Just Shootin' the bull....
11-07-2007 | 08:42 AM
#1
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Dominant Buck
Joined: Oct 2005
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Just Shootin' the bull....
If you're not a fan of long posts....or my stories....just click away. I put together a little timeline of posts I've posted over the last year about a buck I took, yesterday morning. It's long....but I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment in taking this buck.
Timeline – 12/18/06
http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1871578&mpage=1&key=bull&#18 71578
Timeline – 12/18/06
"The Bull" is a perfect 8-pointer that's main beams are REALLY heavy (for this area). The impressive thing about him is his size, though. For a novice like me......the only way I can describe it is he looked absolutely pre-historic when I first saw him. You have to put yourself into my place.....having NEVER seen a mature whitetail deer.....EVER. I'd seen a couple of little spikes, 4's and 6's......and a smallish 8. NEVER had I seen a whitetail deer with a big 'ol body like this guy has. When he bounded under my tree.......on BOTH occasions....I was taken aback.
That's the honest truth. He's a big 'ol Bull.
Jeff
Timeline – 12/20/06
I appreciate that, Bob...I really do. It was the first time I'd seen this deer in over 2 months....and he's simply prehistoric looking compared to the other deer in my woods. I was a little taken aback (OK...a LOT).
He came in without me getting a chance to turn around. When I got around.....he was at 4 yds. He looked like a bull that's loose in a ring after he throws a would-be rider off.
I was in awe at the difference in a MATURE whitetail buck and the "deer" I'd been seeing. That encounter was the highlight of my season.
Jeff
Timeline – 12/29/06
I'm hunting4 deer for next year. A nice 8 Rob/PA and I saw....a BIG bodied 8 that's the bull of my woods.... a nice, wide 8 that I didn't see this year (other than on trail cam)....and a 10 that I JUST heard of that someone saw in MY woods!
It should be fun.
Jeff
Timeline – 1/18/07
GERM:
I'll tell ya boy......sometimes you say things that are SO TRUE.
If I would take the IMpatient shots out of my misses.....I'd have none.
I learn more and more how much this means.....and that was most evident when the big boy came under my stand the day after Thanksgiving. An impatient Jeff may have just wounded that buck, again. A patient Jeff didn't release an arrow....and I've thanked God for that fact a bunch. The bull's still out there. I saw him on our closer....and Lisa and I saw him the other night.
One of my goals for '07 is to NOT release an arrow .....unless I'm proud of the situation. I don't want to take ANY shots I'm not proud of.
GOOD CALL, Germ.
Timeline – 2/5/07
Although I adhere to this line of thinking.....EXACTLY......
quote:
I actually look forward to the stand in the fall for this reason. I work a lot of stuff out up there, it's my church so to speak.
......I also noticed that this year I was WAY more prepared than I was, last year. I didn't get surprised, thisyear, once. Last year.....it happened a few times. This year....I knew where to ecpect deer from (not that they always cooperated!). The bull of my woods surprised on a mid-Nov. day, last year (’05)......and all I could do was watch him trot by. I never heard him coming. That didn't happen, this year......and I'd like to think it was because I was more prepared. Who knows....I might've just got lucky.
Timeline – 6/4/07
quote:
Compared to the others in the area the body and mass will give you the clues.
Funny story, David.....and what you say is OH so true.
The first time I saw the deer I mention in my post (the one I know will be at least 4.5, this year)......he spooked me. I mean it. He looked like a BULL, compared to the other deer in the woods. So...I nicknamed him that (The Bull). Lisa and I were at a friend's lake house in TN, yesterday.....and I caught movement coming through the woods. It was a BUNCH of HUGE..........cows. It was a little strange to see them in the woods, like that......and it reminded me, instantly, of the day I saw "The Bull".
Germ told me once.....that I wouldn't have to worry about identifying a mature buck when the time came. He was right (imagine??? ). Germ says the big boys command respect....and lumber like they own the place. So true.......
Timeline – 6/7/07
OK....we're talking deer hunting.
