The empty tag you can't get over

[3blade]

The story: In 2014 I pulled a p6 antlered moose tag in a great zone. Scouted all summer, new bow dialed in, had permission in some of the best parts of the zone, worked out like a madman. I was gonna kill me a big moose (#1 animal on my bucket list). Spent a solid two months living out there, running up and down massive hills, had a blast, saw tons of game, hunted a legit 60 inch bull for three days straight, drew my bow on 3 different 50 plus....and never had a single shot opportunity. Something went wrong....every. Single. Day. November went to hell because the landowner decided to do some dozer work. I didn't see a single live bull for the whole month despite new spots and numerous texts from new friends, by the time I would show up the bull would be gone. did end up with a couple whitetails for the freezer. It was a great experience but I just can't shake the bitter taste of tag soup.

It still eats at me. Every time I see a picture of a big bull, inside I'm just furious at myself. Ten feet left, should have done this or that, etc etc etc. Not much of a trophy hunter normally but that empty spot on the wall has received a lot of verbal abuse. Given the way draws are going, that hunt might never happen again, and that's the really hard part. How do you get over it? Or do you? Anyone else have a similar story?

[Scott N]

in the 80s I believe you could check off "any WMU" as a choice for your draws. My buddy and I did that for grizzly, and drew tags in a WMU that was so far away we never even had the chance to get out one single time. Stupid and young I guess...

[Okotokian]

Turkey last year. Heard 'em, never did see 'em. Doubtful I'll draw another tag in my lifetime. That was it.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Pulled a tag for Bull Elk and Bull Moose in the Blackfoot in the same year.

Was only able to put in one or two real days of hunting that year due to work and family commitments. Poor planning on my part!

Was a nice couple of days, though.

[SageValleyOutdoors]

Was drawn for the November 410 sheep tag 14 years ago, in my early 20's. that spring, my first son was born. August of that year, I was laid off from my job, leaving finances extremely tight. I got out there for one legit hunt, found a group of sheep with one legal ram juuust outside the minimum distance from the exshaw mine... waited for them to come to me - got impatient and tried going around the ridge to close the distance. When I got to where they were, they were gone. I found them - 30 yards away from the little knoll I was too impatient to wait on.

That was the only time I could afford to get out there.

It STILL burns me every time I drive highway 1a and I can see the side of the mountain I was on that day.

[Slicktricker]

2015 drew bull moose tag seen lots of 25-40 inch let them walk waiting for bigger ate tag soup

Passed on many 3x3 and 4x4 bull elk over the years waiting for bigger worst only one that ever bufged me still to this day was sending an arrow over a 350" bull elk at 20 yards me and that elk had 4 years of fun together that started when i was 14 remember are encounters like it was yesterday

[oldgutpile]

My first "international" hunt a few years back, when I bit the bullet and bought a hunt for Alaska brown bear. Went in the fall. Ten miserable days of heavy rain; much of it hitting sideways. The cost of the tag was over and above the cost of the hunt. A meager 1000.00 for the tag itself. I wrapped it in a jewelry box and gave it to my wife for Christmas as a gag gift. She wasn't amused.

[Bassett]

Hunted 46 days last season for my bull moose p5 in a zone I have no issues seeing 8-10 all summer. Never saw a bull on the hoof..


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[huntinstuff]

I waited 6 yrs for an antlered moose tag. Got it last year.

Allowed an 88 yr old man to wreck it for me after 1 day, and he wasn't even with me

I left and closed the tag

[Jack fish hunter]

Originally Posted by 3blade

The story: In 2014 I pulled a p6 antlered moose tag in a great zone. Scouted all summer, new bow dialed in, had permission in some of the best parts of the zone, worked out like a madman. I was gonna kill me a big moose (#1 animal on my bucket list). Spent a solid two months living out there, running up and down massive hills, had a blast, saw tons of game, hunted a legit 60 inch bull for three days straight, drew my bow on 3 different 50 plus....and never had a single shot opportunity. Something went wrong....every. Single. Day. November went to hell because the landowner decided to do some dozer work. I didn't see a single live bull for the whole month despite new spots and numerous texts from new friends, by the time I would show up the bull would be gone. did end up with a couple whitetails for the freezer. It was a great experience but I just can't shake the bitter taste of tag soup.

It still eats at me. Every time I see a picture of a big bull, inside I'm just furious at myself. Ten feet left, should have done this or that, etc etc etc. Not much of a trophy hunter normally but that empty spot on the wall has received a lot of verbal abuse. Given the way draws are going, that hunt might never happen again, and that's the really hard part. How do you get over it? Or do you? Anyone else have a similar story?

Where do I even begin. When I was 17 I drew a Mulie buck tag around home east of Leduc. Had two bucks that I had seen almost every day for 5 years straight. The damn things were like cows Sam pasture same time. One was a 7 point the other a 6. November came around didn't see either of them. Found one a month later on my old girlfriends dads wall. Still can't fill a moose tag to save my life. Had late season a few years ago and it snowed every time we went out. Then had early season a few years later tried to bring a bull across the swan river when a cow wandered out of the trees and took the bull with her.

