Nov. 18, 2012 Big Buck Down

Well as some of you may know and others may not, I have been having one of my most difficult and trying hunting seasons ever.  I went into this season with very high hopes, having captured and watched multiple shooter bucks all summer long on my brother in law's property.  Well things didn't go according to plan like they usually don't and for me especially the hunting was agonizingly slow.  In fact until last night I had seen 1 deer while hunting there.  Not bucks that's deer.  I wanted to get down on myself but I knew I couldn't and Julie was so great at keeping me motivated this season.  She has been having a rough season as well although she did miss a buck earlier which is good to have that opportunity but bad to miss him.  So for her to be able to keep a positive attitude and to help keep me going has been awesome. 

So anyway on to the good news.  I hunted right next to a standing corn field this morning and saw 3 doe right away which was great.  Then at 8:55 am I noticed something out of the corner of my eye walking up the ridge behind me I turned and instantly knew it was a shooter and he was already 30 yds away.  His path was going to take him directly downwind of me so I knew as soon as I had a shot I needed to take it.  He went 10yds from me and I let him have it.  He ran off dragging his left front leg.  I felt really good about the shot so I called Julie(those are the best phone calls to make) and told her I just shot a really good buck.  After about 20 min i got down.  He ran into an alfalfa field just north of me but went behind a white pine so I had a hunch he piled up in the field.  I walked to the edge of the field and saw him but his head was still up.  I watched him for about an hour trying to figure out my next move and hoping he would die but suddenly he stood up.  I could see he was hurting bad but determined not to give up.  I fired at him twice but watched him run across a bike trail and into a Christmas Tree Farm.  Ok I told myself its now an old fashion tracking job.  I found blood where he crossed the trail and decided to give him sometime.  I went back to the house changed out of my hunting clothes and took the ranger back out.  I picked up the trail into the christmas trees.  It was a pretty good trail and I was feeling really confident.  I kept a slow snail's pace and kept looking ahead and about 300 yards into the christmas trees I saw him laying on the opposite side of a tree.  I put the scope up and noticed his head was still up.  I got behind a tree 30 yards behind him and watched and prayed for about a half hour that he would just pass.  However, it just didn't seem like it was going to happen and I was not going to lose this deer not being this close.  So I chose to get closer I had one more tree between us at 15 yards and I chose to get behind it.  I was able to and could see him really good, and I could see he was hurting really bad.  I waited 15 minutes and started to grunt at him and even yelled "heh"  He didn't move.  I decided he was hurt enough for me to go for it so I got up walked to my right and at ten yards put to slugs though his lungs.  That was all it took and the rest is in the pictures below. 

Turns out my first shot hit him a little low.  Busted his left shoulder and caught part of his lung and exited through his right leg.  I then must of hit him in the back leg when he ran off because it was also broken.  So for this deer to make it as far as he did on 3 busted legs is unbelievable.

He is a 9pt 3.5 years old nice big body.  He was rutting big time.  This deer is by far my biggest accomplishment hunting and I am just so thankful for the opportunity to hunt and be in God's creation.  I thank him every time I go out and I truly am blessed to be able to do this and go up against such an amazing animal.  I am also blessed to have friends and family(especially Julie) to keep me motivated and positive.  It just goes to show that you never really know what's going to happen out there. 

You can see the boys were pretty excited.  This is what it is all about to me sharing these moments with family and friends.  

 Barry's deer gutting tractor.  This was pretty nice this way.

 This is the tree he died by this was my first time getting my hands on him, what a great feeling after what had happened the previous 4 hours.

 This was also a dream come true for my father in law to finally put a big buck in the back of the Ranger. 

I just want to thank everyone for helping out the pictures above tell part of the story but this was a pretty good day for everybody so thank you very much.... ohh and Julie its your turn now.