I’m interested in hearing about the first time you saw a MATURE buck. I’d heard the term thrown around…but I wasn’t sure of what to expect. I saw him my 4th day of hunting season, last year.
The image of him stayed with me for several reasons…..and I didn’t think about him in the aspect of him being a “mature” deer until I saw him, again. It was the day after Thanksgiving when he let me see him, again.
By this time in the season…..I’d seen over 200 deer. I’d seen plenty of smallish bucks….lots of does….and I guess I wasn’t ready for the sheer SIZE of him….when I saw him, again. It was literally like a bull had just sauntered in behind me. The very first thing I thought of is…..this deer looks like a bull, compared to the other deer I’d been seeing. I was seriously taken aback. I’ll NEVER forget him coming in and seeing his body for as long as I hunt. I kinda felt like I shouldn’t be there (if that makes any sense). Kinda like I was intruding.
Rack-wise…he’s no marvel. Body-wise….he’s a ….well….he’s a bull (comparatively).
Does anyone else have a similar (or dissimilar) story about their first (or subsequent…or any) encounter with a mature buck? Size is relative to where you hunt…..and isn’t really important to the overall.
Germ kept telling me I’d know one when I saw one. I’ve seen one.
Quote from Davidmil 6/7/07 - YUP, and the first time I saw him I shot him. I called my hunting buddy at the time and told him, "I just shot the Bull of the Woods". I can relate to the similarity of BULL. The deer had run about 5 does by me so fast I just got a glimpse of "Holy COW" and they were out of sight. A minute later a little 5 point came charging up the hill and went by. The 5 does followed. And just swaggering up the hill came the bull. He walked right by at 18 yards just slobbering all over the place.
Timeline – 6/29/07
I have my eyes on ONE particular buck..."The Bull". If I harvest this deer....I'll donate $1 per inch of antler....or $100 (whichever is greater).
If I don't get that deer.....I'll donate $10 per doe I harvest + $5 per doe GR8 takes.
Timeline – 7/3/07
You know, Gary.....after reading that....I feel a little selfish. I'm only looking for two deer, this year (other than the throng of does...lol). "The Bull"....and any otherbuck I deem "appropriate". It took these guys a long time to get to where they are. It might take me a while to get to where I could let a 110" deer pass. (and size is relative, guys)
If I shoot a buck this year, though.....its going on the wall. I don't understand why I'd shoot one if I didn't intend to have it mounted. I might shoot a couple of bucks a year.....or I might not shoot one for a couple of years. I don't know.
THAT article is inspiring......but they did a LOT of "killing" before they got to the point they're at.
Timeline – 7/14/2007
quote:
Anyway, I gave thanks to God for even allowing me to see that beauty, and had a strange sensation come over me......I've never felt it before, I absolutely KNOW I'm gonna kill that buck. I don't mean that to sound arrogant at all, but have ya'll ever had that about something, anything? Not just about a kill, but anything? You just........KNOW it's gonna happen? Kinda weird I know.........Man, I don't think I'm gonna sleep tonight, I'm all kinds of fired up now! Wish I had a pic of him to show, but he didn't step in front of my camera.
Remember when I told you I first laid eyes on "the bull"?
Now you know .
That's exciting stuff in that paragraph right there, mobo. I hope to hear you tell me I was right, in a few months (about it being your year). You'llnow (as gary told me) ALWAYS look at deer as "mature bucks" and "deer". I'll be "deer" hunting , this year.....but I'll be rooting for you.
Good luck.
Timeline – 7/20/07
If this is the same buck......you can't believe what a transformation his body goes through between now and mid November. The one in the 7/25/06 photo is the buck I call "the bull". He looks like a racehorse when he's under your stand.
Look at him, here, beside another pretty good buck (for my woods). Look at the difference in their bodies.
This photo was taken exactly one year ago, today.
Timeline – 11/2/07
I got into my stand, and was standing there.....just finishing getting dressed and getting my bow ready. I hadn't had time to put on my facemask, yet, but it was only 6:20. I heard a deer coming from behind the way I was facing (facing the tree). Is it me....or do you guys "think" you can tell when it's a buck???
