Ahhhh....time for me to bestow my great fatherly advice to a young hunter!
Grab a beer and relax...
I'm a professional.
I have hiked many many miles to set up and wait, I have tracked and followed, I have went behind a big rock to relieve myself only to run into a trophy buck.
But the best shot I ever had was only after spending a week (this being vacation time) tracking and finally finding a truly once in a lifetime buck.
It was in central Utah, in a special hunt area. My brother in law's # was drawn for a very limited hunt, only like 25 tags issued for this particular area.
Each hunter was allowed a second tag if they so desired, my bro asked me if I would join him, HELL YA'!! was the quick answer.
Pulled the 30/06 (I don't believe that is the proper printed type for thirty ott six but whatever...
) and my brother took out his .270. After a couple of days I find this huge buck, lost him just as fast. The next day I return to the same area and he shows up a bit later. Third day the same thing. The hunt was in two days and we decide that this will be the place and he will be the buck I take (finders keepers!)
Day of hunt, it started snowing, and snowing...and snowing.....then the wind starts to blow. NO big deal, we head out at o-ungodly thirty and make it out to 'the spot' with plenty of time to spare. Sure the fuk enough this buck shows up on que (also not proper spelling.) I bring the rifle to sight....only to find my scope had fogged!! No sooner than I say 'fogged' my Brother in Law pulls the trigger on his rifle and the buck takes a bound or two (okay, maybe three) and drops!!
To this day, that is the only time I have leveled my rifle during a hunt....never since have I even pulled the trigger during a hunt.
Had a few shots but never took them, always felt that a bigger buck was coming down the trail.
Maybe next time!