Just returned from a deer hunt with two of my sons and some great friends. After nearly fifty years of hunting, I am finding it more difficult to “pull the trigger” on a buck. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to hunt more days in one year than many hunters get to hunt in a lifetime. I have become very “picky” about the bucks I shoot, the first characteristic that they must possess is maturity. If they are not mature, I will not shoot no matter what they have on their heads.
Another factor came into play last Wednesday morning that caused me to hold my fire. I walked up on a really large antlered, mature buck and had him standing broadside at 70 yards, so close I could almost smell the deer scent. The old fellow did not know I was there, giving me ample time to study his body confirmation and antlers. Sitting flat on my butt and resting on my knees, the crosshairs settled onto the pocket behind his front shoulder. I had the buck “dead to rights” all I needed to do was bump the safety forward and squeeze the trigger.
It was then that a strange feeling came over me. I started thinking about the mile long hike across the canyon and my two sons who were hunting within a couple of miles. Would it be possible to turn down the shot, go get the boys and return to find the buck? I let the old boy walk.
I did return to the area with my boys in tow. As luck would have it, the buck had dropped into a deep canyon and disappeared. We did not find him again that day and since it was the last day of the hunt, I pray that he survives the predators so that we can hunt again next year.
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