[35 Whelen]

My wife, while not a hunting fanatic, really enjoys deer hunting. She hadn't been in a year or two, so I took her last week out to West Texas where a friend farms and raises cattle. The last evening of the hunt, I was rattling horns when she I see a look of panic in her eyes.

(This is classic male/female interaction)

Me: "What's wrong?"

Her: "There's a buck behind you!!"

Me: "Well....shoot him!" I said as I turned to look over my shoulder at him.

He'd come out of the mesquites and was in a wheat field over which we were hunting looking right at us from 100 yds. or so.

Her: "Should I?"

Me: "If you want to!"

Her: "YOU shoot him!"

Me: "Honey, it's your hunt and I've killed plenty of deer...go ahead."

Her: "Should I?"

Me: :banghead:

Now the buck's gotten nervous and is starting across in front of us. Not running, but in a hurry to get to the other side. So, I grab the camera and snap a picture as he trots by:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Hunting/Runningbuck.jpg
Couldn't tell, but it was at least an 8 point, maybe even a 10. So, what do you think?
35W

[savetheclaypigeons]

reasonable distance and the background looks clear. Was he on the move, and how accurate is she with her firearm?

[gvnwst]

Since i don't know how good a shot she is, i just chose the third option....

[35 Whelen]

At that point, she'd never missed a deer and he was standing perfectly still facing us!
35W

[savetheclaypigeons]

Had she shot recently at the range or target? Decent groups? Used that gun before? From what it sounds like if he had been broadside I would have encouraged it.

[HuntAndFish]

BANG!

[trapperjohn]

dude, she didnt go hunting to kill a deer, she went to spend time with you. For her the joy was the experiance, not the kill. it seems it was more important to you that she kill a deer than it was for you. let it rest

[35 Whelen]

dude, she didnt go hunting to kill a deer, she went to spend time with you. For her the joy was the experiance, not the kill. it seems it was more important to you that she kill a deer than it was for you. let it rest

LOL!! You've never been hunting with my wife! The ONLY reason she didn't shoot the buck on sight was she thought something bigger might come along. In fact, after I posted this, she was looking over my shoulder at the picture and commenting that she can't beleive she didn't shoot him!
35W

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

That rack is wide, tall, and thick. :eek: So I'd say yes, definitely if she had a still or walking shot. On the trot, naaaa, not unless she's really skilled.

[skinewmexico]

Giant for a West Texas deer.

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Here in Washington that's a dandy buck, but in other areas that might not even be a management buck. So it's tough to say.

"At that point, she'd never missed a deer and he was standing perfectly still facing us!"

As long as it was a safe, legal shot and doesn't infringe on the privelages/permissions from the property owner, then I'd say that she should have shot it.

I'm sure, that by now, reading all these responses she'd gotten the point and is now regretting not shooting.

That's OK, there's always next year.

-Steve

[MattB]

I voted no cause I thought the question was about taking a running shot. But definately if the deer was still or slowly walking.

[f4t9r]

Yes ,YES and YES
Pull the trigger, Hope one like that comes my way next week when gun season comes in.

[f4t9r]

I voted no cause I thought the question was about taking a running shot. But definately if the deer was still or slowly walking.

The deer was standing still, He just took the picture when it ran off. So cancel the no vote

[HunterGirl]

Only if she was comfortable and skillful enough to take it....

[bang_bang]

If that thing come out when my girlfriend was with me, I have a feeling it would of gotten several .270 bullets thrown his way.

BTW- She's an excellent shot with my Model 700 .270. She can out shoot me any day with that gun.

[Thin Black Line]

As someone who has been happily married for many many years, I suggest
you destroy this photo and never bring the topic up again with her.

BTW, did you see that buck in the next field in the pic?!

[Liberty1776]

Man, I'd put that pic on a t-shirt and give it to her for Christmas...:D I've never shot a deer that good...

[buck460XVR]

I believe from the responses given that this poll should be titled "would you have shot this buck?"


I think every hunter has to make the decision on whether or not to shoot an animal using their own criteria. Hunting by other's standards to what is big enough to harvest is putting pressures on hunters(especially the young and inexperienced) that they do not need....and like others have said, what is huge is one area may be just a tadpole in another. If your wife did not feel comfortable with the shot, IMHO, she made the right decision.

[Friendly, Don't Fire!]

I certainly wish I would see a buck that size that I could shoot!

Like others have said "BANG!"

[35 Whelen]

Ummm..som of you guys are taking this a bit too serious. It's a joke between my wife and I! She know I'll never let her live this one down. Personally, I like the t-shirt idea!
35W