Finally, Illinois Success
 

After 3 years of hunting the same farm in Illinois, I finally got a solid Illinois buck opportunity and a successful ending. Here he is:

Awesome buck sir!

Is that growing out of his eye? Wow.

Wow I would say success, that's a great buck

Where is that growing from? His jaw bone? Anymore pics of that? Nice deer.

RE:
 

It is growing out of the eye socket. Here's a different view.

Thats going to make an awesome mount! Congrats!

way to go.

wow, thats crazy!! nice job.

RE:
 

More Story:

This deer was named 'Dagger' by my hunting friends who had seen him.

I got to the farm on Friday, 11/13 (lucky for me). My other 3 friends went out hunting upon arrival, but I decided to spend the day scouting. I found a spot in a swamp where 6 heavily used trails converged into one in a pinch point where 2 steep ridges flattened into the swamp. There was only one tree and I only had a climber, so I set up.

The next morning I went in and had to cut some limbs as I climbed just to get high enough (still only 15 feet). At 8:20 AM, I decided to blind call with my Primos can. I remember turning it over 7 times. Almost immediately, I heard the deer coming, so I clicked the release on the loop and got ready. The buck came in from the thicket, so I only got to see one side of the rack, but it was enough to know it was a shooter. The deer got suspicious as he didnt see another deer and stopped his approach. He stood there at 25 yds for what seemed like 5 minutes. Then as he turned and walked away, as luck would have it, he crossed a shooting lane that I had already ranged at 29 yds and stopped perfectly.

The shot was steep quartering away, but entered the ham, clipped the femoral artery, and exited the front shoulder after passing through the lungs. The deer only ran 60 yds and expired. The pics you see are at the recovery point.

For those who want to know, I was shooting a 2008 Bowtech General with 60 lbs peak weight. Arrow was a Easton Lightspeed and tipped with a GrizzTrick. The deer weighed 235 lbs on the hoof and green score gross was 174 7/8.

That'll be an amazing mount!

Great hunt - thanks for sharing!

JTL

Very cool. Now that's what you call an eye-guard.

awesome buck... very unique.. congrats...

SWEEEEEEET! There's a cull buck for ya!

Nice deer.

Wow!!!! Cool story and great buck for sure...

Man what a freak of a buck. I would have taken him in a heartbeat, Congrats!

Thats a crazy rack! but very cool looking. awesome buck! congrats

Great buck!!!!! Good job!!!!!

That is a great looking deer, good job. What part of the state do you hunt?

RE;
 

Scott County.

CONGRATS on your IL buck! May I ask what county you took him in?

RE:
 

IL-Cornfed:
See previous post for county. You must have been posting at the same time I was.

You can also see an additional pic on http://illinoisbucks.com/2009_Archery.htm. Just ignore me in the pic!!!

Gonna be one heck of a taxidermy challenge... Congrats on an INCREDIBLE animal!

RE:
 

Thanks! I ate tag soup for the last 3 years, but this year it came together.

It is a bit of a challenge, but I had advice from 2 good taxidermists and we have come up with a plan already. It going to require a custom form and a slightly different cut than usual on the skull plate. My taxidermist is already on it.

great buck. congrats and nice job

great story and crazy rack!

Awsome Buck he has alot of character..thanks for sharing!!

Congrats-

-BH828