AZ RANGER Report post Posted August 27, 2009 way to go Jason, way to hang in there Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azryan Report post Posted August 28, 2009 OUCH!! But you did the sensible thing. Remember, what goes around, comes around, and you will get yours (big buck) in the end. I sure wish there were more hunters like you around where I hunt. Mark I love how this played out, Mark hit it right on the spot So congrats to you on a great buck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GodIsGood Report post Posted August 29, 2009 sorry you didnt whack the buck you wanted - but a bigger one may be lurking close by! For this exact reason - i am a firm believer in 'affordable' ground blinds. I have two matrix hub-style blinds and they have served me well. Also, when you find them on sale or secondhand, they can be had for around $80-100. They provide scent blocking, decent windows, and good shelter from the elements... we sat-out a white-out snow storm in one last fall. I call them 'affordable' because I can afford to lose $80 to some tool in the woods... but I am not willing to lose either a $400 blind or a 100+ buck. just sayin' So my buddy and I had this tank all scoped out - obviously, it's AZ, it's dry and hot so any water hole is gonna have competition. I've had a camera on the tank for weeks with some OK bucks on it, but one, in particular had me going - here's a picture on the hoof. I took off Thursday and Friday to set up my blind and sit the tank. I had considered getting my blind out there earlier but I was afraid it would get stolen - who wants to go find their $400 blind missing? So, Thursday morning I go to set up my blind, but there's already one set up. Bummer for sure, so I leave the guy a note letting him know I am planning to hunt there also, we should coordinate. Let's face it, he took the risk I wasn't willing to take by setting up a little earlier than me. The guy ended up being cool and thanking me for backing out, and they were plannig to sit it through Monday. Friday night he leaves me a voice mail - turns out his buddy sitting with him got the buck in the picture. I'm not 100% it's the same buck, but the way he described it, I'm pretty positive. He's pretty easy to identify. Anyway, dang, I feel that backing out when I saw their blind was the "right thing" to do, but I have to admit, I was hoping they'd take a different buck and I'd eventually get a crack at the big boy after the opening weekend rush subsided. Hopefully, karma will catch up and I'll see a silver lining to all this, but for now all I could do is congratulate the other hunters and swallow that jagged pill. What would you guys have done in the same situation? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted August 29, 2009 Just an FYI, I got pics. While it was a really nice buck the guy took, it was NOT the same buck I had on camera. So for you hungry bowhunters, AFAIK, he's still on the hoof! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoghntr Report post Posted September 7, 2009 Dang,not bad for 2nd choice. i would take that dude any day of the week... what a gr8 buck. the one on pick is cool but buck in hand feels sweet. congrats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
