Finally Got Him
 

Well it's been nearly 20 years since I've hunted so had alot of equipment to buy but it's now paid off. I've been hunting hard since bow season opened here on Oct. 1. Most of the time I get to hunt 2-3 days a week but haven't been seeing anything but hogs and turkeys. This last weekend I decided to scout a different WMA that I've never been to before. After a couple hours I had found several fresh rubs and a couple of hot scrapes so the next morning I put my climber in a tree near the best looking scrape. A little after daylight a big doe comes by but, she's about 200yds away but hey, that's more deer than I've seen from a stand all year! Then about a hour later, I see a deer passing through the tall grass about 30-35 yards away but no clear shot. I can see he's got a small rack and there's another deer behind him. Well they both pass by, and are now about 50 to 60 yards away so I get out my can call and give it a shot. They both turn around and when they clear the grass I can see the first one is a 4 point (3 on one side with a single on the other side) and the other deer is larger with a nice rack that looks to be at least 7 points. The 4 point walks over to the scarpe and just stands there broadside to me at 18 yards but I wait for the larger deer to come in closer. I decided to go for the larger of the two so after making that decision, I no longer looked at his hornsor eyes as this was the most horns I'd ever seen from a stand, but waited until he stood where the other buck had been standing. When he turned to smell the scape he was slightly quartered away at 18 yards. I drew back very quitely and amazingly steady, then let the arrow fly. I hit him between the last 2 ribs with the arrow passing through both lungs and sticking in the dirt behind him. I watched him make that famous jump mule kick so I figured it was a decent shot. I saw him run, what I later determined with my gps as 46 yards and pile up in the tall grass. Now the shakes started, almost uncontrollable! After waiting about an hour just to be sure, I got down, found my arrow and determined it was indeed a pass through and tracked him via the blood trail which was very sparse. I shoot the trophy ridge undertaker and it did the job but sure would have liked a better blood trail. Turned out he was a good 10 pointer.

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Congrats y2k~!

RE: Finally Got Him
 

congrats!

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Congrats on the buck!

RE: Finally Got Him
 

congrats. nice buck

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Thanks guys. I've learned alot by hanging out around here. Tuning, equipment and hunting. All good.

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Great buck for 20 years of not hunting.

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Nice buck. Congrats.

RE: Finally Got Him
 

nice buck .... congrats

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Congratulations on your deer!!!!!

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Congrats

RE: Finally Got Him
 

congrats

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Congrats, sounds like a good hunt.

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Nice story, congrats on the deer!!

RE: Finally Got Him
 

awesome... nice work... congrats.

RE: Finally Got Him
 

congrats! nice deer!

RE: Finally Got Him
 

welcome back and congrats!

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Way to go! Congrats

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Congrats that is a great buck.

RE: Finally Got Him
 

So you scouted the area one time...found a good spot where there was indeed good sign...and were able to seal the deal on the first hunt from that location? That is a feat in and of itself. Congrats y2k.

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Congrats man! Nice buck.

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Yes, this was my first time ever even scouting this location. I had asked for the Lord's Favor on my hunting which I think helped the most. The saplings in the area were literally torn up, with a couple of fresh scrapes thrown in the mix. It was just one of those times when everything fell into place. I took him to the taxidermist last night.

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Awesome y2k. Congrats to ya. I ask only out of curiousity, why the 20 year drought? Kids, work? That's a great story and a great buck.

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Great DEER

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Been a long time comeing...CONGRATS

BH818

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Way to get back into the game!

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Congrats on a great buck!! That will get your heart pumping after 20 years off!!

RE: Finally Got Him
 

Well after the kids grew up, we got out of the hunting club we were in, it just got too expensive. We also moved which made the trip to the camp much longer and more expensive. This actually turned out to be a hunting blessing though it took me 8 years to realize it. Now I can hunt 15 minutes from the house all be it on public land and no out of state license fees, no more weekends away from home and church which is important to me. Must keep the priorities correct. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season now. I may even do some turkey hunting in the spring. Sure been seeing a lot of them.