[Huntnut]

Well, I'm sittin here at work bored outta my gourd thinking about this past season, and past hunts I've been on.
There is a certain magic and allure to hunting. The more I screw up, the more I want to be out there the next day. I think about hunts in the past that the Gods of Hunting had provided me that were filled with game and shot opportunities, but I personally screwed up time and time again and failed to score. These are the days I dream about when I fall asleep the night before my next outing.
I would love to hear some of your screw up stories that keep you coming back for more humiliation.
One of my many stories,
I climbed up into my treestand before first light and settled into position. It was early November, the sky was clear and the air was crisp. The first wanings of light revealed a frosty huntscape that was just littered with rubs and scrapes around my stand. I had saved hunting this tree stand for the peak of the rut, and by the amount of buck sign in the area, I was sure there were at least a thousand pairs of antlers running around this thick thornapple grove.

I first heard him during the silver period of the predawn, he was back and to my right. I turned my head real slow to look. I almost fell outta my tree....I swear he was as big as an elk. He came in real slow, nose down, carrying a crown of horns like I have never seen before on a whitetail in the wild. He carried 10 long points, and was way way outside his ears....this buck would easily make the book....and he was walking right toward me. He worked his way to the base of my tree, in that classic buck gait while steam plumed from his open mouth...it was an awesome sight. He paused at the base of my tree. I was helpless, I couldn't swivel, move...or even blink.
He began to make a scrape at the base of my tree. He lifted his head and started working a licking branch that was attached to my tree. He was looking right at me 10 ft away licking and rubbing his eyes on that branch, but never saw me right above it. This was the biggest buck I have ever seen, and he was 10 ft away straight down. I could smell him.
Well that big boy stayed right there for 20 minutes while he concentrated on that scrape. He urinated in it, pawed it, urinated some more, and when he was done this scrape was 10 ft across! I never moved. My neck was so sore from playing statue, I wondered if I would ever be able to draw my bow on him. Well he finally finished his task, lifted his head and began to walk away. I told myself...wait, wait, wait....he got out to 25 yards, quatering away, and I decided to draw. I lifted my bow and started to draw...that big boy heard me before I got to half draw and BOLTED to parts unknown.
I sat there shaking....dejected...unable to believe the opportunity I just blew. I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against the tree in disgust...as soon as my forehead touched the tree..I heard a snort. I looked up, and there stood a beautiful 8pt 30 yards away staring at me. My heart jumped back into overdrive! I lifted my bow and started to draw again...that's when my arrow fell off my bow and the 8pt bolted in the other direction. AAAARRGH! Two dandy bucks less than 2 minutes apart!! I wanted to cry. I stood up and grabbed my quiver, intent on calling it quits for the day. I packed up my backpack and was just starting to climb down when I noticed movement in the brush about 60 yds away....lo and behold a 4 pointer and a 6 pointer were working their way towards me. My heart leaps a third time! I quickly get back into position and renocked another arrow. That 6 point walked right into range and stopped broadside in the same dang tracks the 10pt bolted from. I drew back, settled my 20yd pin and double lunged the 6 point buck right where he stood. I heard him crash about 60 yds away.
Well I jumped outta that tree quicker than a shot **** and hit the ground. I dropped my backpack and bow at the base of the tree, grabbed my knife and rope, and headed over to field dress the 6 pt.
I think I was trying to cut the windpipe of the downed buck in the brush, when I looked up and saw 3 does standing 20 yards away watching as I dressed out this buck. 2 things happened simultaneously then...I realized I left my bow back at the tree, and that big 8pt. stepped out right behind those three does.
AAAAARRRGH!!!!!
I will never ever forget that day.
I am thankful for the 6pt, sure...but that rack was just so puny compared to the other two.
The gods decided to laugh one more time that day when I jumped a spike horn out of the grass dragging the 6 point buck out. 5 bucks in one morning in SE Michigan.
What I wouldn't give to relive that day.
It gets me out of bed at 5am every morning hunt since.
Ok...that's mine....I would love to read some of yours!

Hunt

 

[Guest]

Huntnut: If i ever hear of you hunting in my Stands again i am going top be upset ) LOL
Thanks very much for sharing that with is. But that is why they call it hunting instead of killing. If your NOT A WRITTER you SHOULD BE great POST )!!!!

Thanks

gare

 

[Hunter333]

Excellent writing!! Glad to hear that you remember it all so that when it does happen again, you will remember what NOT to do

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ONE shot, ONE kill..No excuses, no exceptions EVER!!

