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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Duckslayer100" data-source="post: 332708" data-attributes="member: 1485">First buck I ever shot was on a trot (the deer, not me). I didn't have a ton of experience deer hunting, so tried getting him to stop by using a voice bleat. He just kept right on going. So I timed my shot. Kept both eyes open, and when it felt right, squeezed off a shot. He was about 100 yards. Dropped him instantly. I was extatic. Then I realized he wasn't dead. He'd fallen with his back to me, but he kept trying to lift his head. It was clear I'd hit him high and in the spine. I racked another round and contemplated what to do. Do I shoot him again? If so, where do I aim? Do I get out my knife and try to slit his throat?Eventually I mustered up the gumption to walk down to him. That's when I realized how truly massive he was -- and how very not dead. I'll never forget that sight. It's haunting being close to something that large that's looking back at you. I did the only thing I could think of: I put the barrel of my rifle about 12 inches from his brisket and pulled the trigger. He died almost immediately. But between that point and when I fired the shot was probably 20 minutes. A lot of suffering went on, needlessly in my mind. I'm older and wiser now (at least I'd like to think so). And if there's one feeling I'll never shake, it's the sickening helplessness if watching an animal suffer.</blockquote>