After about 10 years of not killing a buck in TX, I finally connected on my best bow buck to date. There were only 2 of us at the lease this weekend and we both decided to switch stands in hopes of Billy (the other hunter) tagging a dow out of my stand and me to his stand in hopes of tagging a large mature 6 point that he had seen on almost every occasion that he had sat in that stand. Billy also said that he was perfectly fine with me shooting anything that came to the stand, as I was with him in my stand. I got into his stand a little before 4 and began the long wait. About 5:15, a very good sized bobcat made his way down the trail, but stayed on the backside of the feed pen and never did present a shot. A spike came in about 5:30, feed and was joined in the pen by a 7 point that is definitely a son to the mature 6I was looking for. I almost shot this 7 thinking he was the six, but after further studying, I fugured out he had a small point off his left beam. Oh well, another night of nothing to shoot. It is now 5:50 and the light is fading fast, especially being in a deep cut and a box blind to boot! Suddenly the spike jumps out of the pen, the 7 looks sternly at something coming in from the west. I lean forward to look out to the west of the feeder and low and behold here comes the big 8 that no one has seen except for 3 pics at midnight on Dec 18th. The 8 comes to the pen, jumps in and begins feeding directly under the feeder, but facing head on to me. He begins to turn, but the 7 steps between me and the buck and covers any shot I may have. Light is really getting slim and I think my oportunity maybe slipping away. Suddenly, the 7 moves to my left and the big 8 turns to my right and gives me a slightly quartering to me shot at 17 yards. (I know, I shouldn't take this shot, but I am very confident and his quartering in not very much). I settle my 20 yard pin on the point of his right shoulder and release. I do not see the arrow hit, but here the definite "thud" of a Slick Trick 100 striking. The buck turns, jumps out of the pen and runs straight up the opposing side of the draw at a full run. He continues for about 2 or 3 seconds, stops, wobbling and begins that famous back step and falls on his left side directly behind a large mesquite and lets out his final breath, which blows steam about 2 or 3 feet out his snout. I shakely look through the binos to confirm the motionless body and hastily get out of the stand and commence to walk to the wrong ridge and think he has gotten up and left the country. I then realize that I am on the wrong ridge and walk back down to the bottom and cut up the ridge directly opposite the stand and feeder and find my buck, dead no more than 50 yards up the hill. I admire the no ground shrinkage horns, say a little prayer and realize there is no way I am going to load this buck by myself, so I head to the 4 wheeler and race back to camp to get Billy's help. We get the buck off the hill, take pics and struggle to load him on the front of my 4 wheeler for the ride back to camp. This is not a large or "book" buck, but he is my largest with my bow to date and he is definitely going on the wall. His left horn was damaged during the growing phase and he has 2 holes in his left main beam along the bottom side. You can see the damage in the pics to his beam. Measures about 123 or 124 roughly and was 152# live weight. Very symetrical and very beautiful buck and best of all, he is mine. Thanks to Billy for letting me sit in his stand.
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Very nice deer man congrats! -
Doug, Nice buck glad for you. He would go on my wall too.Comment
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That is a great buck and great story, thanks for taking us along.
how did your buddy do out of your stand?Comment
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Very nice.Comment
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Very nice.........great eight......Comment
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Congrats!
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Congrats on an awesome buck, how did Billy take it ?Comment
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That is a great looking buck. Congrats!!!Comment
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Great looking 8. CongratulationsComment
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That's a Great looking Buck! Congrats!Comment
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Congrats!, on a great 8! He would definatly go on my wall, too.Comment
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Nice Buck Doug! great story too! where are hunting at now?
MarkComment
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Very nice deer. Congrats.Comment
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Nice buck,it'll look good on the wall,congrats.
DJComment
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