 

[michiduck]

I agree... that is a great piece of writing. OutdoorLife, Field and Stream,etc., all of them should be knocking on your door.

As for my blown hunting opprotunities, none come close to having that much action in one day I haven't even seen that many bucks whiel hunting in my life, but I do have numerous occasions duck hunting that my buddies and I have said "shoulda let 'em work closer" or "I think we waited too long that time"
But as you say thats what keeps you getting up morning after morning.

once again great post Huntnut!!!

 

[Huntress]

You write a great story! I felt like I was there beside you seeing it all happen. Thanks for sharing.

As for a hunt I wish I could redo, check out my story in Michigan Huntress titled "My First Hunt". I would like to have that first morning back, so that I could be prepared for the big bucks I saw. I had a great first day hunting. I am still reliving it and thinking about what I should do if I am given another opportunity.

Best Regards,
Huntress

 

[mikeylikesit]

I don't seem to recall any bad times hunting...must have repressed it...

Of course I'm kidding...I don't think there's enough space on this server to get into even a few of my worst days...

O.K. - One Quick one...True Story...

My first goose at the Todd Farms circa 1990:

After waiting all morning for "my shot" I finally have a bird come within acceptable range...after missing one a few minutes prior to this I had only 1 shell in my gun. (I forgot they were refillable...)

I believe the sequence was something like "bang", "click","click"..."explative".

The bird goes down anyway ( I took out a wing, I thought...) and lands just within the neighboring blind. As I look to my mentor for praise he says, " better go get your bird, they don't usually return to the scene of the crime".

With all the confidence in the world that there will be a dead, cleaned, wrapped, and 1/2 cooked bird waiting for me, I set out to claim my prize. Upon arriving at the spot where I KNEW the bird would be, I come up with nothing...puzzled I look to my mentor who says, "try whistling, they like that".

Before I had the chance, I see out of the corner of my eye the shadow of the 6 foot wingspan of a very angry, very slightly wounded goose, on steroids.

To say this bird simply came at me out of the corn would be an understatement...This bird was Lawrence Taylor, and I was a rookie Q.B. with no pads on. I was lucky to dodge the first assault, but took a mean 2nd. effort body shot.

Suddenly I had an image of myself as a mighty caveman with a blued steel & walnut club in my hands. Ready to do what must be done.

I did my best Reggie Jackson impression and whiffed badly. As my momentum carried me way, way past the swing, I felt myself floating off the ground. Almost like in a slow-motion dream. You see, the snow/mud/ice was very slick and I hadn't secured my footing. As I feel my body rapidly compressing into the earth, a loud, sickening, "SNAP" type noise is heard. I was hoping it was my arm, or my leg even. No such luck, as I step up to the plate for strike 2, I notice the peculiar angle in the middle of my gun. Approx. 45 deg. which while normal for a breach loader or O/U, is quite unusual for a pump-gun...

You guessed it, I had broken the stock almost completely off. To say I dispatched that bird with my bare hands only to end it's suffering would be a lie. I terminated it with extreme prejudice. A couple times.

Come to think of it, that gun always was bad luck...The guy that bought from me and repaired it has taken more birds, deer, and small game with it than I can count on all my fingers and toes.

One is told all through life, that the best lessons are learned the hardest.

Now I have a 10 gauge !!!! Which cost a bunch, and around $2.00 everytime I pull the trigger.

The lesson learned here: When approaching downed game, always wear a helmet.


mikeylikesit...and the gooses do too...

 

[rrbuckmaster]

Huntnut, Great story. Wish i had writting skills like that!
There is only one hunting trip that i would love to have a "do-over"
It was november 1999 about 8:30 am. I am sitting in my blind which is a circle of young pines. to my back is a ceder swamp and to my front is open woods. No snow so you can hear every twig snap. To my left i hear a deer moving out of the swamp so i start to get ready, get my gun in place, finger near the safty etc... Its a doe, she is standing broadside to me looking right at the scent wick i hung. Not more than 3' behind her is a very nice 8 point,still mostly behind trees, come on i need him to move 3 more feet! Now he is broadside to me and his only thought is her. I line up my shot, slowly pull the trigger BANG! Ok, i shot my round has left the barrel and the buck is still standing!Get this, I am only 35-40 yds away. The doe is gone but that buck is so "in love" if you know what i mean, that he does not move an inch. OK, rack another shell, quick check of round, gun and eyes! still there! put my sight back on his vitals and shoot again. This time he jumps and bolts to the swamp.I Wait about 20 min and go check, no blood or hair. I know i hit him by his action so i mark the spot and start to follow the path he went.I did find a drop of blood and to make this shorter he looped around 3-4 times. Its now around 2 pm and so far he has crossed a driveway at least 4 times. I know in my heart that i didn't hit him that good but my mind wont believe it.I had to head home that night due to work the next day(mon) so i took tuesday off and went back to look. Where i stoped he was 20 yards away. Someone else got to him first. To this day i kick my self in the A**. What was the problem(why i missed)? I have flip up sights on my 12 ga. and it was not all the way up. So my round was off. In a small way i am glad someone recover my deer. This i wish i could have a "do-over"

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HAPPY AND SAFE HUNTING TO ALL.

