Minnesota 9 point I got last night
 

Up until last night it's been kind of a downer of a year for me. I had shoulder surgery 4 weeks before the season started and I had a huge tree limb fall on me while in the stand during 25/30 mph winds a couple weeks ago. It left a nice scrape and a huge bruise on my arm. Plus, I’ve seen fewer deer this year than any year in the past 15 years. I did manage to get a doe back on 9/30, but I had only seen 10 deer (no bucks) in 18 hunts and most of the time it was just glimpses of deer.
But, I’ve had an 8 and a 9 showing up on my trail cameras constantly. Especially the 9 point. A couple nights a week he’d walk by the stand I shot him at about half an hour to an hour after legal shooting. So, there was promise. I have more pics of that 8 and 9 than of any other deer in my 10 years of using trail cameras. But I’ve hunted hard this year and hadn’t seen any antlers. And, over the past month I only have a couple daytime pics of either buck. I was getting REALLY frustrated.

Well, last night a doe came in and started eating clover right in front of me. She was constantly looking to the north (strong south wind blowing her scent to the north – which is where this buck had been coming from). So, in the back of my mind I was thinking that this could be the night.

When he finally came out I knew it was a buck, just by the size of his body. When he got to about 40 yards I knew it was the 8 or the 9. He came right up on her and when he was 5 yards from her he let out a huge guttural bellow. He got his nose right up in her and I thought she was going to bolt and take him with so I released. He was quartering to me (his neck was broadside though, it was turned towards the doe’s butt) but it was such a close shot and I was SO READY, I knew I could make the shot (probably 10-12 yards). There was a couple inches of arrow showing before the fletching. I knew it was a dead deer. I hit exactly where I was aiming, I just figured tracking was going to be a nightmare w/ that high of a hit and no exit wound.

After an hour I walked in the woods from the main road (my property line – I didn’t want to push him on to the neighbors land if he was still alive) and looked w/ my flashlight and spotted him right away, he was about 10 feet from me! Took me all of about 2 minutes to find him! Turns out I took out both lungs and the arrow was lodged right in the lungs. I back tracked his path a bit and didn’t find one spec of blood. I was lucky to find him as easy as I did. I’m also lucky I hit right where I was aiming.

This ended a very long 3 year buck drought (got 9 does in that time though). During that time I only saw 2 shooter bucks. Neither came w/in 60 yards. Bow hunting is so funny that way, your mood can turn around so fast. I was so down for the last 3 years and now I’m on cloud 9. I got the buck I really had my sights on. Couldn’t be happier!

wow, this is my longest post ever!!!

Anyway, here’s some before and after pics:

Congrats!!

Congrats on a fine buck, patience pays off!

great job!

great buck man, itz always worth the wait!

Nice work.......Congrats!

Congrats on a nice buck RackLuster!
Thats pretty cool to have the trail cam pic of him before you were able to harvest him.

Way to go!!!

Good things come to those who persevere!

Congratulations.

Congrats on your buck! Any kill that was quick and clean is something to be proud of.

That being said, I find it funny though that so many seem to hit a panic mode for not tagging a buck by now.... it's only Oct 19, the GOOD part of the season isn't even close yet ?!?

Shooting the first antlers you see.... I hope you're allowed multiple buck tags?

Nice buck! Way to hang in there.

Dan

Good deal! Nice buck for sure, congrats!

Nice buck! So where in Mininesota did you get him at?

Nice buck! Way to end your buck drought. congrats

Nice buck, way to go!

I got him on my 40 acres by Isle, just southwest of lake mille lacs. if memory serves me right you are up in ottertail county aren't you? my parents have a cabin on star lake. love that area. i tried to buy land up there first but it was too pricey.

Nice job....good luck next time you're out!

Cloud 9

Congrats on the buck !!

Tim

Excellent, always cool to have before and after pics. Congrats

Congrats on a great Buck!!!!!!!!!!!!
cool before and after photos

awesome... congrats...

Nice buck. Congratulations:s4:
Chris

Congrats, awesome story, shows that perseverance pays off.

awesome man, i would be proud of that one too

Nice buck, congrats!!

-NICK

Nice one, congrats!

great buck way to go!

That is a great story. Congrats on getting the buck you were after.

Nope, I am way down in the South East corner, Austin. I know right where you are at, we used to have a cabin on Mille Lacs.

Congrats again!!

Congratulations! Way to stay hooked!

Nice Buck!! Way to end the draught!

Great post congrats to you on a fine buck

Way to go and congratulation's on your buck, well done!!!

He is a dandy, great job!

Shane

Nice buck Racky. After a little frustration on not seeing a buck that you wanted to shoot for a while (3yrs) all turned in a couple of minutes for you. The best thing is that you harvested him on your land. I just wish that I was up there with you to help track and all that fun. Now we have WI to look forward too.

Congrats!

thats a nice buck. congrats and nice job

Thanks everyone. I've wanted this buck ever since I got this trail cam pic of him back in July! I have at least 80 trail cam pics of him.

Buzz - I wish you were with. That would have been awesome. I think I texted you within 30 seconds of shooting him :)