Hard to live with

[ozark]

The buck with a nice rack (Probably typical 8 Pointer) was walking down a road/food plot heading east. Teresa (my fifty year old daughter) was aiming a .243 at it shooting due west at a distance of 120 yards. Jim was on his cabin porch aiming his 30-06 due south at the same deer 150 yards away. Neither knew the other was going to fire but they fired only a millisecond apart. Teresa heard Jim's rifle report as recoil rocked her. Jim didn't even hear Teresa fire. I Seen the deer flinch and turn left toward Jim's cabin at the sound of gunfire. They found blood and followed the trail as best they could but the bottom line is that it was another lost deer. For Teresa it was her first effort. Jim is supposed to be a good deer killer. I didn't criticize either but was especially ashamed of Jim and I wasn't happy with Teresa's shot. If I had screwed up on either of the opportunities they had, I would be ashamed to put it in print. I would have, but, I would have apologized to the world. I just hope I shoot the .243 and find that something is wrong. My next shot with it will be one that I hope is wide of the mark. It will be at a target other than a deer until I am sure it is not off zero. We watched the sun come up pink and a clear sky. By ten it was clouded over. By noon it was raining. That has turned to snow and the ground here in Leslie is covered. The sun just hid its face from such sorry shooting. The Ozark Angel isn't happy. She said: "I would be out there looking until darkness or found that deer. I close with shame for both shooters. Ben.
PS: It is not my purpose or intent to degrade hunters who try for but lose deer. I think that most, if not all, have done that. But to experience this terrible feeling (and to most it is very sad) is a very good reason to: 1. Learn to shoot well. 2. Take that extra second or two to be sure of our shot. And 3, relate it all to control of self, aiming, trigger, shot selection and the other hundred things we need to do to earn the title of good hunter. I feel bad for the two hunters involved and for the deer which may or may not recover. Sorry if I am being to soft here. Ben.

[timberman]

Ozark, There are many good hunters who wish they could have taken a piticular shot over again because of incidents like this. It doesn't make them less of a hunter or less human for we all make mistakes. But I have learned one lesson, that I can't change the past or what happened but I can learn from it and change the future. I will always remorsefully remember such times and hopefully remember them when another shot presents itself and I wait that one more second or one more step for the best shot or pass on that one. Remembering all the other reasons I'm out there and enjoy those times too. How come if I pound in 1,000 nails perfectly and I hit my thumbnail on the last one that is the one I remember? Just Human I guess.

[ozark]

timberman you put things in proper order well. It isn't necessary to be a good hunter to be a good human. I think I gave the impression that the two hunters were below my standards. Not so at all, Jim was so disappointed that he left the woods sick at his stomache. Teresa, was totally exhausted and really down over the incident. I felt really bad for them and reaffirmed my commitment made long ago to avoid it if at all possible. Still, when that nice buck appears and I see the crosshairs settled on the spot I have elected I will pull the trigger. Maybe I am hunter first and human second. I have wondered. LOL

[minst7877]

Ozark I know how they both feel right now as I almost had this happen to me this year. I have always taken pride in the fact that I have been able to recover the deer that I have shot. But this year almost changed that and I was feeling lower than a snakes belly. I was ready to pack up my gear and head home but we decided to give it one more try to find it. Fortunately we were able to recover the deer the next day in the daylight even though the blood trail had literally dried up and disappeared. I was sure that I had shot that deer right behind the front shoulder but it turned out to be gut shot as it took a step just as I pulled the trigger. Believe me when I say they are suffering right now in their own way.

DC

[wilmsmeyer]

The title of your post and the first few sentences led me to believe that one hunter may have shot the other. Whew! Glad that wasn't the case.

Most planes crash due to pilot error and most deer are wounded by shooter error. Only the absolute most diligent shooter with absolute perfect judgment and nerves...and the absolutely perfectly tuned equipment will succeed 100% of the time. Call it skill and dedication if you want....but it's not luck

If you take a sample of the average person pursuing game, there are many shortcomings in this area. IMO, it is mostly based on unpreparedness and inexperience as apposed to immorality....although these 2 things can be related. However, unpreparedness and inexperience can only be changed by gaining experience and being more prepared. Immorality can only be overcome by a change of heart which rarely is accomplished by a selfish, unthinking individual.

Sounds as if your folk was unprepared, and maybe inexperienced. While unfortunate....no reason to reprimand, If they are morale folk they will do enough of this to themselves and practice preparedness and gain experience.