 

[SAK]

Great story Huntnut!!!

 

[SAK]

Mikeylikesit, a big sorry for passing by your story the first time. I'm not a goose hunter so the title didn't appeal to me but I read it after browsing again and it was hilarious! Another excellent story!

 

[DILLIGAF]

Good story Nuthut!

The first deer I ever shot w/ a bow (1985) was a spine shot ([email protected] was my guide - he was tucked into a sleeping bag back at camp). I was as green as a hunter could be and had no idea that deer made noise (sounds). When the deer did bleat (if you've ever spine shot one you know what I'm talking about) I freaked out. I was a little afraid to get down out of the tree, so I emptied my quiver (7 more arrows) into the deer. The second shot was a heart and lunger, but I had to be sure it was dead.

When I got out of the tree the poor thing looked like General Custer, but it was pre-trenderized for the table.

I would like to do this hunt over, but I'm not sure I would have done it any other way. It's a classic first deer story for deer camp!

I never want to spine shoot another!

[This message has been edited by DILLIGAF (edited 01-24-2001).]

 

[DILLIGAF]

Originally posted by DILLIGAF:
Good story Nuthut!

The first deer I ever shot w/ a bow (1985) was a spine shot ([email protected] was my guide - he was tucked into a sleeping bag back at camp). I was as green as a hunter could be and had no idea that deer made noise (sounds). When the deer did bleat (if you've ever spine shot one you know what I'm talking about) I freaked out. I was a little afraid to get down out of the tree, so I emptied my quiver (7 more arrows) into the deer. The second shot was a heart and lunger, but I had to be sure it was dead.

When I got out of the tree the poor thing looked like Genral Custer, but it was pre-trenderized for the table.

I would like to do this hunt over, but I'm not sure I would have done it any other way. It's a classic first deer story for deer camp!

I never want to spine shoot another!

[This message has been edited by DILLIGAF (edited 01-24-2001).]

 

[Ultramag]

One I wish I could try again. It was 1986 and I was bow hunting. After getting settled I rattled a little. I sat back a waited. A short while later I saw 3 deer approaching. I got ready and saw a spike a 3 point and a doe. They came in on my off side and I had no shot. They quickely departed not ever giving me a shot. As they walked off I gave a couple grunts. All that did was speed them up. Right away I heard noise behind me and I jokingly thought "This must be the big boy". Well it was. To my amazement out walked a monster 3 point I had watched all year. His antlers came and almost touched in the front. Any way I got ready and drew as he walked by but I never shot because I thought he was to far out for a shot. He soon was gone and I thought about the distance for a second. I saw a leaf on the ground by his tracks in the sand and put my arrow right through it. I guess it is important to know your distances.

 

[mikeylikesit]

If a deer farts in the woods and there's no one there to hear it, does it smell???

Stupid but true...I actually heard a (very large) doe, fart at a baitpile in 1993. Have you ever seen 4-6 deer run away from you because you're laughing too loud to shoot at them ??? Or maybe the time I sat in a huge pile of **** poop in my blind in the dark, way too early one opening morning without a flashlight. Had to sit all day to wait for a good shot...and missed because I stank so bad I couldn't see straight.

Trust me, if I let all the bad things that have happened to ruin otherwise perfect hunting conditions, I would have given up 10 yrs. ago!!!

Sometimes the bad days are better than no days at all.

mikeylikesit...you smell sumthin...

 

[Ultramag]

Mikeylikesit,
Thanks for that recollection. I laughed so hard it brought tears.

 

[Sarge]

Well it was about my third year hunting and I had never even seen a deer yet. On this particular hunt, finally I did see deer.

It started out, as they all do, at pre-dawn by the back of the car. We were all putting on the final touches and uncasing and loading up the weapons. I boisterously and boldly reported that I was not going to be back until I had a deer so don’t wait up for me at lunch time, if I was late. This was 1964 I don’t remember if doe permits had started yet then, but even if they had, none of us had one.

