Sorry for the delay, guys.

Here's the story on my buck.

The story...(Rob can change the name of the thread if he wants).

I set up in the woodlot I said I had to be out of when gun season started. I asked the guy gun hunting if he minded if I went in....and he said no. So....I picked a spot where I'd seen some good rubs....and went in. 4:00 I see a doe coming from behind me (upwind). She's got a slit down her spind like she got gashed going under a barbed wire fence. It was about 2' long. I thought about shooting her.....but she seemed fine, really. She walked away.

About 10 minutes later....I see a doe and a fawn running from my right....and back towards behind me. I never saw what was chasing them. Couple minutes later....two DOGS show up and start wandering the woodlot. The woodlot's only 20 acres...and they're seemingly all over it. They jump a doe and she high-tails it out of there.

Next thing I see come in is a doe from behind me and to my right. She looks like she's being pushed. I glance behind her and see a buck. After 79 sits.....he looks might fine, to me. I told Rob I'd never seen him....but I have. He's the one I saw in there a time or three.

He comes RIGHT BESIDE my tree....and doesn't spook. Now I have a dilemma. He's going to walk almost straight away....and if he gets more than 7-8 yds in front of me...I have NO shot. I let him get to 4-5 yds....cant my bow....aim to the left of his spine....and loose my arrow. It hits right where I'd aimed and buries almost to the fletch. I see this one hit.

He takes off on a dead run.....and when he gets to 35 yds or so I see a gush of blood erupt from the entrance wound. I hear him crash inside 60 yds.

I call Rob (which I always seem to do when I geta buck....lol). I was still shaking. We discuss it....and decide I'll take my time and go find him. I nocked another arrow....because I could hear deer around me. I remembered my pledge not to do that.....and put it away. I climbed down slowly....and followed a good blood trail right to my buck.

OK....so now I get to where I'd parked the ATV and my buddy is there waiting. He's the local TV weather guy....and he's 6'7" and about 260lbs. He wants to help drag....and I'm all for it! We both get on the ATV and drive it along the field edge (soy beans are still in the field). We drag the buck down to the ATV....and he's REALLY winded. I ask him if he wants to drive the buck back over (we'd already loaded him up)....and he does. He gets to the field edge and tries to cross the ditch (which is full of rip-rap)...and he "almost" turns the ATV over on him. If not for the basket on the back (drop basket)...it would have turned over on him. He's screaming at me from about 150yds....and when I get to him....he's pointed straight up in the air. He's shook. I'm frantic.

I get ahold of the front end and pull it back down. It takes a few times....but we finally get it righted. Wow.

In the midst of all this....my buck's head was hanging outside the basket....and the left G1 gets broken off. I went back and found it. I'd stowed my equipment (bow/stand/harness/etc...) in his truck...thinking he'd drive it over to the house for me. When we finish....he tells me he's forgotten and he's gotta rush to get home to take his wife to the movies. I tell him to go on.

So....I don't have a harvest photo with my bow....because I don't have my bow! I'll get a few, tomorrow....and post them up for the contest.

He's no "bruiser"....but I hunted my ass off this year...and I'm extremely proud of him. Here's my '08 NC 6-pointer.

There's two people I want to thank publicly for all of their help this year. They deserve a footnote for this deer. Gri22ly....and Dukemichaels.......I owe you guys a LOT.....and I'd have said that if I didn't score. Thank you guys SO MUCH. He's part yours.