I have wounded 2 deer with a bow and not recovered them. None with a gun. Probably over 100 deer to my credit. One deer appeared to be hit perfectly....and maybe it was...never found it. The other was a shoulder bone hit for sure....inches from being perfect. Each time, my opportunity was perfect and only I failed. These 2 times still stick with me. It takes everything being perfect in order to hit the release or the trigger and yet it can still happen.

I take immense pride in marksmanship and quick kills. Shot placement and shot selection. Even though I consider myself in the upper percentile I do so with the humbleness that there's always the chance of failure....because I have failed before. It turns up the level of determination I have to stay sharp.

All predators can fail. How many rabbits have made it down their hole after being swiped by a bobcat or wounded by a hawk. I think the biggest reason for a moral person to feel such grief is that we caused the situation...and not out of necessity. The sirloin down at the market is cheaper then our venison and we didn't "need" to kill the deer. We wanted to and failed...causing a beautiful, innocent animal....an animal that gives us so much reason to feed our desire to prey, a pitiful end. Conscience....the only thing that separates us from lions.

Keep hunting!

[ozark]

Some good thoughts Wilmsmeyer. I agree. Our feeling bad stems from the fact that we deliberately caused it. We see deer that have been killed by vehicles all the time and we know that many are just wounded and either make it or don't. My daughter hopes to hunt again and I am sure Jim will. I am satisfied that Plain old buck fever was a factor yesterday. I think my attitude was caused much from a deep desire to be with my daughter while she got her first nice buck. Disappointment along with the fact that I couldn't be involved in the attempted recovery. I am sure most every member here have lived with disappointment and is ready for more. Ben

[whyohe]

i think most of us have lost a deer due to different reasons, buck fever probably being the biggest reason. but one thing thatcould have been is that even with a scope some times you cant see that small branch that can deflect the shot just slightly. i had that happen and fortunatly i found the deer the next day and recovered the bullet and the way it was deformed showed that it was tumbling when it hit. and i ve had a deer i trailed for 4 miles and 6 hours and never found. it disheartened me and i refused to use that gun again till i found the problem wich was mostly me and found a load that i got better accuracy. but no one can say i didnt put forth the effort to find it. as long as we put forth the effort to recover and showing the proper respect for the animal there is nothing to be too upset over. we are human and this is going to happen.

[olegburn]

Ozark,read your post and felt to compliment you and your family-they missed and all that-but the fact that they actually put in time and efford to recovery shows real hunter attitude.
I hunt with really good guys at the camp,but I am at times shocked to see that they fired at the deer and missed(or what they think...),and won't even look for blood,hair,track and other stuff that you should do after taking shot.
My offers to help locate deer don't lead to more than "let's spread out and look for it" type a answer.
And then search is over in just 10-15 minutes 'cause there was not visible blood or dead deer on the ground in 75-100 yards diameter. ( I personally recover one that didn't bleed for 125 yards and died with just a few drops of blood in last 10 yds-artery shot+clipped lung.Took me almost an hour to decifer all the tracks)
They are fine friends but some,IMO, not the hunters I strive to be.
It is frustrating at times,but being younger than them doesn't allow me to pressure them.
Your kids-I think,are different.I would not be harsh on them.
That will be a part of a learning curve that,BTW,never stops.
Just my opinion.
olegburn
And welcome back!

[ozark]

olegburn, Due to the fact than none of us have seen buzzards congrgating in the area I have decided the deer probably survived. From across the river all the land for three square miles can be viewed and when buzzards are feeding on something they are clearly visable. None have been seen flying low or in groups over the area. Ben

[whyohe]

welcome back ozark!!

[ozark]

Thank You whyohe. I am sure glad to be back with this group. This is a big part of my life and I appreciate all here. Ben

[petev]

I lost a big doe in 2003 because I hit her with a 7.62 X 39 mm full metal jacket hollow point and she hardly flinched, but left some blood. It got dark as she entered the woods. I followed her in a primeval chase of stop, listen and when she moves I move. But then she entered laurel and I couldnt follow anymore. The next morning 3 hours of searching did not turn up anything more. She had kept moving to neighboring properties. I couldnt go further since they are hunting clubs. Anyway only 4 years ago I was unfamiliar with such a round that didnt shock, or knock the deer backward or down. Of course my bullet placement was probably a little far back because I saw her licking the upper stomach area of the side. I felt terrible. If I had help I would have tracked it thru the night with my springer spaniel. I traded the mini 30 for a 35 Rem in Rem pump carbine and it has knocked flat 3 deer. But I still feel responsible for the other deer suffering. But time does move on. Ozark I too am often a hunter first and then human. We'll never be completely out of the jungle or colliseum (whatever).