Spencer Gledhill (aka GLEDEASY) did what a number of us have done, he shot the wrong buck. He shared the following in the forum....

"It Happens - This year I decided to enter the dedicated hunter program for the first time. I put a lot of focus on trying to find a good buck this year and was really looking forward to hunting with a rifle again.

One of my hunting goals is to harvest an animal that I have either gotten pictures, video, or sheds of.

I went out in June to place trail cameras. I had a few places in mind, but each place the water holes had ran dry. In early July I found a buck that left no doubt he'd go over 30" wide. I never could locate him again and none of my efforts with trail cameras ever produced any bucks.

Early in archery season I found a small 4x4. He didn't excite me as a buck I wanted to take, being my first year of dedicated hunter. As time went on I thought to myself, I haven't found anything bigger with consistent patterns. I had video of him and never had harvested an animal with a bow. I came really close one day but second guessed that I really wanted to punch my tag.

The last day of archery season I took another approach to the area and it sure paid off. I found a bachelor group that had 2 great bucks in it.

Saturday before the muzzy season I went to check on the deer hoping to get some video. I was successful in both regards. I wasn't sure of the bucks size but knew they were good for the area.

Opening day, twice I came within 200 yards of one of the big bucks but failed getting closer. The second day more people showed up in the area and it spoiled my plans. The third day I changed my strategy knowing the other people would likely be back.

It didn't take long and the bucks were coming my way. I crawled through the sage closing the distance, knowing they likely would bust any second. Because of this I really got too ahead of myself. Right before getting set up I confirmed the big buck as 2nd in line coming to the clearing. I told myself as soon as that 2nd buck made his way out I was pulling the trigger.

Boom! The buck went down. I was getting really excited as I just took one of my hit list bucks (and potentially my best buck). I pulled my bino's and watched the other bucks as they ran off. Wait a minute, the big buck was still up and running. I was sure I saw the buck go down, maybe my shot wasn't that great? That's when I started to think. Shoot, I was so concerned in making a good shot and confident that he was second in line that I never checked the antlers.

I walked up to the deer and sure enough I took the wrong buck. I was disappointed, not because of the buck, but due to the fact that I had so much more time to chase deer.

I never did make it to rifle season, and you better bet I'll be more cautious next year."