After reading Tom’s story this morning about his itchy trigger finger, I decided that I must share this story. I am going to be honest and tell you that this story isn’t going to make me look very good, but in the end it might teach everyone a lesson. And it will definitely give my brother a good chuckle. I’m sure I’m not the only one this has happened too, but I bet I’m one of the few who will admit it.

It was the opening day of our firearms season a few years back, and my wife, brother, cousin, and myself all headed out for our morning hunts. I was located about 200yds down from Jeff’s location and watched through the binoculars as he plugged a very nice buck that morning. I could see him moving down the edge, and was just waiting for the shot, when suddenly-BOOM-, Jeff’s 12 gauge rang out. I could see the impact of the bullet, and knew immediately it was lethal shot. We both watched the buck run about 150yds into the cut bean field and collapse in a heap. We got on our two-way radios and talked about the shot, and Jeff told me how the buck was “bleeding out his blood hole”. I think that the excitement was getting to him a little bit. Ya think? The morning was off to a good start.

We let the buck lay for quite awhile, but with a lull in the action, we decided to meet out in the field and get him field dressed and up to the house. We get to the deer, and are admiring the kill, when we happen to glance over to the south and see this very nice buck just coming out of the woods on a trot. Now, Jeff and I had hunted this property for quite a few years, and knew exactly the route this buck was going to take, so immediately our plan went into action.

There was a big grassy area, in the middle of the open field, that we were on one side of, and we knew that the buck would be coming down the other side of the grass area, through this swale that was located in the middle of the field as well. We crouched and made our way to the edge, where the grassy area met the open field, and waited. This is where it starts to get a little fuzzy for me. I’m not sure if I was in a trance, or what happened, but I just wasn’t ready. I didn’t quite have the gun up at the ready position, and suddenly the buck was on us.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I had plenty of time to shoot, and I did eventually get the gun to my shoulder, but as this big behemoth stepped out-white face and all-I froze. I couldn’t do anything. Wait, I did click the safety off, but after that I just wasn’t ready. What seemed like an eternity, but was probably only about 4 seconds, passed by, and that buck turned and looked at us, and realizing what was happening, bust out of there like his arse was on fire. And with that went my chance to shoot the biggest buck I’ve probably ever encountered in the wild.

I guess you can call it buck fever, or whatever you want, but I have to admit that I was rattled. At this point in time I hadn’t shot that many deer, and for some reason, I just was not ready to take the shot. I can honestly still see his gray face, with his very nice set of antlers, staring right at me. What can I say? I blew it. I guess you live and learn.

So, I didn’t exactly have the same issue that Tom had, but it was still a problem either way. Oh, how those moments stay with us forever, and I guess the bottom line is, that is what it’s all about.

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