Author Topic: Idgit mistake (Read 1374 times)

Frog123 · « **on:** November 25, 2003, 04:05:45 AM »

Went back to my stand where I've been seeing the most deer activity. This stand is situated in a bottom with a long draw that was logged a couple of years ago and provides good bedding and travel corridors. Debatingly, I carried my rifle with me along with a 10" 7tcu contender. Shortly after 9:30 a group of does filtered by and like clock work proceeded to the fence crossing. With swirling winds I could tell the deer were getting nervous. A large doe crossed the opening and came to a stop at 33yds. I had already turned the red dot on and brought my elbows up to rest on my thighs with the contender resting on the front rail of my stand creating a rock solid rest. I placed the red dot just behind the deers shoulder on the center of the ribs aiming for the center of the lungs. I thumb cocked the hammer, with the deer's nose up checking the wind, I applied steady pressure to the trigger. I could feel the sear release and the hammer fell with a resounding "CLICK." The deer's head immediately snapped around and picked me out fifteen feet up, with a loud snort she was off and running. I immediately layed the contender down and had the Ruger .280 to my shoulder, with my thumb I cleared the safety and found the running doe in my scope. She ran about 50 yds and stopped to stomp and blow again. I found an opening in the brush and placed the crosshairs on the deer's shoulder. At the shot the deer folded rolled over and kicked a few times then laid still leaving me to wonder what had happend to the contender. I put the rifle back down and picked the contender up. I wondered. "Perhaps the barrel didn't lock up tight with the frame." I picked a rotting stump out at 40 yds and again thumb cocked the gun. Centering the red dot on a off color section of the stump, I again squeezed the trigger and again there was a resounding "CLICK" The dot never moved off the stump, at least I have good trigger control. Then I noticed the hammer or the safety rather. I engaged the safety while I was sitting in the stand out of fear of dropping the gun and when the doe appeared I became so excited I failed to remove it. What could have been my first handgun deer and my largest doe killed ever, field dressed 126lbs, was another rifle kill because of a rookie mess up. I just can't seem to pull it together and get a deer with a pistol.

KYODE · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2003, 04:08:59 AM »

hehehe! sounds like something i have done before. don't worry about it, and keep trying. now you know you can do it for sure. leave that long gun at the house. :shock: :lol:

Double D · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2003, 04:30:46 AM »

My friend that's called "Buck Fever" or in your case doe fever! If you ever get cured of it you won't feel the need to go hunting and you should sell all your hunting stuff and take up croquet.

When I stop getting excited in the hunting field, then it's time to pick out a casket, cause it's time to die!!

osceola · « **Reply #3 on:** November 25, 2003, 06:50:11 AM »

"Last Year" I was 2 for 2, 63 and 82 yds respectively. Thought to myself, Man, this handgun hunting isn't such a big deal. Then 2003 rolls around, shot under the 1st one and in front of the 2nd one. Cause of the failure---Me. Will be back at it again in 2 weeks when modern opens back up for does only. My friends son took his 1st deer this year with his SRH, had the Rem. 700 with him, but used the revolver. His Dad, who hunts exclusively with handgund encouraged him not to take the crutch and commit to the SRH. Well he hauled that long gun around for 4 days and when the time came he was strong and not from hauling around an extra 7 lbs everyday. He was so excited, his Dad was also. At the time it was kind of hard to tell exactly which one of them killed the deer by the smiles.

Gregory · « **Reply #4 on:** November 25, 2003, 01:57:05 PM »

Frog thanks for not being afraid to share your story. I agree with Kyode and Chris if you want to get one with a handgun leave the other guns at home (or at least in the truck. I have my shotgun in the truck in case I end up having to follow up a wounded deer).
When in stand, my contender is in my hand with the safety in the fire position, if I sling it the safety goes on. I must have done what you did before cause I find myself checking that safety position frequently while on stand so I know I'll be ready. I'll bet you don't make the same mistake again. Good luck.

ftw · « **Reply #5 on:** November 25, 2003, 03:04:04 PM »

That was a good story but at least it ended up happily, even if your Contender did not get in on the action.

I was sitting in a stand on the second morning I had hunted. I only had my Contender. I was sitting there Fat,Dumb and happy and for some reason I looked down and my selector was on Rimfire. I don't know how that happened but luckily no deer had or has yet given me a shot this year.

Handgun hunting is a blast. I have not carried a rifle in three seasons and have not missed it nor have I felt handicapped in any way.

GBO MGMT · « **Reply #6 on:** November 25, 2003, 05:36:32 PM »

It really boils down to: do you want to be a handgun hunter or do you just want to kill a deer with a handgun. BIG difference. If you want to be a handgun hunter leave the rifles at home. Did it for years. Got tired of using just handguns and now again I have both with me often but still go with handguns only some times.

Today in the same stand I took the pair from on Saturday I was enjoying the parade of turkeys that were coming by me in waves. Must have been 40 or more in three waves. Not long after I watched the last of them go up the hill in front of me I heard the unmistakeable sound of a deer walking behind me. I grabbed the Ruger Bisley .45 Colt and turned while cocking the hammer. Hey it's doe season everything without spots is legal. When I turned I saw the deer maybe 15 yards out behind me on what was my left as I sat in the stand. Now on my right as I turned.

BUT the land owner don't allow spikes to be killed. His rules are it must be a four point or more or doe. So I waited and then noticed spikes about 5" or 6" long. Lowered the hammer and sat back down. Been out three times now and seen deer all three times. I've taken two.