Anyways.....with a hole in the canopy of the trees above me....I can make out he's a big-bodied deer. Could it be? He gets to a spot I later ranged to be 7 yds.....right beside my tree....and stands there. I get my glasses up....and it's "him".....the one I call the bull. Dangit. It's dark. But I did pick the right spot! He stays there for 5 miutes just looking around, and I enjoy every second of it. He's beautiful! He finally just slowly walked away (towards where I saw him last year near Thanksgiving....and where I'll be hunting tomorrow afternoon).
After that.....the day couldn't be bad. I ended up having 23 doe sightings...of what I think to be 10-12 different does (I know I saw a few of them, twice) and 3 buck sightings. The other two bucks were little guys harrassing the does. Fun to watch.
I'll be in the same tree in the morning. Hopefully he'll be a little later coming home.
Timeline – 11/5/07
I must add.....
I saw the buck I call "the bull" in the moonlight, Friday morning. He had just walked by the spot I'll be in in the morning. Saturday morning....I saw what HAS to be a decendent of his. He looked JUST like him.....only smaller and with an exact replica rack (smaller). Still....a great 2.5 yr old....and a buck I'd be proud of.
I saw a doe, Saturday, I'd be proud to take on ANY day....and she was in this area, too. Saw another buck I'd never seen saturday afternoon.....and though only a 1.5 yr old....he was "new".
This spot is hot right now. I just have "that feeling".
The very next morning…….I got “Him”.
Update: Just got off the phone with my Taxidermist. He was 4.5 yrs old.
Timeline – 12/18/06
http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1871578&mpage=1&key=bull&#18 71578
Timeline – 12/18/06
"The Bull" is a perfect 8-pointer that's main beams are REALLY heavy (for this area). The impressive thing about him is his size, though. For a novice like me......the only way I can describe it is he looked absolutely pre-historic when I first saw him. You have to put yourself into my place.....having NEVER seen a mature whitetail deer.....EVER. I'd seen a couple of little spikes, 4's and 6's......and a smallish 8. NEVER had I seen a whitetail deer with a big 'ol body like this guy has. When he bounded under my tree.......on BOTH occasions....I was taken aback.
That's the honest truth. He's a big 'ol Bull.
Jeff
Timeline – 12/20/06
I appreciate that, Bob...I really do. It was the first time I'd seen this deer in over 2 months....and he's simply prehistoric looking compared to the other deer in my woods. I was a little taken aback (OK...a LOT).
He came in without me getting a chance to turn around. When I got around.....he was at 4 yds. He looked like a bull that's loose in a ring after he throws a would-be rider off.
I was in awe at the difference in a MATURE whitetail buck and the "deer" I'd been seeing. That encounter was the highlight of my season.
Jeff
Timeline – 12/29/06
I'm hunting4 deer for next year. A nice 8 Rob/PA and I saw....a BIG bodied 8 that's the bull of my woods.... a nice, wide 8 that I didn't see this year (other than on trail cam)....and a 10 that I JUST heard of that someone saw in MY woods!
It should be fun.
Jeff
Timeline – 1/18/07
GERM:
I'll tell ya boy......sometimes you say things that are SO TRUE.
If I would take the IMpatient shots out of my misses.....I'd have none.
I learn more and more how much this means.....and that was most evident when the big boy came under my stand the day after Thanksgiving. An impatient Jeff may have just wounded that buck, again. A patient Jeff didn't release an arrow....and I've thanked God for that fact a bunch. The bull's still out there. I saw him on our closer....and Lisa and I saw him the other night.
One of my goals for '07 is to NOT release an arrow .....unless I'm proud of the situation. I don't want to take ANY shots I'm not proud of.
GOOD CALL, Germ.
Timeline – 2/5/07
Although I adhere to this line of thinking.....EXACTLY......
quote:
I actually look forward to the stand in the fall for this reason. I work a lot of stuff out up there, it's my church so to speak.
