1991 was the first year that I decided to become a big buck hunter. Previous to that I took what ever came my way because the meat was more important to me than the antlers. This was the first year that Wis. was selling over the counter doe tags. I figured that if I could get a doe right away that I could then hold out for a big buck for the rest of the season. I took a doe on opening day. Funny story about that is that I had to carry my then 3 year old son along with my stand and all my gear into the woods to set up my stand. While setting up my stand my son was exploring the area and touching everything in sight. I was almost done when he said, "Dad, I have to pee!!". I told him to hang on that I was almost done. Too late...... there he was taking a leak on the very trail I was set up on! The next morning a doe came along and stopped to smell that spot and I let her have it.
My hunting spot was a small postage stamp wood lot of private land. The bedding areas were on adjacent properties on each end of my spot. One night, in early Oct., I left my stand a little early to scout a bordering ag field. On the way out I spotted a huge buck but he spotted me also and took off. The next morning after work (3rd shift), I went back out to investigate the area where I saw the buck. To my delight I found a great rub line that went by an inside corner of the woods where a pond was located. I set my stand 30 yards behind the pond. It was a great pinch point.
I hunted that stand every time the wind was right for almost a whole month and never saw a deer! What was going on? On Nov. 11th we got our first snowfall of the year and I was out the door. On my way to the stand there were deer tracks everywhere. I got up in the stand and waited. About 8 AM I was thinking about getting down and looking for a new spot when I heard a muffled snap of a breaking twig. I turned my head and almost fell out of my tree! There he was! At 20 yards I came to full draw but scrapped the bark of my tree with my coat and he stared right up at me. Oh no! My right leg started to shake. He took a couple of steps and I shot. Spine shot. I went to lower my bow and dropped it the last 8 feet! Lucky it wasn't broke and I finished him off with a second shot. I had never seen anything this big in the wild before. Grossed 181+ and had 91/2 inches of sticker points.
The one on the left.
I have never topped this buck but I keep trying!
