I decided Fred here was to be my #1 on the hit list for this year followed by a tall tined buck that I think is the son of a buck I killed 2 years ago. I waited for the right conditions a few weeks ago and went in one morning on a Friday and set up just downwind of where I believe he was bedding. I did not see him but did have an encounter with a small buck. I liked the spot as I had killed last years buck there and it was a tree I could get way up high in my climber and blow my scent over the thernal tunnel so it was perfect for an all day sit due to being 30-35 feet up.
I went back in yesterday morning on my first day of my 3 week vacation I took (I work 4-10's with Fridays off so technically it wasn't a vacation day). I got there around 9 or 930, got set up and comfy. There was a huge fog blanket covering everything and I could barely see 50 yards which made for awesome entry conditions. I sat and was gonna sit all day even though the rut shouldnt really start up for a few more days, but I was also in the mood for a doe if a good one came by so I thought what the hey, and it was a nice day to sit.
Around 11:45 I noticed a small 1.5 year old crusing the ridge where I had pictures of Fred and the others. I had my camera arm and camcorder so I thought why not play with him a little and get some film. I grunted at him and did a few can calls. He locked right on to my area and just stopped and stared. I video taped the stand off until he got skittish for no reason and looked over his left shoulder back towards the cedars where I suspect Fred lived. He turned and trotted off semi afraid but not snorting. I thought nothing of it and figured the wind might have switched briefly.
About 10 minutes later (now right at noon) I notice a big buck walking just below the edge of the ridge cruising my direction coming from the cedars. I knew he was a shooter at first sight, and I instantly thought he was the tall 8 point I missed 2 weeks ago to the day further down the ridge. I got some video footage of him coming into my set up, and then I had to move the arm to try and get the shot and I flat out had to guess where to aim as he was quartering down the ridge at an angle and darn near in bow-range. I guessed wrong but I had a bow mounted action cam and got the shot on tape as soon as he stopped out from behind a tree. The arrow buried into his lungs straight up the leg bone and stopped, not a pass through. He took about 5 jumps and the arrow flew out and I could see blood just spraying everywhere. I was concerned about the shot as I figured I hit shoulder at first. He went about 50-60 yards and flipped over and barrel rolled down the hill about 5 yards.
I about fell out of the tree at that point as I knew this was by far the biggest buck I had ever killed with a bow, and I got to see him go down. I made some phone calls and sent a ton of BBD texts to my buddies. I still at this point figured I had killed my big 8 and did some explanation videos from the tree of what happened. I climbed down and self filmed the recovery as I walked up on him, none of that post recovery garbage where they had long since found the buck and the emotions are faked.
I could smell him before I found him, the tarsal glands are absolutely rank. I got to him and instantly I realized he was far bigger than I originally thought, both body wise and rack wise. I tagged him and started taking pictures and then went and got my arrow which actually was the hardest part of the whole ordeal.
I had my dad and father in law come help me as the soybeans were still up so I couldn't get my truck to him like in years past. I was looking at a long pull with the deer cart and even though It was downhill I was not looking forward to it. My Father in law decided to sacrifice some soybeans to make the trip easier and we got him in the back of the kubota utv and got him out.
I took him out to my buddies shop and local watering hole for celebration and to skin and half him and cape him out. He weighed 220 lbs field dressed, stood 39" tall at the front shoulders and has the biggest head and neck Ive ever seen on a buck, pictures do not even begin to do this buck justice. We all guessed him at 5.5 + based on the body appearance and shape. I am going to send in a tooth for official aging and see what he comes back as. We did a quick score and came up with 129 7/8 gross and 128 3/8 net. When you see the rack in person youd swear he would score way more than that but its so tough with an 8 point. I am absolutely on cloud nine and still loving every second of it.. He is going to the taxidermist this morning and will be returning on a Joe Coombs 5700 wall pedestal left turn, same form different direction as last years buck.
I have more pics I will add after I get them off the cell phone, but these will get you an idea for now.
