Are you clutch???

[VANDAL]

Well apparently I'm not.

Robby had a great write up on Breaking 200" but a key point he eluded was making the shot count when you get that rare opportunity at a great buck.

Here are a few bucks that I've missed...that I have pictures of. If only I was clutch.

LETS KEEP THIS THREAD GOING, I'D LOVE TO SEE PICS/STORIES OF BIG BUCKS YOU'VE MISSED.

Sept 5, 2007- Archery: Spotted this buck as he lies in the pic about 3/4 mile away. Closed within 200 yds above him and took off my shoes. The terrain was such that I couldn't go straight down but needed to loop around and come in at an angle. To make a long story short, during the stalk the buck stood up and started feeding...towards my shoes. By the time I got to where the buck was bedded I looked up and saw him standing ~5 yrds from my shoes. I still snuck within bow range and let it fly sending an arrow over his back. This was a great buck with nice inlines on his back forks.
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=353&stc=1&d=1330713114
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=354&stc=1&d=1330713133


Sept 15, 2008- Rifle. The pic was taken in August but I found this tall deep forked buck again on Sept 15th and watched him bed in a patch of trees with 3 other bucks. Closed to within 350 yards and set up. Long story short, he wasn't in the patch I was watching and eventually busted me. I missed a 350 yard broadside shot.
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=355&stc=1&d=1330713181

Sept 3, 2011- Archery. Not normally a buck I would shoot but with a bow and not seeing many nice bucks last year I decided to make a play on this buck. Perfectly executed stalk, disaster of a shot missing high over the back.
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=356&stc=1&d=1330713200


Alright now I shared my not-clutch moments the last few years now I want to see or hear about yours (to make me feel better)

 

[MattEastman]

I never got a shot at this buck, but hunted him pretty hard back in 09. I got within 60 yards of him when I snapped this shot and could not close the distance with my recurve.

 

[robby denning]

Vandal, you are right. All the scouting, hunting, years of waiting come down to making the shot. Can't wait to follow this thread- Robby

 

[Hoyts n Mulies]

I can still remember drawing back and missing the largest buck I've had an opportunity to shoot at. It still eats at me! He wouldn't have been a giant to most of you but he was an honest 180.

 

[VANDAL]

I still have nightmares over that buck I posted the first two pics on. I can picture him standing there looking at me as my arrow sailed over his back. To make it worse...I had brutal hike back to my tent that night. The next morning while I was breaking down my tent I figured I'd get my spotter and look at that mountain one more time...sure enough he was out feeding. I had to get home so I left him. Went back multiple times that year and never saw him again.

 

[Aron Snyder]

Great thread!

 

[Evan Williams]

I missed this buck at 62 yards this year. I thought that I had clearance over a small log in front of me but I ended up catching it by NOTHING and watched my arrow snap in two and flip through the air missing him clean. This photo was taken a few days before that opportunity.

 

[Lawnboi]

I messed up a shot on what would have been my first mulie this last fall, not on the caliber of bucks you posted, but on a very respectable deer for the dakotas. It still eats at me, even though i wouldnt consider it a real 'miss' more like a mess up. makes me regret giving up some of those 'gimme' shots on smaller bucks. Oh well.

Anyways, sounds like you need some

CONFIDENCE! Practice, know your going to make that shot, dont think about the past misses or missing in general. Focus and execute the shot just like you should be all year long.

 

[a3dhunter]

I can still remember drawing back and missing the largest buck I've had an opportunity to shoot at. It still eats at me! He wouldn't have been a giant to most of you but he was an honest 180.

I'm in the same boat.
In 2010 I missed a huge buck, shot right underneath him after a 4 hour stalk. An honest 180" that I would have bet money would have been pushing 190".
My rangefinder picked up some grass in between me and the buck, I ranged three times and trusted it. Big mistake, but after being in the timber for 5 days straight I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.
2012 is a year for redemption.

 

[justin davis]

I have a curse with mule deer. I cannot count the number of big bucks I have screwed up on. Wether it was a stalk or blowing a seemingly easy shot.

 

[Juan_ID]

I have a curse with mule deer. I cannot count the number of big bucks I have screwed up on. Wether it was a stalk or blowing a seemingly easy shot.

X2! I seem to have the same problem, and worst part is I have NO idea where I have gone wrong at the moment of truth. Everything feels good up to the anchor then I just seem to "blurr out" and BAM, chalk up another miss lol! But it's ok, that kind of stuff builds character! I am however looking to break that curse this year!

 

[bearguide]

i quess i have years of character building