Well I missed the biggest buck I've ever seen in my short few years of hunting today, and I'm worried I'll never see him again. My rifle jammed on me as I tried to take a shot on a beautiful buck around 8am. By the time I got set for a second attempt my heart was pounding so hard I just plain missed. This is only my third year hunting deer, my question is will a buck come back after this happening?

Only way to find out it to get back in the stand.

He'll be back. Just keep the corn flowing. He likes corn.

Nah....he is in the next county and will not ever return.


















J/K No one really knows for sure. Keep some TC out and keep hunting him is the only way to tell.

How did your gun jam as you were trying to take a shot? The deer will come back

He will come back, but will you be there when he does? And how did your gun jam?

What STX said.
Keep at it or you will not know for sure.

T

Yep...

This is a good question. Round in the chamber, and on safety as soon as I sit in the stand.

Rifle jam?

Second attempt... did the first shot miss and then the "jam"?

My guess is it was a lever or bolt action a d he tried to chamber a round too slow and it got wedged.

If you aren't going to keep a round in the chamber, you are better of single loading from the top. Then you can go as slow as you want and make as little noise as possible. But I don't see any reason whatsoever to not have a round chambered with the safety on once you are safely in your hunting spot.

Not sure it applies here, but nothing calms the nerves better than using a rifle that has been fired so often, the shooter need not even think about how theyre working it. And likewise, trying to load and work with a rifle that's new or seldom used only makes the mind even more nervous in clutch situations.

Simply put, when you see cross hairs on a target often, they bring your mind to ease. See them rarely, and the mind usually does just the opposite.

As for seeing him again, they never get old being stupid.

no, I shot him this morning

There's a good chance he'll be back! Below is a buck I missed in 2009....he showed up on camera later in the season but I didn't get a chance at him until 2010 and this time there was no screwing it up.

I saw a guy at the gas station today that shot a six point. He told me it was the second time this week he shot it. This deer had a hole in its neck where he shot it a few days ago. The buck came back and he got the finishing shoulder shot on it today.

I've shot the rifle several times, my guess is maybe the bolt was not 100% pushed down and when I pulled the trigger it just clicked. I don't think it was a rifle problem more of a mistake by me. Thinking the rifle did something wrong I took out that round and put another one in. By the time I was ready to take the second shot I was shaking to much and off my game because of my mistake, I just missed the shot.

he will usually come back unless your neighbor shoots him

Check the round that was in the chamber. Was the primer dented?

I give you credit for firing more shots than many guys do to ready themselves for the season.

Yeah every September I make sure it's still sited in really good. Nothing worse then using a rifle that's off, I just plain missed. I guess it's just another lesson learned.

Put at least a full box of ammo through that rifle before hitting the woods the next time and you'll be far less likely suffer a miss that so often comes with buck fever. And try to use the same mechanics that you will have in the field. If all you'll have in the stand or blind is a forearm rest, limit yourself to that on the bench.

That's one of the key benefits of getting good and lengthy practice. It trains and disciplines the mind to focus more on hitting that very small aim point, and far less on the fact that you're shooting at the biggest buck you've ever seen in your life.

Good luck!

There's really no way to know how that particular buck will react after shooting at and missing him. At the same, there also isn't any way to know how any deer that walked out of sight (whether you shot and missed, spooked him or just passed on him) in the future. That's just hunting. Spend as much time in the stand as you can, and you'll still have a fair chance as ever to take a good buck before the season ends. You may get another chance at this buck or you may see a new buck that you like even more. Keep at it and don't beat yourself up about the mistake. It happens and before long it'll just be another hunting story about the "one that got away" or the "one that gave you another chance" that you can tell when shooting the breeze around the campfire.

This is the best picture I have of him on my camera.