IllHunter930

Well its that day of the year AGAIN, WOOT. But, I cant go beacuse family matters. I would love to hear your stories from the whole season, thanks.
And btw, Im new here i hunt in knox county Illinois, galesburg.

IL-Cornfed

How did your opening morning go in Knox? I bowhunted Knox last week but spent this morning on our own property here in Fulton.

IllHunter930

Haha my opening morning didnt go.
Cant go this year. Really sucks because my best buddy got a 7 point at 6:45 this morning.

Wolfhound76

I'm out this year too. My a****** father in law wouldn't let me hunt this year. I wish I'd have known in April, I could use the $30 now.[:@]Oh well, I was going to quit after this year because I'm tired of putting up with all the crap just to be able to hunt.

Illhunter930,
I used to live in your neck of the woods. I grew up in Abingdon.

IllHunter930

Oh yeah?..Kinda cool to see someone from around my area..

BUCKMARK

Saw a nice ten pointer around 8 and he just wouldn't give me a clear shot. he wa sabout 60 yards out and if I would have known that he would be the only buck I would see I probably would have taken the so so shot that I had.Hopefully he will be back tomorrow, because I know I will....

Hunter_59

Shot a respectable 15 pt. about 10:15 on Friday morning after watching him chase does and other bucks for close to 2 hours. He's not the biggest buck I saw but I had already decided to nail him if given the chance. He swam the river and ended up on my side chasing a doe. While looking at him at over 400 yards away, I see another "huge" 12 pt. in the background at about 600 yds. with a doe. Figured I would go after him on Sat. morning if I didn't get a crack at the 15 pt. The doe that the 15 pt. was pursuing ended up running in my direction and walked into a 10' clearing at 85 yards before disappearing into thick willows. I decided if the buck followed this doe, that would be the only shotopportunity.Twentyminutes later, he starts my way, I get down on 1 knee on the stand, turn the scoped Mossberg up to 5 power,and sit and wait. When I see him on the other side of the willows, Irelease the safety and track him through the scope. As he comes into the clearing at 85 yards, he stops head on. I wait until he turns tohis right to follow the same trail the doetook. As he is walkingbroadside, I gently squeeze the trigger and "boom". I look up to see him on the ground kicking but not able to get up. I wait about 2 minutes to make sure then climb down. The Hornady SST hit him square in the front shoulder and passed straight through the other shoulder. Good thing, because another hunter was in a stand about 200 yds. over. I'm trying to figure out how to make the pictures smaller so I can post them.

Hunter_59

Here is a picture. Can you believe he only weighed 142 lbs! I'm wondering if he was just a 1 1/2 year old buck. That's alot of antler for just a year and half though. There is alot of good genetics in the area I hunt so it would be possible.

IllHunter930

Great deer man, I use a mossberg also.

HNI_Christine

Nice buck Hunter 59! There's no way that's a 1.5 year old. Maybe he's just light from chasing does.

Congrats!