIDGE AT 600+ YARDS AWAY PULL A NOW & NEVER SHOT!!!

THE BUCK JUMPED & RUN OFF INTO THE THICK $HIT NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN!!!

THEIR SLUGS LANDED A GOOD 300 YARDS SHORT!!!

TYPICAL UTAH GENERAL HUNT I GUESS!!!

469ff2b8110d7f4e.jpg


THE ONLY bobcat THAT KNOWS ALOT OF YOU HAVE HAD THIS IMAGE IN YOUR PEA BRAIN BUT DUE TO POOR SHOOTING TACTICS I'M STILL KICKIN!!!
 
I'd rather eat tag soup every year. There are some bucks that are worth that. Who knows, you might get another chance at the monster in upcoming years. I chased MassNTrash for a solid 4 years before I was able to seal the deal on the last day of the season last year. I certainly passed on some incredible bucks holding out for MnT. Having him on my wall now, ends that nightmare. But.....only that nightmare. There are many other monsters that beat me in years past that still haunt me.
 
know the feeling well, hunted a monster in NV back in 1985, one shot was all i got and missed still ain't over it...LOL...
 
I really admire you for not shooting anything! Theres a point you get to during your life of hunting that changes you! Its that monster you locate and you do not harvest him! But he consumes your mind, but it was the opportunity that you cherish just it see a buck of that caliber! Happend to me this year found the biggest buck ive ever seen, got to about 70 yards twice with a bow but i didn't feel comfortable with the shot! But when archery and muzzy was over and me still with a unfilled tag im just happy i got to see that amazing old muley!

So deffinatley better to see him than not to see him!
 
I'm probably a lot older than you (seems that's getting true for almost everyone, any more). The first big one I caught took me three years. He netted 204 typical. (I've since gotten 2 more 200+ typicals.) I've been beaten by more than I've ever caught.

Those "individual" deer are why I day dream, why I own Swarovskis binos, why I have all sorts of spiffy equipment and why I do all those sit ups and ride the bike all those hours....gotta get up there again.

You did the right thing. Baseball (which I love) says baseball fever, catch it....it lasts a lifetime! So will the image of the big ones and so will the desire to chase him and to show him to your dad or best buddy! Good luck, with the ever-increasing addiction!
 
It's all in the chase for me. If i run into MR BIG, and can not get into the 100% correct possition for the bow shot...I learn the leason. I will hunt the same deer, and let lesser bucks go, to the same haunting feeling you talk about.

If he's that big, i might for the right friend, guide them in on the rifle hunt, but the friend would owe me. My little brother may get the rifle shot this year, if he gets his head out of his arse.
 
Well sounds like your well on your way to becoming a trophy hunter. It's a tough deal to stay after a big buck and pass up the lesser deer. As others said in earlier posts to shoot a lesser deer to fill your tag does nothing to make that feeling go away. It's funny how after all of the years I have deer hunted the bucks that stand out most in my mind are the ones that I either missed or was never able to seal the deal. Like most of the others on here I have one 30+ incher from Nevada on which I blew a easy shot, bumped him from a quakie patch with a bunchof other deer and he slowed to a walk than stopped,turned broadside about 225 yards and I shot over him.. TWICE I decided that if I couldn't take him home I was going home empty. I hunted him all week and only saw him one more time as he was high ballin over the top of a canyon. Well that year I was the only one that did not tag out but I stuck to my guns. But I still replay the shot(s) over and over again. I still think of the what if's.. and I should have's... but I remember him like no other deer. By the way that was 1979 and it seems like that hunt was yesterday and I can't even believe some of the bucks I passed up hoping to put a hole in that big one but I know I would not have been right shooting a different buck that trip.
But as it has been said many times.. That's why it's called hunting instead of shooting.. besides tag soup isn't that bad.. just takes a little while to aquire a taste for it..
 

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