One of my favorite spots was way into the woods on a side hill. While I sat there on the ground watching down hill, a really nice little buck (I want to remember a 6 point but it might have been a 4) came from my left rear. It sounded just like all the squirrels that were playing that day. When I finally decided to take a look, this guy was about 30 yd. out quartering toward me. I had to get my gun up and get turned in his direction without being seen. The deer gods were with me because he suddenly looked the other way for a few seconds. I had enough time to turn and get great aim. I say, I had time to. Instead, though, I yanked myself around and squeezed off a really quick shot. He jumped in the air, twisting and turning, but came back down doing about a hundred. He turned and ran straight away from me, and I shot at his flag twice more. I will never know why I shot at the flag, but I did. He disappeared in a flash and I sat there very dejected.

After just a couple of minutes I started to smell what seemed like blood. I jumped up and found some blood where he had been running away. I began to follow his tracks and blood trail, immediately and followed with vigor. Its no surprise that I didn’t see him and that the trail got very thin after while, I got to following leaves with natural red spots and had to go back to last blood. That hadn’t ever been taught to me it just seemed right and I wasn’t about to be scorned out of camp for leaving a deer behind. Anyway, I was standing on a small knoll. No more, blood no more tracks and no deer. I was devastated, didn’t know what to do next and in complete frustration I hung my head. “Voila” there at my feet at the bottom of the knoll lay my deer. I had tracked him about 1.5 – 2 hours and he looked a bit bloated. That never got into my brain until I poked his belly with my knife. He was gut shot twice, once in the side and once in the white flag. The ooze and stink that came out was unbearable. I did bear it though, and got him cleaned out ok. A couple pauses for personal hygiene were all I needed.

He had gone what seemed like sbout 2 miles and I was now on posted private land. I dragged him back in as straight a line as possible. That included a swamp and a steep high hill near the other end of the trip. By the time I got back to the trail where the car should be, it was gone to lunch. So much for my boisterous brag of early morning.

One other stupid thing that turned out ok, was that I left the deer alone on public land. I had my tag on it, (the old metal tags) and thought I had it out of sight. I had dragged it a long way, and was tired, so I left it behind and walked the last 300 yards up hill to where the car would have been. When I got back it was gone. I saw a camp of guys a little way off that I hadn’t notice earlier. They were standing around a buck and gabbing. Mine had two big patches of hair dragged off on the down side, so I could easily recognize him and as I said my tag was on him. I walked over to the guys and looked at the deer. It was mine. I pointed out my tag, which matched the numbers on my back tag, and the fact, that there would be patches of missing fur on the down side. There were three of them and one of me, so I didn’t get pushy. We were discussing whether I get my deer back or not when my folks and brother-in-law and uncle showed up. When they all got out of the car, the conversation became decidedly in my favor and we loaded up the deer with no negative attitude showing at all.

What did I do wrong?
1. Not attentive to sounds
2. Quick shot not careful
3. Shot at a running deer headed away
4. Began to track instantly
5. Went onto private posted land without permission
6. Did not open the abdomen carefully
7. Dragged the deer like a bulldozer through swamp and up great hills.
8. Left deer unattended on public land
9. Told my party not to wait for me if was late.

All of them were wrong, and some potentially disastrous.

I pulled it off anyway, sometimes luck works better than people do.

I didn’t hunt for over 30 years after that kill. It wasn’t because of all the wrongs, it just worked out that way. Since I started hunting again, I have not seen a buck in the woods, while hunting. I have killed a legal deer each year though, So I don’t feel too out of sorts. A buck again will be nice when it finally happens.

Sorry this was so long. I just go on when I get started, can’t help it.

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Sarge

Live your conscience. Leave others to theirs.

[This message has been edited by Sarge (edited 01-26-2001).]

 

[Byron]

Sarge,

Good story. I have to disagree with your point #3 being the wrong choice. Once you shoot a deer, you have made a commitment to kill it as quickly and cleanly as possible. That means that if it takes off running, you should take any and all shots available to you until it is down and dead. This includes shots at longer range, imperfect angles, and running animals you wouldn't take normally. Since you already hit the deer, a shot at the flag as it ran away was exactly the right choice.

Best regards,
Byron

 

[Recurve]

Great stories all. I especially liked Mikeylikesit, still laughing at both! Almost had the same thing happen to me with the **** poop but I found another spot to sit.

 

[bingo]

mikeylikesit,it takes a pretty good story to make me laugh out loud! The magizines should be beating your door down! Got any more???