well guys, i'm officially out of the contest. i shot a buck w/ shotgun today, so that is my one and only buck tag. no chance of party hunting a buck too because the guy i bowhunt w/ already got one. it's funny, I never hunted as hard as i have this year w/ bow and I never got close to getting a buck and only had a doe within range once. then firearms start and I have deer all around me all morning. 8:15 and I had a buck and a doe (and two really long drags). the buck was an 8 point. not huge, just a step up from basket rack. he suffered from ground shrinkage but the way this year has gone you won't hear me complain.

i'll probably do a little more hunting for does. but i'm essentially done. it's been as frustrating as any year i've ever hunted, nice to finish it off w/ a buck. that makes 8 pointers in 3 straight years. i'll try to make it 4 but next year w/ a bow. later all...


**update: man, the deer must like the smell of my shotgun. i got another doe tonight. Where were all these deer when I had a bow in my hand????????