HuntingNet.com Forums - Why I love Kansas...big buck down!!!

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Why I love Kansas...big buck down!!!

Hey guys, I just got back in tonight from a six day hunt in Kansas. The week started off hot with temps pushing in to the high 70s and deer movement was slow. The outfitter had some game cam pics from last Thursday of a great 5X5 on one of the farms. He and I devised a plan and went after him hard. I had to hunt two days in a north tree row about 800 yards from where they had him on film due to the wind before I could get in the right stand. I saw quite a few deer, mostly does and younger bucks on those days. When the wind shifted on Monday out of the North, we moved in. I sat on the stand for 3 trips, two mornings and one evening without even seeing a mature buck or doe, simply one little skipper buck on all three trips. On Halloween night after a big swing in temperature, dropping to a high of only 50, I sat for my fourth and final time in the stand. Right at dark, this guy came in following 10 does. He took his time, rubbing every cedar between 80 yards and my stand. I had all 10 does within 20 yards of me when he came in to 22 yards. I was only 15 feet off the ground in a ladder stand and I knew it was now or never. I drew and two does spooked. He stood at attention, light fading real fast. I could only make out my 20 yard pin, but had him in my sight. I aimed and held. He took one step towards me an I released. He jumped and bolted just 15 yards and stood next to the edge of a CRP field. I was a wreck. I thought I might had hit him low. I pulled out my range finder and ranged him now at 35 yards. He stood there for 8 more minutes before I was smart enough to reload and put a just for the heck of it shot through both lungs. He dove into the field and I lost sight. All I could hear was him thrashing and huffing for air. At this point I put up my bow and sat down, head in my hands. I was mentally drained. I radioed in and told John, my good friend and guide, I was walking out and would meet him where he dropped me off. I walked out, we went out and picked up another hunter and came back in to recover him. He had expired only 20 yards from where he was on the second arrow. Both shots had lunged him and he was probably dead from the first, but he just stood there, so the second was just a deal closer. It was the best hunt of my life. Hard, frustrating and all together AWESOME. In the end, an almost perfect 173 7/8ths 10 point. I green scored him with only 4 7/8ths deductions. Kansas is simply awesome.