What would you do?

Well I just pulled in from a 3 day stint in WI. Sunday night was an awasome evening and Im hunting in between two ridges in a valley where there is a natural spring and some flat land the deer love to hang out..Ive got over 800 pics in 8 days from this spot. Im about 20 feet in the air and 16 yards from the trail where most deer take to the water. Sunday im sitting and have does, fawns, and a few bucks visit the water hole. Ive got about 1/2 hour left of light and a nice 125-130 class 8 is 10 yards broad side drinking..Im from central mn and I would of not thought twice about shooting this deer if it were in mn….but Im in WI and the buck is looking up the ridge where he just came from. Sure enough a minute after the 8 come down, the biggest 10 point ive ever seen in the wild while hunting comes directly at me…he not on the trail so all I have is a chest/back shot…I pull back..he starts drinking …he keeps moving to me straight on and is at 10 yards now….still pulled back with no clean shot..the 8 point is broad side with a perfect shot…they are now head to head but the big boy is still head on to me…they clang antlers…stop and drink…im still at full draw…out of a sudden the 8 jumps…the big boy raises his head and BAM..he jumps two steps into brush..I let down my bow..Im hoping he will come to a clearing…He doesnt..I sit and watch as both bucks slowly walk away eating acorns. I know this is getting long but the only shot I ever had was into his back/spine or a front chest shot…I would say this deer would have been in the mid 160’s and would have been a buck of a life time for me…I been bow hunting for over 20 years and this was the buggest buck Ive ever the oppertunity to shoot..It never spooked and Im not sure why they both jumped …Soooo what would you have done..spine shot?, front chest shot, let it walk, grab the buck knife, jump down and slit his throat??? give me some feed back…I let him walk…then shook so hard I couldnt get down from the stand …what a great expierence with a big old wide a$$ buck….Jay

Wow, sounds like a great hunt and you are in a kick a$$ spot . You did the right thing them are both very poor shots on anything I’m thinking you WILL see this buck again and can’t wait for the end of this story .. Best of luck next time you get after this big boy

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Wow, sounds like a great hunt and you are in a kick a$$ spot . You did the right thing them are both very poor shots on anything I’m thinking you WILL see this buck again and can’t wait for the end of this story .. Best of luck next time you get after this big boy

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what he said X 2 good call on the no shot definately havent seen the last of him

Congrats Jay on a great encounter.

Yep you did the right thing, and that is not always easy to do.

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I let him walk…then shook so hard I couldnt get down from the stand

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Yep, the best feeleing in the world and the one I seek each and every year.

If a guy can’t get a good shot at the vitals then pass, you did the right thing,,,I’ll bet it was a frustrating situation on a buck that size.

Congrats on your encounter Jay and kudos to you for not taking that shot. How would you feel today if you would have hit him and not found him.

You didn’t spook him out of there so he’s around and most likely will remain in the area.

Good luck and I hope you get another crack at him!

you did the right thing that spot will be a honey hole so your opportunity will come again. For most bow hunters we are satisfied with having encounters like that getting rattled after the fact only keeps us going and driving harder. Wait till the next time you sit that stand and see how you feel I guarantee your heart will be pumping with anticipation of seeing that deer again and you’ll have a hard time trying to calm you nerves. It did with me gotta love what a big buck can due to a grown man.

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Wow, sounds like a great hunt and you are in a kick a$$ spot . You did the right thing them are both very poor shots on anything I’m thinking you WILL see this buck again and can’t wait for the end of this story .. Best of luck next time you get after this big boy

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what he said X 2 good call on the no shot definately havent seen the last of him

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X3….like Arnold would say, “He’ll be back”! Gives you something to look forward to the next time you hunt this area. Good luck puting the down on him!

A similar story happened with Hokah Giant shot last year. The hunter shot down on him and the buck went quite a ways and just about made it into a river before he died (and would have been lost for sure).

You probably made the right choice. But that doesn’t make it any easier.

You will get another stab at him. He’s not spooked

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you did the right thing that spot will be a honey hole so your opportunity will come again. For most bow hunters we are satisfied with having encounters like that getting rattled after the fact only keeps us going and driving harder. Wait till the next time you sit that stand and see how you feel I guarantee your heart will be pumping with anticipation of seeing that deer again and you’ll have a hard time trying to calm you nerves. It did with me gotta love what a big buck can due to a grown man.

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X2 Hopefully you get another chance to him

You did the exact right thing. Good things come to those who wait, so I’ve been told.

You did the right thing for sure…What an experience thou you will get another crack at him.
I think one of the great fore fathers of archery describes this situation best.
I COME HOME WITH AN HONEST EARNED FEELING THAT SOMETHING GOOD HAS TAKEN PLACE. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHETHER I GOT ANYTHING; IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW THE DAY WAS SPENT…FRED BEAR