[kujoseto]

This thread is painful to read but like the screeching of tires on asphalt, I can't look away ��
The tag I didn't close was one I couldn't purchase. Went scouting for elk in a new zone without expecting much. Had a herd bull come across a pasture to my first calls I've ever made. I got out when he got to 80 yards.
Returned a couple days later and had him at 35 yards.
I've been haunted by him in my dreams and daydreams since. Couldn't buy the tag because I had an undersubscribed antlerless for 300A. I made the 7 hour drive only to get shut down by the guy that was family of a close friend that assured me permission before I drove down overnight.
I sometimes wonder what he would've thought if he were in my shoes

[Sooner]

Used a P8 for Camp Wainwright Ant moose back when you could hunt them the whole season. Also had the last rifle for deer. When I was in for my moose, I seen cows. Guys would say we seen bulls here, I would go there and nada. Just couldn't catch a break.

Go back for the deer hunt with the moose tag in my pocket. 1st morning, 10 am spot a super bull with a cow on a hill. Drive in and stop in a gully so the sneak can begin. Exit the truck and crest the hill to see mr big walk over the hill he was on and out of sight. Then about 8 shots ring out. Oh noooooo. Jump in the truck and drive over the hill expecting to see a dead moose and nothing, some hunters shot some mule does. Asked did you see the big bull moose, ya he didnt stop running for about 4 km's lol. Followed his tracks but lost him way far away in some nasty bush. The jinx was alive and well still.

Day 2 and nada but a big snow storm in the afternoon.

Day 3 and the base was in pause mode as range patrol checked roads and drifts. Word came that the Annex is closed but could hunt the main part. About half the hunters called it a day and left. 10:30 am see a decent bull way out in a field. Turn in, snow blowing over the hood when you hit the big drifts. Moose turns back to the woods. Drop friend off to push him out but he sneaks out the back side. Afternoon now in a different area, one tiny palm sized bull at the edge of the tree line. From my vantage point I could only see his nostrils and antlers. From my pack of friends 500 yrds to the right, broadside and wide open. No shot for me and no moose for an 8 yr wait. Felt like I was probably the only moose hunter who ever had a tag and couldn't connect lol.

As Homer says....DOH

[Hogie135]

Stalked a bull from 400-34 yards last year. Got to half draw before he booked it. Two days later found a nice little wallow. Had bull walk to ten yards from me. Same thing, half draw he busted me and booked it. Disappointed yes, learning experience, a great one. I now have some felt on my test so my arrows don't make a sound

[Ultimate Predator]

Archery antelope !sailed an arrow high just over his back he was right behind 15 does.he was a high 70's buck and i new the range ! F***

[Bow flyman]

Had a mule deer tag in 102 years ago. Opening morning, a buck crossed the coulee and came up my side, a small 4 pointer. It stopped 50 yards below me. A lucky break. In my excitement loading the shell, I got it jammed in the barrel. That had never happened with the .270 I was using, ever. Somehow I managed to do it. I had to watch him bound away. Needless to say, I didn't get another chance at a deer that trip and did not fill the mulie tag that year. It still bothers me to this day.

[Dewey Cox]

Camp Wainwright deer.
Figured the start of December would be free from obligations.
That fall my wife's sister decides to get married.
You'll never guess what weekend she picked.

[Knotter]

I drew the tag in July... then almost 2 weeks before I blew my already repaired ACL. I spent the month in physio, and under an ice bag. I never saw a day afield. lots can happen in 9+ months.

[GSPhunter]

Not really, I hunt for the love of hunting not to kill something. Yeah it sucks when I miss out, lost a good archery stag this year but I don't let that stuff eat me up anymore. As long as I'm upright and have the opportunity to still hunt I'm winning.

This year's stag I lost


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[Mulehahn]

A black bear. Have a few empty tags spent on him, this year will be 11 tags I bought with him in mind; though have only gone after him about 5 times before. He lives on the section next to family. I go up in the fall if I can to help with the cows and spend any free time chasing him. He is probably just shy of 7, but his size... never seen anything like him. Cousin has video of him taking a dislike to some round bales. Moved them like balloons in the wind. Been within about 50 yds of him just plodding along eating oats... in the neighbours field. She is a nice lady, but won't let anyone shoot animals on her property. Have had him give me fair warning that I was a bit to close in some dense trees and shrub another time. Will be going soon to try again this year, but as the day draws closer I am find myself wondering what I will do if he does show. He is getting old. Any winter may be his last. Not sure I want the game to end on my terms or his.

[kujoseto]

Bears can live a long time. Keep at it. That's a great story.
I have quite the history on the herd bull elk I described earlier. Wouldn't be overly interesting and too lengthy to put it here, but I feel I know how there's so much more to it than just the words on the page. It's an experience that draws me into the woods time after time in hopes of adding to the encounters with that one animal. One day I'd like to close the tag on him but it will be that much more enjoyable because of the years of previous encounters.

[bessiedog]

Archery speed goat tag.

Work got stupid busy..... I felt I just couldn't break away.. then poof! Season over!

[2 Tollers]

936 Elk -- lots of pre-season scouting, knew where I wanted to be for the daybreak on first morning. Quite a hike in the dark. 3/4 of the way in slipped and went down between some deadfall. Was lucky I only sprained my knee and did not break my leg. Season was done. Waited for daylight and it was a very long slow walk back to the truck.