Any Regrets

With a month or less of general Whitetail season remaining, are you dealing with any regrets for decisions/actions either taken or not taken? Overall my season has gone pretty much without a hitch; seen lots of young up and comer bucks, have thrown two bullet shots out and registered two harvests, one early in season on a pretty winter coated female yote and the 2nd in early Dec. on a ladies chasing, post mature 7yo, 10 pt. At this point, holding out for only a wall hanger. What about for you all??? Any decisons/actions that you'd like to reconsider if not taken or take back if having taken. Let's hear those....

I have a bullet I would like to take back. Thanksgiving I shot a very nice 8 point. Since that day I have seen a monster 8 year old 8 point twice now. I was well aware he was out there, he just does not show himself very often at all. I saw him for the second time in 2 weeks just 2 days ago at a whopping 18 yards. What I thought was an 8 year old 8 is in fact a 8 year old 11 point. He has 3 little extras I didn’t see during my first brief encounter with him.

I’d like an arrow back. Had a 160 broadside at 25 yards. I drew, buck stepped back, i leaned forward to adjust, and string nipped my jacked causing the arrow to hit high across the back.
Fortunately, a veteran killed him last weekend during a wounded warrior hunt..

My only regret is a 6-7 year old giant 6 point cull didn't walk in front of me last Monday morning. Haven't seen the shooter I want yet but I know he's out there. Been a fun year with my Nikon so far for sure.

I do have a saying that I try to live by. " A man is finally old when regrets take the place of his dreams ".

Like that saying, have never heard it....

No regrets here. Wife shot a heavy 6 the first week and a couple of pigs since. I’m still waiting for “Bid Daddy” to come by. Almost forgot- I do somewhat regret not shooting that yote a couple weeks ago but there were deer in the pen at the time.

None, extremely happy with my season so far. Killed some big deer(to me) with archery and rifle for WT and MD.

My only regret is that hogs have finally decided to invade our part of the county. We've been hog free for the 6 years I've been on this lease and it's been NICE, but it looks like those days are over. Two of those useless things got shot last weekend.

Only one and I usually never have them , first night on opening day saw a nice 10 and didn’t shoot. Deer mostly hang around the same feeders where I hunt so I thought for sure I’d see him again but nope

Yes…passing on a “7 pointer”. Thats in quotes because this deer is all main beams, great brows, with 3 tiny points. The points are probably 1” or less. But he’s probably 18-20” wide. Trashy buck for sure, but he needs to be killed. I’m seeing younger bucks with the same traits now.

Stood in front of me for an hour back in November, but I was waiting on a better one. Since then I’m lucky to see any deer at all in East Tx.

Only one I kinda regret this season is passed an old low 40s ten second week of bow season due to hunting two deer that were a lot better, one ended up getting wounded shortly after and the other broke off half his rack. Guy killed the old ten with a rifle was cool thought because it was he best deer ever.

None on the whitetail side for me. We’ve had only one of our shooters in daylight on cams or in person and we were able to get him. Ahead on our doe count too compared to last year

20+ pigs down which is ahead of where we were last year at this point. Wish we could’ve seen more reds as we have only taken one and we wanted to take 5-8.

Looking forward two the last two and some change months of the season

I let a upper 60’s lower 70’s walk that probably didn’t last another week and looking back I should make helped him out. He had a busted leg, he’s since vanished and I’m assuming dead. Mother Natures a cruel lady,

I used strips instead of ribeyes on cheesesteak night in camp. They were half the price though. Oh well.

Didn’t get a hunting license due to shoulder surgery. Dr. said I would not be able to shoot this season. Dr. didn’t know I would progress this fast.

No regrets but thankful we have seen more bucks this year. Seem to have more young bucks than I have seen this year and all the deer are in really good shape. The early rains we had this year seemed to have really helped.

Ribeyes cooked over mesquite opening weekend. Pulled ‘em off medium rare. Should of been rare. Rookie mistake. I am ashamed.

I'm in the same boat as JCB. I shot a dandy buck early in the season. He's at the taxi. Two bigger bucks have shown up since. Figures. Wanted my brother to get one but they fail to show when he's hunting. I see them often.

Passed a wide tall 8 my first sit of my 10 day vacation. Best deer I seen all year. I ended up taking two mature cull bucks and a big boar hog. Seen a lot of deer with it being a slow year for our lease I have no regrets.

I would be regretting shooting the 10 pt I shot this year, IF it weren't for the fact that I figured out he was wounded by my dad 2 weeks before. I let him come hunt against my better judgment and he shot this buck running away from him in the butt and blew out his crotch, but lied to me and said he missed a doe. It took a while to put together what happened but I figured it out. That will be the last "marginal" trophy I'll shoot. For now on, I'm waiting for the big un.

Saw this buck opening weekend and took a pass. Then the next weekend I saw this pic on my camera. Not sure what's wrong with his jaw. But he became my Target buck. Haven't seen him since. I regret that, but took a 160 class last week so I'll let the other guys hunt for "Jawz"

How did the confrontation go? Did he confess?

I actually got pretty lucky this year.

Yes, it was luck I guess

Right place, time, stand location and solid shot

I can’t normally say these things

When stand hunting in Texas with multiple blinds to choose from luck has a heck of a lot to do with it. I just need to be lucky more often!