GB

Bug · « **Reply #7 on:** November 26, 2003, 12:58:27 AM »

That ain't so bad... At least you remembered to LOAD the durn thing! Yeah, I know. But it happens. And forgetting to switch the selector from rim fire to centerfire is another mistake that happens. I'm sure We are not the only two that have made these kind of mistakes before. And, I'll bet it will continue to happen. :oops:
And Bill, I take exception to "the unmistakable sound of a deer walking behind me". That "unmistakable sound" has turned out to be armadillos, squirrels, livestock, and pert-near everything else you care to name. :lol:

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** November 26, 2003, 07:11:01 AM »

I dunno. There are sounds and then there are sounds. Many things can and do make sounds that "might" be a deer easying along slowly. But a deer picking them up and putting them down in a deliberate walk or a run is just different than any of those smller critters. The ONLY thing I've confused that sound with is a dog or coyote. I'm talking the clear sound of a four legged animal making tracks as this one was when he left the apple orchard and came into the woods behind me.

Once in the woods he slowed down and the sounds then were those that could be confused.

GB

Bug · « **Reply #9 on:** November 27, 2003, 06:22:26 AM »

Er,,, Uh,,,, Do you have goats, ponies, horses, Cows/calves, etc., where you hunt?..........I do! :eek: :roll: :oops: :-D :-D :-D

tripper · « **Reply #10 on:** November 27, 2003, 09:26:12 AM »

FRog123,

The first one I took with my tc was a doe traveling with two yearlings. I was setting on a point and they were traveling the edge of the swamp making for a qautering to me shot. I could see them for some distance and decided to take the doe before they turned into the heavy brush on the ridge. I settled the cross hairs and squezzed off the shot, click, I open the tc and reclose it because they are still comming. Another click, and they are getting close now. I open the tc and reload, the doe has stoped 15 yrds away,proubly wondering what the idiot is doing in the tree,. As i close up the tc i notice the saftey is on :oops: da. I did get her in the end.
Nope your not the first to pull that and wont be the last.

Graybeard · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2003, 08:00:48 AM »

Bug asked:

Quote

Er,,, Uh,,,, Do you have goats, ponies, horses, Cows/calves, etc., where you hunt?..........I do!

Actually NO I don't have any of those around. Sorry to take so long in getting back to ya. I read your question one night when I really didn't have time to respond and then forgot where it was and have just now found it again.

There are none of those critters running around the woods where I hunt. I have hunted where cattle were in the woods with me in the past and had no trouble telling the difference in them and the deer. Once had a feral goat come by me many miles from the nearest house but it was on a rainy day so didn't actually hear it only saw it. Shot it too. :eek:

Where I hunt a dog "might" come by but usually are barking if they do. Coyotes some times do and really sound pretty much the same but aren't seen very often.

GB

HappyHunter · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2004, 04:54:42 PM »

Frog 123,

I very much enjoyed your story, well written!

Thanks,

Fred

444encore · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2004, 05:50:01 PM »

Can't say I've ever heard a deer that I've shot. Hear them on the way to my spot if I jumped them. OK, maybe I'm deaf, I hear sounds in the woods , but I pay no attention to them. Here in Kentucky, where I hunt, Them deer are just like me.......... they don't care too much for anything unless they can see it. So I hunt off of movement, hearing has nothin to do with it.

HappyHunter · « **Reply #14 on:** January 08, 2004, 01:50:54 AM »

Well I do not hear as well as I used too, but even I will hear deer occasionally while in the stand.

When the leaves are on the grund before snow it is fairly easy to hear and identify a deer by sound. After the snow falls I just listen for thier breath.

Fred

Dave in WV · « **Reply #15 on:** January 08, 2004, 02:47:18 AM »

Great story and no harm done. If you want to take the rifle with you do so with no regrets. I usually do. I had to let an injured doe get away from me because I couldn't get a handgun shot. If I had my rifle I could have ended another's mistake and the doe's suffering.

billmaly · « **Reply #16 on:** January 08, 2004, 06:21:36 AM »

Quote from: Double D

My friend that's called "Buck Fever" or in your case doe fever! If you ever get cured of it you won't feel the need to go hunting and you should sell all your hunting stuff and take up croquet.

When I stop getting excited in the hunting field, then it's time to pick out a casket, cause it's time to die!!

Man I'm glad you said that. I took a button buck (thought it was a little doe, and I was cold, I had 2 tags and I needed something else to do for a spell :-D ) with a handgun this year (2nd handgun deer) and when I was drawing down on him, my chest was hammering and I was short of breath and anxious and nervous and......you get the picture. It was thrilling! :-) Let's hope we all never outgrow Buck/Doe/Deer Fever, just learn to control it.

John · « **Reply #17 on:** January 09, 2004, 09:29:31 AM »

Sounds like those contenders are too complicated, safety on, rim fire/centerfire. You ole boys just need to quit playin around with those short rifles and get yourself a real handgun.

Hunt with a sixshooter. :grin: :grin:

I used to get excited whenever a deer was in range. That was before I developed high blood pressure. Now I take four different pills to control that problem, and three of em say may cause dizziness, may cause drowsiness. I never get dizzy, but I'm pretty relaxed, and cool as a cucumber even when there's a wall hanger in range.

I've killed a deer every year since I got on those meds. Before, it was kind of spotty. I spect the only down side to it all is the cost of prescriptions and the taxidermy bill. :lol:

HappyHunter · « **Reply #18 on:** January 09, 2004, 06:38:31 PM »

Is the problem with the mags with the follower, or is it that the spring is weak?

Thanks

Fred

HoCoMDHunter · « **Reply #19 on:** January 10, 2004, 07:07:29 AM »

Am I the only one that keeps his safety engaged until I'm ready to shoot? :eek: I do this no matter the game I'm hunting - small game, upland game and deer. If you get in the habit of doing this you'll disengage almost subconciously.