Already Bucked Out
 

I'll start this off with, what an amazing hunt I got into on Friday evening. I was off work at 3:30 and rushed home to get my scent free shower. I climbed into my stand around 4:30. This hunt I knew was going to be interesting. I hunt in Central IL and it was drizzley with gusts of wind here and there. Occasionally a shower would hit me. At 5:00pm, I saw a nice doe come by but she didn't offer me a shot. She was looking behind her and a small buck popped out. He was only a 6 so I passed a 30yd shot on him. 5:30 I see deer bolting across the field. Once they get into my view I make out 2 mature does and 3 fawns playing out in front of me. Eventually they wonder off in front of one of my old stands. 5:55 I hear a "crack" from behind me. I immediately rose to my feet and grabbed my bow, trigger already on the string. Out comes a ten pointer about 20 yards away when I first get a clear look at him. He was on a mission and never stopped. I drew back as he neared my 30yd shooting lane I had. As soon as he popped in I gave a little grunt and he froze. I settled in and drilled him. Knowing I made a good hit, I texted my dad telling him I was going to need help dragging a deer. I was waiting 30minutes to get down to track him. At 6:15 yet again from the exact same place I hear another "crack" I rose to my feet and before I had my bow I see a little four pointer on the same trail as the 10. About 6 or 7 yards behind him I see antlers again. I grabbed my bow and as the buck is starting to get visible I can see he is big, and bigger than the first at that. I was shaking out of control now. He proceeded to stop in the exact same spot as the 10 when I gave him a grunt. I rushed my shot and hit him low (thinking I had missed him all together). I was cursing at myself. I waited 10minutes and got down to look for blood from the first 10. I retrieved my arrow from the 2nd shot. I couldnt see any blood, but I could see where the deer had taken off running and plowing through the woods. I started walking in that direction and the bigger buck jumps up 30 yards away. I slowly went down to my knees as he proceeded to give me an open shot. I gave him one more grunt and he stopped. I talked myself into taking my time and this time I drilled him. Knowing I made a good hit I called my dad and friends immediately. The 12pt only ran 40yds and crashed. The 10 ran about a 100. By the time it was all said and done it was 12:30 in the morning wen I got back to my house, deer hung next to eachother. That was a hunt I'll never forget.

Attached are the photos (I forgot my bow in the rush :/ ) and These are my first bow bucks, as I have always wanted to kill something big first. The 10 is already at the taxidermist and the 12 is having a skull mount done.

man thats an awesome hunt and NO you will never forget that hunt! great job brother

Holy moly, now that will end a season nicely, congrats

Way to go!!! Are you gearing up for waterfowl now??? LOL

damn son, great work on two fronts!!!

lol already geared up with the exception of shells. but yes and no, I still will have to kill at least 4 does hopefully I can get them out of the way by the end of the month. but I've got a lot of cleaning to do still since we process our own deer. and working 30-40hrs a week mite limit how much hunting ill get the next two weeks, with the addition of full time school at that!

That is a hunt of a lifetime. Congrats. You should've gone out an bought a lottery ticket too. That was your lucky night.:s4:

Way to go on those bucks. I hope you get many more and enjoy them all just as much.

Blessings.....Pastorjim

Way to go. Lucky to get one of those a season let alone 2 in a day. I hope you played the lottery that day too! Congrats!

wow congratulations on two nice bucks, are u gonna get one or both of them mounted? If so i hope you have plenty of money saved up for the bill. :happy0157:

nice work man!!!!!!!

Wow!!! That is a hell of a hunt!! I also live in Central Illinois. What town are you from?

Great Job! Now go get you some does!!!

now you need to take 2 or more does...

good job!

Geeze, thats a hunt that can never be topped.

Hey Shootem up! Congrats my friend that is a once in a lifetime hunt. Both are great bucks. You know, I caught that you hunt in Centralia. I am from Centralia as well. I grew up hunting ducks & geese on Raccoon Lake, Carlyle Lake, & Rend Lake. I did not start bowhunting deer until the year I graduated High School. I was able to hunt land on the back side of Meyer's Apple Orchard. Had a few very memorable hunts there. Since I left, I have not hunted as much. I have been in the military for 18.5 yrs & now live in Italy. It is good to still see good bucks coming out of Marion & Clinton counties. Nice work! Give them "Slicks" hell!

Man that is awesome.

Great hunt, congrats! Those bucks are both awesome, this will definitely be a hunt you will remember forever!

Oh yeah, I wasn't aware that they allowed you to shoot 2 bucks with a bow in Illinois? When I was looking into heading down there, I can only remember them allowing 1 buck with a bow and 1 buck with a gun? Maybe I am wrong but thats how I thought it was.

You're allowed 2 bucks, regardless of weapon.

Congrats on the double, that's unreal. I would still be shakin!! :cool2:

Thats an awesome story! Great job on both of the bucks. What a night

Cograts on your hunt and your very first bucks!

I think it was awesome that despite being only a youngster, you showed the maturity to pass on immature yearling bucks and raise the bar a bit.... for that I THANK YOU! Perhaps your story will inspire more folks here to do the same this season.

That's great and everything and those are nice bucks. But just wait until the rut kicks in and your doe hunting for those four does that your gonna kill and the buck of a life time gives you a shot! You will be kickin your own a** for not saving at least one buck tag for when it gets hot and heavy! Great job on your kills and it sounds like your a skilled archer.

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 giants shot early in the season. thats a hell of a way to start the season off. congrats and nice job

Congratulations!

Great experience.

congrats....

Congrats on both bucks! Im sure you will never forget a hunt like that.

Congrats on 2 fine bucks!

Wow! What a chain of events. Can't imagine how much fun that must have been. Congrats!

Congratulations simply doesn't do this story justice; AWESOME hunt and trophies!!

Awesome hunt man!!! Congrats!

I'm from Peoria and was hunting in Peoria county when I killed those bucks. I got the ten sent in to get mounted, but the 12 had some growths on his eyes. Meinders, my taxidermist, told me I would have to get a different cape if I were going to mount that one. Being I didn't really care that much because the first is what kicked it all of and the 10pointer looked better, I just decided to go with mounting him. I must say I'm very grateful for having the opportunity to hunt the handful of spots I do. I can't regret shooting them even though it was both my buck tags already, no matter what walks by its the hunt that counts. And yes I definately plan on shooting does, I'm no head hunter by any means. I will go out and kill at least 4 more does and am hoping I can get at least one out of the way this weekend. Thanks guys and good luck!

Congrats on a great hunt!!

Congrats!!

Congrats on a nice couple of trophys!!