I am guilty of misjudging deer pretty often. I have killed some very nice looking three year olds. and Honestly, I do not know a way around it.
In the places I hunt(99% public land) it is VERY thick, I can see a rack coming through the palmettos and 9 times out of 10, the buck will only get in a hole where I can see his entire body for a second or two. I can either spend that time sizing him up or shooting at him.
I have made the mistake in both directions. they have got in a hole and I've taken the shot only to later regret it, AND conversely I have let them get by me and thought "oh dang that was a nice one I should've taken him. I really don't know what to do differently. because both mistakes feel equally bad
We have all been guilty of that. Which is why I argue cameras are actually a net positive for growing big deer, even though it seems the majority believe it’s the opposite. Yes they can help pattern and kill a big buck, but more importantly they let a mature buck hunter know what is on the property and identify shooters, non-shooters, and the target buck(s) worth holding out for. Going in blind, you are much more likely to make a rushed decision to kill the first decent buck you see.
I agree the cameras do help. This is exactly why I use cameras, namely cell cams. There have been several times where I have been in my spot, get a picture of a good one on a camera a couple hundred yards away and often times I will see him in person not long after the pic and it cues me in to be more conservative. I can say "ok just got the pic, he is headed this way, don't freak out when you see the rack coming" and sure enough he will come right by me and I let him go
Without the camera I run the risk of taking him without prior knowledge of which deer it is.
In my scenario, the cameras are actually saving deer
