Ahhh, If only I had...
My biggest buck (148" 11 pt.) is about the 5th or 6th largest that I've had in range. The most painful of them was on the afternoon of 11/14/05. My buddy (Mike) and I were heading out to set up my old API in a 100-yard wide strip separating a long cut corn field and bean field. On our way there, about 1/2 mile from the destination I look up at the ridgeline to our left to see a MASSIVE buck skylining himself. I grabbed the video camera and got about 7 seconds of tape before he eased over the ridge out of sight toward Mike's stand.
Change of plans! We quickly laid out a strategy to execute a two man drive. I dropped Mike off down the road closer to his stand (located on a secluded strip of timber) and then drove back to the original sighting location. I gave Mike about 15 minutes to get into his stand and then proceeded to walk the ridgetop and cut into the strip toward him. I was just entering the treeline when the big brute and his girlfriend jumped up and ran toward Mike's general direction. When I reached his stand, Mike reported never seeing either deer. It was a longshot, but worth a try anyway.
Fastforward to 2:45PM. Mike stayed in his stand while I proceeded to set up my API. Bowless and clothed in blue jeans, T-shirt (I get too warm while setting up to keep the coat on) and baseball cap, I had just finished mounting the stand on the tree about 22 feet up when I heard a low guttural grunt from down the strip about 100 yards away. Slow footsteps followed, and then I saw a doe about 75 yards out and closing. In close pursuit was without a doubt the biggest buck I've ever seen on the hoof. I can say this with total confidence because I had the horrored pleasure of admiring him while he milled around for the next 10 minutes within 30 yards of my stand. He was a chocolate colored mainframe 10 pointer with a 23-24" inside spread, long spearlike tines and giant mass. I'd eat my shorts if he wouldn't have grossed over 180" typical. Unbelievable!
He slowly followed the doe out of sight, never to be seen again beside many a dream since then. I cried both tears of sorrow and of joy over that experience. I can only hope to have another opportunity at such an animal while carrying a bow. [&o]
