dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Since my dear friend and hunting compadre since high school is too modest to post his photos in the Bowhunting forum, I'm going to do it for him. :D

As I said, Mike and I have been bowhunting together since high school. Back in the day when we would wander into the woods and aimlessly sit next to fallen down trees in hopes of killing a deer. We've come a long way in the last 10 years and it's finally starting to pay off. Mike and I filled both of our Illinois buck tags this fall for the first time in our short bowhunting careers.

Mike ended his season on Saturday morning with a 30 yard shot at this wide brute. Say what you will about activated carbon clothing, but this bad boy was dead down wind (a clever play on words!) and although he was spooky, he stood still long enough for Mike to put an arrow through him. He only made it 40 yards before piling up in plain view of his stand.

Congrats again to Mike on a great, great season. 2 mature Illinois bucks for the wall, a freezer full of meat, and a month and a half left for us to go on a doe whacking video mission. You cannot beat that!

I know I want to give a huge thanks to everyone who participates in the HuntingNet.com community. I've been posting on this site for nearly 4 years under various names and learned a lifetime of invaluable knowledge in that time. The same goes for Mike. We talk about things going on in the Bowhunting Forum just as much as we talk about things going on in our own personal hunting lives. Every experience that is shared on this site helps us all to become better hunters, so thanks everyone!

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Great buck, gave my kudos in our team thread.:D

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

That settles it...I'm hunting Illinois next year. Nice bucK!

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Very nice.... How wide is it??

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Justin, you and the Duke are the real deal. I would rank you guys on the top of the best of the best hunters on HNI.

I think that should be good for a free hat.:D


Congrats to you and and dukemichaels on an awesome season.

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Love the last pose, spooner[&:]

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Wow. That's a dandy. Nice going.

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Just a hair under 23" inside at his widest point.

And I'm not sure anyone here is really the "best" hunter. It's a combination of having a good spot to hunt, having enough time to hunt, putting in some hard work scouting, and applying all of the knowledge youv'e collected over the years to become a "better" or "more successful" hunter. Success is measured on many different levels, only one of them being the harvest.

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Did you get a little puke in your mouth??[:'(]

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

That sucker is W--I--D--E!

Congrats to him!

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Germ's just jealous it wasn't him. :D

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Nice deer. Congrats to both of you on great seasons!

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

What a wide dandy!! A Hoyt and a Lone Wolf man; now there is a hunter.;)

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Oh Justin.. You so spoil me you do.:D

But I have to agree, the lessons I am taught each day in this forum and in the woods helped me to bag my 2 Illinois bucks. Success in the whitetail woods is what you set your own goals for. I set out for two mature bucks this Autumn, and put in the time and energy to accomplish that goal. I succeeded, and not because I am a "great" hunter, but rather I always consider myself a student of bowhunting. I take the time to constantly read about deer, listen to other hunters, observe in the stand, and study all the aspects of deer behavior. And that, that has made all the difference.

And it helps that I live in Illinois;).

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Awsome Ill. buck, congrats to you!

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

He does deserve a well earned congratulations. Great buck, and I love wide racked ones. You young "pups";) are putting the hammer on us this season. Congrats to the both of you!

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Wow! That first buck looksidentical to onewe nicknamed Airplane...there's a landing strip for Ultra-lights near one of our hunting spots. I know it's not him though b/c he was out in the field at 8am while we were preparing for a birdhunt.

Nice deer!

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Congrats to Mike on his Great Buck!

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

I can not show my alone pictures on HNI with my buck. I would be breaking forum rules[8D]

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

wow that is a great buck... Do you guys get paid to hunt? Seems like you guys only shoot monster bucks every time I check this forum.. Who do you work for, send me an application!

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Justin you should have been videoing him???? Tell Mike congrats on a great looking deer.. Walt

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Great job (AGAIN) there teammate. What a great year you've had!

Jeff

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Very Nice! Congrats on a great buck!

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

awesome buck.

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Wow, that is one wide buck.

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Duke, nice 2nd buck! congrats

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Thanks everyone. I just was in the right place at the right time, and didn't screw it up..!:)

Oh.. and Germ... I would've been glad to 'spoon' behind the monster you shot.[8D]

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

For the record I did more then spoon him[8D]

Nice deer and a great year, I hope you are on my team every year!!!!

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

And a little help from the lock of hair you pulled from my head!
Give me back my horseshoe!

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Duke I made you an Avatar

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

that is a realy wide rack

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

That's funny Germ.. I like that. I'm using it!:D

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

omg i busted up when i read your avatar germ made reminded me of the guys i was in camp with in illinois nice buck btw mo are you looking for a free hunt or a guided hunt

RE: dukemichael's 2nd IL buck of 2006
 

Nice buck...he sure is wide.