Three years, finally caught up to him

[DaveT1963]

Went out yesterday to hunt one of my favorite stands. This is a stand where buck bedding is related to pre-rut and a wheat field. Takes three elements for this to fire up. North wind, Wheat sprouting and Last week of Oct - first week of Nov. when bucks are seeking and rut isnt in full swing. Finally had all three yesterday.

I snuck in 2 hours before daylight. Used the kayak to go 1 mile down river, then it's a 1/4 mile hike to bedding area. I had him come in just before shooting like at 18 yards. I could easily see him through binocs but just not enough for me to pick a spot to shoot. He went on into bedding. This is a buck I have been on for 3 years, I guess him to be 6 1/2 maybe 7 1/2....

The wind was going to shift just before dark so I decided not to sit all day. That and some crossbow toting "hunters" were causually walking and talking right in the bedding area .... clueless.

I figured the buck would relocate to another bedding area that sets up better for a south wind which was going to happen that afternoon.
The buck bedding is about 100 yards from a well used doe bedding area.

After a quick lunch, I scouted my in and followed a rub, scrape line right into bedding. I knew the evening thermals would pull towards the river so I set up with a very iffy current wind. Milk weed was all over the place that afternoon as the change from North to South began. As typical it settled in nicely once the thermals came in.

Overall I had three bucks come in, a little spike, a small 7 and finally, right as the thermals kicked in, right at dusk here he came. 21 yard shot, my Cari-bow and Simmons broadhead did their job.

Then it was a 1/4 mile drag, and this guy was huge in body mass, then I got him and me on small kayak (rated at 350# max which I'm sure we violated). Thought we were going to sink her. 1 mile later I was at the truck exhausted but feeling very satisfied.

This buck at one time sported a very nice 130" 8pt rack. As it was he was a 7 pt and had gone down quite a bit.

Nevertheless, taking a target buck on first sit,with a move, setting up in a tree I'd never seen before, was very satisfying.... no matter what he carried on his head.

Now I'm going to rest a couple days and then I've got a couple other buckss I'm interested in.

Just got back from butcher, field dressed at #157, huge for this part of country, and he aged him 7-8 1/2 years old.

[jzehr]

Great buck! Loved the part where you didn't sit all day due too shifting winds. I think that's a mistake alot of guys make. Sometimes less is more

[Singing Bridge]

Very nice!! Congrats!!

[justdirtyfun]

Hard fought battle. Congrats.

[Arrowbender]

Looks like a full boat!
Congrats!

[oldrank]

Great buck Dave !!! Nice that you had a history with him. Congrats !!

[headgear]

Way to go Dave!

[stash59]

Pretty special animal when you have all of that history!!!

[Edcyclopedia]

Spectacular!

[Dewey]

Congrats Dave. Great job.

[PK_]

Nice job man. Congrats

[mipubbucks24]

Congrats thanks for posting! That is awesome to kill an old master of the woods like that!

[Trout King]

Sweet buck. Sounds like a great hunt!

[Kokes]

Incredible buck, congrats!!

[Lockdown]

Quite an accomplishment! Congrats Dave!