Big Hank gets a get out of jail free.

[44hunter45]

I'm not sure if I have regrets over this or not. Still telling myself I don't. Our hunting motivations change as we age, I guess. Even 5 years ago this would have meant a dead deer.
I've killed bucks off the porch before, but it always feels more like harvesting than hunting.

Some of you know I have been getting my parents settled into elder care. No details, but this leaves you feeling like the worst son on the earth.
This has limited my hunting time since October.

Add to that the failure of more than half of the appliances in the house in the last couple of months.

Our oven failed and that necessitated converting from LP to electric. Cabinet mods, running a 40 amp 240 Vac circuit from the kitchen to the service panel. Then repairing the drywall, taping and painting. Since I had the drywall ripped off, MRS asked for some 120Vac outlets to be moved.

TLDR - The new oven arrived Tuesday afternoon and I "helped" the installer. One project done, three more to go. I'm F'ing exhausted. We were without an oven for 9 weeks. Me working first to repair the old oven, then prepping for the new one. I simply cannot get parts for a 40 year old gas oven. Always wanted a double oven for the Holidays, so time to upgrade.

In the middle of that, the LG washer threw a water valve. I was able to get the part for that and get it fixed.

Septic rooted in and backed up in the basement. Had to get that pumped. Then dry and shampoo the carpets.

Just three for Thanksgiving and I didn't feel like doing a turkey. Safeway had huge T-Bones 50% off. Heck Yeah! I bought 5. Lo and behold my oldest says he wants to come pick up Miss T and have her over for the extended weekend. Good thing I bought 5 T-Bones. They will stay the night and go back to Oregon Friday morning.

Thanksgiving goes well. We stay up too late catching up.

Friday morning I called my dad. Everyone else is sleeping in. My dad is super depressed and has given up on life. He is asking me about my hunting season and saying he wishes he could still hunt with me. I'm getting depressed too. While I'm talking to my dad I look out the window and Big Hank is cruising for late rut does 100 yards from the house. Definitely wider than his ears and tall. I tell my dad I'm watching this great buck and I should go shoot it. I'm still in my bathrobe.

I hang up with Pop and go grab the .264 out of the safe. I'm in crocs and bathrobe in front of the house. Pretty cold up my knickers. I take a rest off the back of my youngest's Honda Pilot. Chip shot. I can't bring myself to pull the trigger.

The buck moves forward about 20 yards and I move for a better angle, keeping a bull pine between us for cover. I rest on a fence post and I have him at 75 yards broadside. I control my breathing and... Let him walk away into the brush.

I feel pretty old as I walk back into the house and call my dad back. I tell him I gave the buck a pass. He says he probably would too. Maybe there is Karma credit there for when I draw that next moose tag.

 

[WNC2500]

You are not getting old. Good call. I have made the same decision before.

You are just making a deposit down on that "karma credit" you are talking about. Tells me you might have a heck of a draw year next year like @Mule Kick did. Although by the looks of your pics and his, you and I are definitely due for it!

 

[44hunter45]

Not virtue signalling.

Sitting here now watching three does out there. Not shooting does this year on account of EHD. If Big Hank is dumb enough to come out now I will give him the belt. Circumstances have changed, rules of engagement have changed.

Rifle season open on WT tag until 4:29PM tonight according to my legal twilight app.

 

[Gellar]

Man, you’ve had some shit (literally) to deal with! When it rains, it pours.

I have been dealing with the same situation with my mother in law this year. She’s home now, but it caused a lot of tension with other family members.

As a result I haven’t been able to hunt but 2 or 3 times this fall. Since the snow storm deer have been feeding up in our yard where the snow blew off and grass is still exposed. Just this afternoon like an hour ago I was on the phone finishing up some issues from work while I was watching out the window and I seen a good buck walk across the road and into my yard. I ran downstairs to get my bow only to remember my release was outside in my truck.

We have a running joke in our group “not the home herd” meaning if it’s near the house it better be dam big. There’s even a mount in my basement of a basket rack that says “Not the home herd”

I hope you cash in your overdue good juju during the upcoming draws!

 

[44hunter45]

Man, you’ve had some shit (literally) to deal with! When it rains, it pours.

I have been dealing with the same situation with my mother in law this year. She’s home now, but it caused a lot of tension with other family members.

As a result I haven’t been able to hunt but 2 or 3 times this fall. Since the snow storm deer have been feeding up in our yard where the snow blew off and grass is still exposed. Just this afternoon like an hour ago I was on the phone finishing up some issues from work while I was watching out the window and I seen a good buck walk across the road and into my yard. I ran downstairs to get my bow only to remember my release was outside in my truck.

We have a running joke in our group “not the home herd” meaning if it’s near the house it better be dam big. There’s even a mount in my basement of a basket rack that says “Not the home herd”

I hope you cash in your overdue good juju during the upcoming draws!

MRS has the same rule but I can throw the exception card.

 

[elkhuntinfool78]

Enjoying this post, and can sympathize. I feel blessed to have a bit over 30 acres bordered by large ranches all around me. Every season I see a few really nice bucks come through our yard but just can't bring myself to pull the trigger...lol Then I head out on backpack hunts on public ground where I seldom see anything remotely as nice haha.

And I think it does have a bit to do with where you are at in your hunting career. I don’t consider myself old at 47 years but I can assure you that 20 years ago I would have taken a few of the deer that have walked through the yard.

Nowadays I just enjoy seeing them and doing their thing. If I'm being honest it's been over a decade since I filled a deer tag.