8 Pointer got a pass
I was going to carve the turkey at 3pm when I looked out a window. Our cat was sitting on a trailer & staring at something. Yup a good sized 8 pointer was next to the driveway, 20 yards from the front door. Hmmm, it was like an angel was on one shoulder & the devil on the other. After a lot of discussion, with myself, I gave him a pass and went back to preparing dinner for family. Yeah, I could have have popped him and let him lay, but it's mid 50's and I wouldn't feel up to the task after dinner and drinks.
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Toolman286,good on you.
I guess about 30 years ago my Uncle Lewis was sitting outside mobile home in Town of Louisa, Virginia and deer dogs chased monster buck across his front yard. He went inside and grabbed his shotgun thinking maybe the dogs will turn him full circle. Sure enough, the deer turned and came thru backyard. Uncle Lewis was waiting down on his knees with his scattergun propped up on hood of his lawn tractor in front yard. He passed some double 0's on to this monster at about 50feet.
The monster as i recall was way over 12 points and dressed out at over 300 lbs. At the time I think he made it in the Virginia record books.----------------------------Ray
PS: Uncle Lewis was the crane foreman on my first job and as a hobby he built racing engines for 55-57 Chevy's for the locals.
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You made a good call.
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And it is Thanksgiving after all ........ I agree, good call.
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We aren't hunters, we are sportsmen. Wife watched a nice buck walk behind a tree but could not see anything but hair, did not shoot thinking it might be a gut shot and passed him up. Did I say Sportsman? I meant sportswoman!
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Let's see: Thanksgiving dinner or 'good sized 8 point'? HMMM, (whisper over shoulder) "Hey, keep this warm for another 15 minutes. I'll be right back."😁🙃
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Likely would have let him walk also . Season been in since mid October. I just sighted in my rifle last week .. just haven't felt the urgency to go .....yet . Course the fact that i can sit on my back deck and hunt does make it easy .
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I would have done the same, but if I was given one of those Dog tests where you place a slab of turkey meat on a plate next to a plate of cooked venison...........
😁
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Yep. Small work vs. Big work, family good times vs. Labor. There will be other deer. Family get togethers are becoming more rare. Choose the good times every time. I have passed on deer who looked too young, too tough or weather was not conducive considering bang for buck (pun intended).
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Yes, Mom will be 98 in 10 days. More important to spend time with her & family.
Of course, it wouldn't be the first time she (or my wife) helped process a deer.
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Let’s hope that 8 pointer is giving thanks.
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Nice of you to let him walk. I never even think about shooting something around the house like that but if they are out in the woods it's game on.
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There are certain days of the year, that everything needs to have peace and harmony. You did good my friend. This is the reason I never hunt on Thanksgiving and Christmas eve or day.
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Thanks to everyone. Now I don't feel so bad about the one that I let get away.
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I had two chances at a big buck one time. Using a BP percussion longrifle where each cap fired and failed to ignite the main charges. The first "pop" made the buck look up. The second, made him run away. When I took a 3rd shot at a tree, just to see what would happen......the darn thing went off!!! 😫 Told my hunting pardner who was with me the story and he just said "It was not that deer's day to die"
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