re: Worst mistake you have made hunting?

This year. Trying to get 1st deer on public land with bow and badly hit a large buck well within range. After that I feel I did everything right by leaving and going back much later and got a dog but no buck. I still hate myself,

Participated in the longest poker/whiskey drinking game ever the night before opening day.

Freezing cold the next morning, walked in about an hour late and jumped the biggest buck I've ever seen...50 yards from my stand.

And then l got the whiskey shits. That was the last time I ever wore that union suit.

Six Point
At the time, this was the biggest deer I had on camera on public land. This was a heavy antlered minimum 17 inches wide on public land in Louisiana. I had only one picture of this deer and it was around midnight when the picture was taken. I was bow hunting on October 2nd 2014 about 30 feet up a pine tree. I had a button buck and spike pass near me at around 4:00 pm. Then at 5:50 pm the Big 6 point stepped out of the thicket and was headed towards me. I prefer to shoot standing (outdoor carpet on platform of my climber). I waited til he got behind s tree and thicket. I stood up and was ready. I saw a doe in the corner of my eye scanning the pine trees. As soon as the six pointer stepped out the doe had its head down I drew back on my bow but the buck’s arse end was facing me. It was eating yellow daisy flowers. Meanwhile the Dow is still scanning the pine trees and I have been drawn back which seemed like eternity. I was afraid to lower my bow because if I spooked the doe I knew the buck was gone. The buck finally turns broadside. Im steadying myself for the shot and the arrow flys and strikes the front shoulder. I either bumped the trigger or flapped the I watched him wonder off into the thicket with my arrow sticking out of its shoulder. I waited 45 minutes as soon as I started to climb down the noisy pine tree I heard something take off in the thicket. I hunt alone and I’m 1/2 mile into the woods. I looked til 9:30 at night I found my arrow broken off with blood on it. But I never found a drop of blood. I came back the next morning and looked for another 3 hours. It makes me sick losing a deer. I have never lost a deer prior or after that deer. Still makes me sick.

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Not paying enough attention to the weather

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If this were "worst mistake while fishing", this would certainly be mine. The older I get, the more I pay attention, but it can still sneak up on you.

Yep, wasting too many mornings hung over af back when I had zero responsibilit and lots of time. Now I have little time and still drink too much.

In 1971, I went mule deer hunting in Wyoming. Stayed with some friends for two weeks hunting public land. We had set up a drive on a draw and I was with the potential shooter group at the top of the draw. My buddy had the rifle and I was wearing a 9mm pistol for whatever reason. I walked a little ways away from the vehicle and dropped off the side of the ridge overlooking the draw. I'm sitting there with nothing but the 9mm and here comes a nice buck moving up the draw on the opposite ridge. I'm sitting still in the brush waiting for my buddy to drop the buck. The buck keeps on coming and coming and I finally realize my buddy with the rifle doesn't even see the buck. It's about 50 yards across the draw to the opposite ridge, so I think what the hell, and open up with the 9mm. First shot misses high but the deer stops, directly across the draw from me. Next shot hit low and the deer starts moving up the draw again. I keep shooting like a crazy man. I'm committed now. Suddenly the deer turns and runs down the ridge into the draw and out of sight.

I'm standing there cussing my poor pistol skills, when the deer runs out of the draw and up the ridge I'm standing on. It kind of zigs and zags through the brush and stops 10 feet away turned broadside to me. Well I'm no pistol shot, in fact it wasn't even my pistol, but at that range I felt I couldn't miss. I aim just behind his shoulder and....click. Out of bullets! I had an extra magazine in my pocket and the deer is standing there stock still and panting from all the running around. But when I hit the magazine release he left the county.

Now, before anyone says it, yes, it was very un-sportsman like to attempt to shoot a mule deer buck with a 9mm pistol. Particularly at 50+ yards. But I was 18 years old and had visions of coming back to Louisiana a hero after taking a buck with a pistol. Also, I was strictly a duck hunter and knew nothing about deer hunting or deer for that matter. Knowing what I know now about 9mm pistol rounds and mule deer, I'm glad I never hit the deer...lol.

All I’m going to say is, I thought it was a squirrel, it wasn’t.....see horns running away in my dreams.....

Other than rushing the shot, it’s always the same. Hunting when I should have stayed home (rarely) staying home when I should have gone. (A lot)

shite my britches one time on a hunt and the baws at the camp found out.

I was 14/15ish. Bored as hell setting in a holler. Took out my grunt (never used it, wore it more as swag) and started calling not thinking shite would happen. About three grunts in a monster 12 point comes walking up. I didnt know that diagram inside doesnt work after a few times from moisture. The next grunt sounded like a duck call and he bounced out.