......I also noticed that this year I was WAY more prepared than I was, last year. I didn't get surprised, thisyear, once. Last year.....it happened a few times. This year....I knew where to ecpect deer from (not that they always cooperated!). The bull of my woods surprised on a mid-Nov. day, last year (’05)......and all I could do was watch him trot by. I never heard him coming. That didn't happen, this year......and I'd like to think it was because I was more prepared. Who knows....I might've just got lucky.
Timeline – 6/4/07
quote:
Compared to the others in the area the body and mass will give you the clues.
Funny story, David.....and what you say is OH so true.
The first time I saw the deer I mention in my post (the one I know will be at least 4.5, this year)......he spooked me. I mean it. He looked like a BULL, compared to the other deer in the woods. So...I nicknamed him that (The Bull). Lisa and I were at a friend's lake house in TN, yesterday.....and I caught movement coming through the woods. It was a BUNCH of HUGE..........cows. It was a little strange to see them in the woods, like that......and it reminded me, instantly, of the day I saw "The Bull".
Germ told me once.....that I wouldn't have to worry about identifying a mature buck when the time came. He was right (imagine??? ). Germ says the big boys command respect....and lumber like they own the place. So true.......
Timeline – 6/7/07
OK....we're talking deer hunting.
I’m interested in hearing about the first time you saw a MATURE buck. I’d heard the term thrown around…but I wasn’t sure of what to expect. I saw him my 4th day of hunting season, last year.
The image of him stayed with me for several reasons…..and I didn’t think about him in the aspect of him being a “mature” deer until I saw him, again. It was the day after Thanksgiving when he let me see him, again.
By this time in the season…..I’d seen over 200 deer. I’d seen plenty of smallish bucks….lots of does….and I guess I wasn’t ready for the sheer SIZE of him….when I saw him, again. It was literally like a bull had just sauntered in behind me. The very first thing I thought of is…..this deer looks like a bull, compared to the other deer I’d been seeing. I was seriously taken aback. I’ll NEVER forget him coming in and seeing his body for as long as I hunt. I kinda felt like I shouldn’t be there (if that makes any sense). Kinda like I was intruding.
Rack-wise…he’s no marvel. Body-wise….he’s a ….well….he’s a bull (comparatively).
Does anyone else have a similar (or dissimilar) story about their first (or subsequent…or any) encounter with a mature buck? Size is relative to where you hunt…..and isn’t really important to the overall.
Germ kept telling me I’d know one when I saw one. I’ve seen one.
Quote from Davidmil 6/7/07 - YUP, and the first time I saw him I shot him. I called my hunting buddy at the time and told him, "I just shot the Bull of the Woods". I can relate to the similarity of BULL. The deer had run about 5 does by me so fast I just got a glimpse of "Holy COW" and they were out of sight. A minute later a little 5 point came charging up the hill and went by. The 5 does followed. And just swaggering up the hill came the bull. He walked right by at 18 yards just slobbering all over the place.
Timeline – 6/29/07
I have my eyes on ONE particular buck..."The Bull". If I harvest this deer....I'll donate $1 per inch of antler....or $100 (whichever is greater).
If I don't get that deer.....I'll donate $10 per doe I harvest + $5 per doe GR8 takes.
Timeline – 7/3/07
You know, Gary.....after reading that....I feel a little selfish. I'm only looking for two deer, this year (other than the throng of does...lol). "The Bull"....and any otherbuck I deem "appropriate". It took these guys a long time to get to where they are. It might take me a while to get to where I could let a 110" deer pass. (and size is relative, guys)
If I shoot a buck this year, though.....its going on the wall. I don't understand why I'd shoot one if I didn't intend to have it mounted. I might shoot a couple of bucks a year.....or I might not shoot one for a couple of years. I don't know.
THAT article is inspiring......but they did a LOT of "killing" before they got to the point they're at.
