Big Starting Point
 

I finally took my first buck! I have been deer hunting since I was 8 and I am now 20. It has been a long time coming and I am glad things finally worked out in my favor. I couldn't have asked for a more successful hunt. On Saturday, opening morning here in Indiana, I shot at and missed a nice 8 pointer at 45 yards. This morning I was very happy I missed that 8 pointer because it led me to stay in the woods for another round.

I hadrushed in the woods today because I slept in longer than I had wanted to.I decided to skip the scent free showerwanting to get into the woods quicker.I had been in my tree stand since 8:30 and hadn't seen a thing all morning. I had my Delta buck decoy set up to my right facing the same direction I was facing. I had been trying a few soft grunts with my Buck Roar with nothing coming to investigate. At around 11:30 I decided to give one heck of a performance and try my luck with the buck roar sound. I let out a string of really aggresive grunts being as loud as I could be. After a few minutes here comes a buck through the woods to my left front. I give him a few grunts and he comes in faster. He hangs up a bit sniffing around and looking things over. I give him a few grunts as he fixes his eyes on my decoy. He walks a little further grunting almost every step of the way. I then just let him take a few more steps when he went from quartering towards to almost broadside. At this point he is only 20 yards from me so I decided to take the shot with my 870 Wingmaster 16 gauge. He runs almost instantly but is not using his right front leg. He only travels about 30 yards away from me and then within sight of my stand hefell to the ground. He didn't shed a drop of blood the entire time he ran. After gutting him I found a nice big chunk taken out of his lung. He could only run as far as the wind in his lungs could carry him.

With this being my first buck I have some lofty goals to meet in my future deer seasons in the woods. He is the second biggest deer ever taken on our property. The biggest being a 13 point taken a few years before I was even born. He is an 11 pointer weighing in at 180 lbs. We are going to have him mounted. I can't wait to see how he turns out.

Anyone have a guess at how he would score? I have never actually had to worry about scoring a buck until now. Let me know what you think.

RE: Big Starting Point
 

For your viewing pleasure here is the link to the album with all the pictures.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/555965896tSqgSt

RE: Big Starting Point
 

Very nice, congrats man.

RE: Big Starting Point
 

Very nice!What wasthe inside spread?

RE: Big Starting Point
 

Great buck. Good story, too. You are going to have quite a chore to beat him in the future.

RE: Big Starting Point
 

Great Job

RE: Big Starting Point
 

Congrats! That's a beauty.

RE: Big Starting Point
 

I have no idea what the inside spread is. I have never been in a situation where I have had to score one before. Anyone have any idea what he might score? I am going to have the taxidermist score him for me.

RE: Big Starting Point
 

id say for a score hes gonna push 160, 150 for shure, great deer!

RE: Big Starting Point
 

why to hang in there congrats

RE: Big Starting Point
 

Beauty of a Buck!! Congrats!!

RE: Big Starting Point
 

Congrats on the deer! Looks great! Glad to see such a buck in the Hoosier State

RE: Big Starting Point
 

Congrats on your first! I got my first buck this year (10 point) after hunting longer than you have. It's a great feeling you won't soon forget!

RE: Big Starting Point
 

very nice buck congrats

RE: Big Starting Point
 

Well I have a few measurements for him. I don't have the full amount of measurements but what do you guys think he would score with the measurements I have. Inside spread is 17in, G3s are 11in & 11in, bases are 5 1/8in and 5 2/8 in, beam lengths are 25 1/8in & 24 4/8in. I am taking him to the taxidermist tomorrow so I will know more then. To me he is a trophy without a score but I just would like to know for curiosities sake. By the way has anyone noticed the white nub in the middle of his forehead? What causes those to form? Thanks for everyone's input!

RE: Big Starting Point
 

That is an awsome deer! congrats! what the heck was the axe for though!

RE: Big Starting Point
 

Ha! Yeah I guess a bloody ax does look a little scary. When we field dressed him my dad and I forgot to bring a saw into the woods. We didn't realize this until we had him opened up and we needed something to break the pelvic bone. It was the only thing we had in our cabin that would work. The ax might seem like overkill but actually with a few light smacks into the bone it is quite effective and not very messy. Then when we took some pictures my dad decided to use it to prop his head up so we could get a better shot of him front on and not leaning on his side.