Sitting in my stand this morning, covered up in bucks at my feeder,I have 2 mature 8s and 4 younger bucks feasting. Then grand dad slowly walks in, head raised high, majestic and respected by the others. Big ole body, saggy belly and decent horns and made my heart pound. I passed him up for some reason, maybe I am too concerned with score but any way he was a dang good shooter buck and I watched him slowly walk away.

You don't have to shoot anything, even though I probably would have shot one of the eight pointers and never seen the big buck.... there's nothing wrong with not shooting.

I have done it more times than I can count and never regretted it. If he doesn’t do it for me, he walks

I feel your pain. I let a really nice 4x4 mule deer go in Idaho one year towards the end of the hunt because he wasn't what I wanted for the wall. He was really nice buck, but just a little thin, and I was way too picky. That was back in the 90's and it still bothers me that I went home without filling my tag instead of taking that buck.

Hunting is seldom about shooting.

I'm the same way. I shoot when I am ready and when I have the right one. Did not get one last year for this reason. Since I still hunt on my in-laws land which is free I don't feel that I have to shoot something to punch my tag. I saw plenty of deer but not the right one. Instead I enjoy the hunting aspect of it and just being out while relaxing. My job is stressful enough that I don't need to be stressed out on killing a trophy. Closest I got was an old spike that I stalked for 30 minutes but never got the right shot. The only regret I had was no sausage this year.

And shooting has become increasing less about hunting.

This ^^^^^^^

And hunting has become less about hunting.

more than a few times I sit & watched, never shot.

Yep! Nothing wrong with you at all! I've done it many times myself

yup.....I enjoy watching more than shooting most of the time....

I bet he come back and gives you a second chance to enjoy or shoot

Last year I passed what would have been the biggest buck I have ever seen in hopes that my daughter would get a chance at it, she got a quick look at him but did not get a shot, it was exciting.

Good luck.

Professional courtesy between two old farts? 'Nothing wrong with that.

Wow, unrelated spam-type post.

[b][/b]Nothing is wrong with you! God knows I love seeing them as much as I do taking them.

......happens, you don't know it yet but you ain't mad at the deer anymore!

Word!

Nothing wrong with that.

I go through phases. Couple weeks back I was low on venison.....I was only 45 min into my hunt about to arrow my third doe of the evening, when I realized I was well on track to use all my tags since it was only 3:45pm,

This weekend I never even thought about chambering my rifle. Just watched and took pics

Nothing wrong with letting him walk. I did the same thing Saturday morning.

I always say, If he is bigger than I have on the wall, I will shoot. If not, let him pass. I can always get a doe or spike for meat.

There is nothing wrong with "Counting Coup". SOmetimes it takes more honor to let them walk than it does to hammer down on them. Getting older has many strange effects on a person. Sometimes I think I identify more with the animal than I should.

I took 2 does this weekend and when I had the chance at a really nice buck I looked over and didn't see anybody in the stand with me. It lacked that extra excitement that comes with having a friend or family member along for the ride. That was a lucky buck because there was no more i was almost past the accurelease lever and on the trigger when it just didn't feel right. I got meat does though, and that's what I was really there for.

Ya last year hadn't seen to many mule deer on prop but found a 3-4 year old 3/3 520 yards but knew
He was never going to get real awesome if I took him really thought about it till I spooked a monster
Late in the morning unprepared and I mean a toad! Saw him for 20 seconds and lost my cool!
But now there's two toads!
Or if you tag out wife wants you home😔