Timeline – 7/14/2007
quote:
Anyway, I gave thanks to God for even allowing me to see that beauty, and had a strange sensation come over me......I've never felt it before, I absolutely KNOW I'm gonna kill that buck. I don't mean that to sound arrogant at all, but have ya'll ever had that about something, anything? Not just about a kill, but anything? You just........KNOW it's gonna happen? Kinda weird I know.........Man, I don't think I'm gonna sleep tonight, I'm all kinds of fired up now! Wish I had a pic of him to show, but he didn't step in front of my camera.
Remember when I told you I first laid eyes on "the bull"?
Now you know .
That's exciting stuff in that paragraph right there, mobo. I hope to hear you tell me I was right, in a few months (about it being your year). You'llnow (as gary told me) ALWAYS look at deer as "mature bucks" and "deer". I'll be "deer" hunting , this year.....but I'll be rooting for you.
Good luck.
Timeline – 7/20/07
If this is the same buck......you can't believe what a transformation his body goes through between now and mid November. The one in the 7/25/06 photo is the buck I call "the bull". He looks like a racehorse when he's under your stand.
Look at him, here, beside another pretty good buck (for my woods). Look at the difference in their bodies.
This photo was taken exactly one year ago, today.
Timeline – 11/2/07
I got into my stand, and was standing there.....just finishing getting dressed and getting my bow ready. I hadn't had time to put on my facemask, yet, but it was only 6:20. I heard a deer coming from behind the way I was facing (facing the tree). Is it me....or do you guys "think" you can tell when it's a buck???
Anyways.....with a hole in the canopy of the trees above me....I can make out he's a big-bodied deer. Could it be? He gets to a spot I later ranged to be 7 yds.....right beside my tree....and stands there. I get my glasses up....and it's "him".....the one I call the bull. Dangit. It's dark. But I did pick the right spot! He stays there for 5 miutes just looking around, and I enjoy every second of it. He's beautiful! He finally just slowly walked away (towards where I saw him last year near Thanksgiving....and where I'll be hunting tomorrow afternoon).
After that.....the day couldn't be bad. I ended up having 23 doe sightings...of what I think to be 10-12 different does (I know I saw a few of them, twice) and 3 buck sightings. The other two bucks were little guys harrassing the does. Fun to watch.
I'll be in the same tree in the morning. Hopefully he'll be a little later coming home.
Timeline – 11/5/07
I must add.....
I saw the buck I call "the bull" in the moonlight, Friday morning. He had just walked by the spot I'll be in in the morning. Saturday morning....I saw what HAS to be a decendent of his. He looked JUST like him.....only smaller and with an exact replica rack (smaller). Still....a great 2.5 yr old....and a buck I'd be proud of.
I saw a doe, Saturday, I'd be proud to take on ANY day....and she was in this area, too. Saw another buck I'd never seen saturday afternoon.....and though only a 1.5 yr old....he was "new".
This spot is hot right now. I just have "that feeling".
The very next morning…….I got “Him”.
Update: Just got off the phone with my Taxidermist. He was 4.5 yrs old.
11-07-2007 | 09:20 AM
#6
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Oct 1998
Posts: 18,322
Likes: 0
From: Hughesville, PA USA
RE: Just Shootin' the bull....
There's only one deer I've had the honors to have that kind of relationship with. He was a 22" 10 point....I hunted him two seasons 02, 03 and was never seen by me nor did I hear of anyone taking him. Could he still be roaming?
Congrats again Jeff, great history and a complete story concludes in the best way.
Congrats again Jeff, great history and a complete story concludes in the best way.
11-07-2007 | 10:34 AM
#8
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,541
Likes: 0
From: Phoenixville, PA USA
RE: Just Shootin' the bull....
Jeff, that's a cool timeline. It's even cooler because of the ending.
I know a lot of guys that have singled out a deer like you did only to find him dead on the side of the road at some point.
I'm glad your story has a happy ending.
I know a lot of guys that have singled out a deer like you did only to find him dead on the side of the road at some point. I'm glad your story has a happy ending.