Congrats on your season

Too much history.......I knew better than to have him out. Anyyone else and I'd have said something, but I decided to just let it go. It's just not worth it with some folks. Nothing would have been gained from it except drama. Just won't ask him back.

Not buying any land in texas to hunt😂 one thing I’ll have before I die lord willing even if it ain’t but small piece.

No regrets here Killed a 22 1/2 inside 8 ( my personal best) and 2 days later killed my very first Mule deer 4X3

One regret, I allowed a meat/cull buck I on my hit list to walk opening morning, first deer seen that morning. Being a regular, I figured I'd get plenty of opportunities later if someone else didn't shoot him. I could have shot him at less than 50yds and watched him grazing oats over an hour. He was a big bodied deer, likely 3-3.5yrs old, with a nice 4point on the right side and the left main beam grew downward between his eye and ear, unbranched. Kind of freaky looking. Anyway, he left my area and walked out in front of my uncle, who shot him but then couldn't find him. Two days later the buzzards showed us where he was, less than 75yds from where he'd been shot. I asked multiple times to go look for the deer, my uncle assured me he'd searched the area well and didn't want to disturb the area any more. He thought he missed the deer, saying it just casually walked away after the shot. We verified his zero that afternoon, and the gun was 1" high @ 100yds, stacked three rounds in one ragged hole. 180gr bullet from a 30-06 at 65yds didn't exit/left no blood. I was a bit perturbed over the whole deal. I've lost deer before, but felt this instance could have easily had a different outcome.

Next time I'll let it fly.

This has been the best season of my life and one that can never be beat. I put both of my kids on their first deer (both bucks) and myself shot a 200” LF buck on my lease in Mexico

You can still buy one.

I shot two meat deer. Freezer is full so no regrets.

Yes. Had a 160 plus score 8 point next to feeder and did not open the hog gate that evening under feeder. Had several opportunities to shoot but was a little worried about taking that shot with other deer in feeder pen. Once he jumped out it was too dark to make an ethical shot as well.

First time in 6 years, did not get a deer.

i think those deer would be big deer to anyone.....

I regret not being able to hunt more. I made it opening weekend, that’s it. Wish I had more time.

I've had a great season; Me and the wife each shot our once in a lifetime buck in Ohio, shot a good Mule Deer in West Texas and took my first deer with a recurve. Still trying to get a deer or two more with the struggle stick but if it happens it happens and if it doesn't it doesn't, as my season is over Jan 2nd as a medical procedure is scheduled on the 4th.


The only regret I have is trying to be a hardass by sighting in my new bow in one sitting back in August.... Didn't want to take the time to do it in multiple sittings, so I decided to push thru and get it done in one morning, from 0 to 120 yards. Well, I got it done, but also managed to torch my rotator cuff in the process. Was able to complete my Ohio hunt thanks to a heavy dose of prednisone but now I can't even draw the bow back one time. Gonna cost me my Argentina hunt in March and who knows what else in the future if I can't get my shoulder rehabbed. Thankfully I can still shoot my traditional bows without any issues.


Finally had to come to grips that I'm not invincible anymore and getting old is a real thing

Did not take the time to sight in my rifles this year. Missing that practice was not to my benefit. Everything that has been shot (four so far) has come in to the cooler, but some of the bullet placements, although effective, were not as intended. I did miss an off hand shot at a boar hog (he wasn't spotted). He presented hisself later in the hunt, i got down and went after him and and he was ultimately dispatched, but I did miss cleanly the first time.



I was still getting into fights when I was your age. Just wait.

I've been watching a 6 year old stag on my place for 3 years. He is the biggest deer on the joint and has been eating me out of house and home. He just scarfs up the protein and corn morning and evening day after day until deer season. Then he disappears during shooting hours, which is why he made it as long as he has, so far.

Once again, he has pulled a "houdini" and has escaped. I'm sure the second week of January will see him back to his usual place, killing my feed.

I did get a nice doe and my wife got her first buck neatly sealed in plastic in the freezer. All in all, we have taken 8 does and the one buck, so a very on target hunt this year.

Still hoping to find some redemption, its been one of the slower seasons I've ever had. Focused more on getting my sons in the stand this year, last year they each killed a deer just one and done simple as could be. both deer hit solid, knocked flat. We put in some range time again like always for the start of the season both kids did well. This year first shot bit the feed pen and was deflected costing us a nice mature 9pt (which we've seen again later, so maybe we'll get some redemption) and then another shot at a big mature 7pt where buck fever just took its toll on the shot. we grazed him, don't think we killed him but also have seen him again yet. And then some vehicular trouble on top of that. We haven't hunted since thanksgiving, stayed home a couple weekends to nurse our wounds and hopefully wash off the bad luck. Hope to be back at it hard after Christmas, hope for better luck.

I got a doe behind the house on my new home place, that was cool. But that's the only deer we've got so far.

Been a Great season for me & the wife. Both took our personal best on the new place we bought.

Wow, tell us a little more about this place, county and size. Some great bucks there....

Gosh DUK, heckuva deer.

Congrats on great buck G4s on your buck are world class.

DUK, is there a separate thread about that/those deer? Dont want to derail this thread. I would love to know more.

Getting into fights or winning fights?

Congrats to you and the wife

Nope….

Knew I was going to have it and lost my place to hunt so felt it was a waste of money. Gives me a year to heal and search.

Great bucks !