I need everyones opinion on this decision

[Cody Gruchow]

 it was the end of september in the evening and i was watching several big does 30 yards away feeding the field and was think about possibly shooting one of them. but i was after a big 7 point that i got on my trail camera. That evening i noticed something coming from the right of the does i slowly turned my head and it was him he stood standing 15 yards away facing me kinda angling away very slightly. i was sure i could make the shot, but i didnt wanna risk only crippling such a beautiful animal. so i passed on the shot! this was the biggest deer i have ever seen while i was in stand and i am wondering how many of you would of passed up on the shot. He was standing directly to the right of me with his chest facing me.

[Tami]

The big ones didnt get that big by being shot..
Nothing wrong with passing on a nice big stag. Big ones give off bigger bucks, maybe some day they will be as big as they used to be in our grandparents time and before.
Just my 2 cents worth.
NG
Its like fishing, i let the big ones go and keep the smaller ones to eat..

[Spinach]

It doesn't matter where he was or how far or close you were. The only thing that matters is that you did not feel 100% comfortable with the shot and you chose to watch him walk away. Our opinions do not matter!

It takes a great hunter to know the difference in a good shot or bad one and you made the correct decision.

I applaud you for doing the right thing in your situation, you will be rewarded in the future.  

[Grute Man]

If there's any doubt you can't make a clean kill, let it go.  You never know how he's going to move around.  In a few moments, he may present a perfect shot for you.

I know a guy who got a beautiful 12 pointer in 07 because he waited and waited and after that, he waited some more.  He thought the buck was going away then a doe comes into the area from the swamp.  So now he turns and comes back.  Now this guy had a perfect shot provided and was sucessful.

If you want to do the QDM thing, nothin wrong with that either.  I've spoken to many people who have gotten much bigger bucks on their property by letting them go.

I agree with Pat.  You made the right choice.  Had you made a bad shot, you would be kicking yourself for a loooong time.

[Super Star!]

It doesn't matter where he was or how far or close you were. The only thing that matters is that you did not feel 100% comfortable with the shot and you chose to watch him walk away. Our opinions do not matter!

It takes a great hunter to know the difference in a good shot or bad one and you made the correct decision.

I applaud you for doing the right thing in your situation, you will be rewarded in the future.  

 I dont think you could have said it better..........

[HD]

Not me, I'm a wuss, If I ain't got a good shot, I don't take it.

Just me.............

[Super Star!]

Not me, I'm a wuss,

they did lower the bow poundage down to 30 so you should be able to pull your bow back now...........

[Cody Gruchow]

thanks guys. i was kinda worryed for awhile about my chances for this buck. i was worryed that he didnt make it out of the gun season, but he did because he passed by my trail camera about 2 weeks ago. after that day in the tree with him right there was the only time i seen him all season during legal shooting light. i did see him one time during shotgun season but he was in way to thick of cover to even risk a shot. but i atleast now have one certain buck to set my sights on. i seem to have bad luck like this also. i have decent shooter deer but none of them ever present a shot

[Duckslayer]

Cody, I concur with Pat 100%  I you for being a sportsman and not taking a shot that you were not sure about no matter what the prize!  Have a good one and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[HD]

they did lower the bow poundage down to 30 so you should be able to pull your bow back now...........




But that still means you can't hunt SS, keep try'en, sooner or later ya never know.
 


PM sent

[Bowhunter2313]

If your not 150% percent feeling about the shot dont take it good call. I can deal with the crappy feeling of watching it walk away than deal with the worse feeling of watching it run away injured and not end up going down.

[LJL]

I too have passed on some big deer due to marginal shot options.  I agree with the rest in big bucks produce big bucks, who knows what may walk by next year.  Good Hunting!!