I hate to start a story before the ending can be written. Maybe I'm afraid of jinxing the outcome, but I will take that risk.
This story starts back in 2012. At this time(up until last season) I was primarily shooting with training wheels. I dabbled with a recurve and had even managed to harvest a young shed out buck with trad gear the previous winter. The season was dwindling and I hadn't managed to get onto what I would consider a "wall hanger" buck all year. In the final weeks of season, mother nature decided to blanket the area with six inches of snow. I started getting pics of a decent 2yr old 8 point at one of my feeders. He still wasn't quite what I was looking for, but was just the motivation I needed to get the old stick and string back out. After a week of practice, I was feeling good about my shooting and the buck had become a regular at the feeder. Only thing left to do was move my stand in closer. I had been set up 30yds out, but needed to be 15 or under for a confident shot. The first evening on stand started as usual with does and youngsters first to arrive. I kept scanning the woods, waiting on the 8pnt to arrive. That's when I noticed a buck hobbling thru the woods. He was an average 8pnt 2 yr old, with beams that appeared to go more up than out. He stayed about 50yds off the feeder and just watched as the other deer fed. Finally he just turned and disappeared into the woods. When I got home that evening, the wife asked if I had seen anything. I told her about the high beamed buck and thus the name stuck. He would be known from here on as "High Beam". A few nights later I managed to arrow the buck I was after, but that's another story. I left the feeder and camera running and within a week High Beam started coming in. Turned out he had an injury to his front right leg that was keeping him from putting weight on that leg.
(http://i.imgur.com/rFa9q3g.jpg)
For most of 2013 I assumed High Beam had either been taken by another hunter or become prey to the local coyotes. Then in late November after an inch or two snow, he was back. He still had a knot on the right leg and only visited the feeder after dark. He would only stick around for about three weeks before moving on. I never laid eyes on Hi Beam. His rack hadn't changed much from the previous year just a slightly bigger version. The biggest change was his brow tines. They got a little longer and projected forward towards his nose. The right brow also developed a small split at the end.
(http://i.imgur.com/D5PXeNS.jpg)
2014 would be almost an exact repeat of the previous year. High Beam showed up towards the end of November, but was only around for a couple weeks. This however, would be the first year that I would get daytime pics of him, but still did not lay eyes on him. You gotta love when you you get daytime pics of a buck your after and you can see your tree stand in the background. At 4 1/2 years old, his rack got heavier, but tines got shorter, especially his g3s. He did however still have those long forward projecting brow tines.
(http://i.imgur.com/zVsdOMH.jpg)
Last year, 2015, would bring some changes. This was the first year that I would hunt deer season 100% with trad gear. I began season with pics of several nice bucks and hopes were high. I missed a mid 130s ten point in the middle of November but ended up taking a mid 140s fifteen point in January. Surprisingly, those details aren't important to this story. While checking cards the first week of November, all I could say was WTH. Hi Beam was back and for the first time I got pics of him working a scrape. I had wondered if he even took part in the rut. His rack was the same....but different this year. Now 5 1/2 he again gained some mass and lost more time length. His g3s had all but disappeared, but he still had those brows. The right still had its fork, but the left now split into three points. A few days later I would finally get to see Hi Beam for the second time. The rut was on and I was still on stand late morning. I heard something coming from behind me. When I turned to look I couldn't believe my eyes. He was on a hard trot and heading my way. Pictures had not done him justice. He was a brute. As he approached, I drew back. He never slowed, and there was too much brush for a clear shot. Hi Beam got a free pass. I would only get one more pic of him a few days later on a midday stroll down a logging road. After not getting any of the usual winter pics I again was thinking the worst.
(http://i.imgur.com/iYnVqW4.jpg)
Now to 2016. This year has started slow to say the least. The feeders have been getting more pics of raccoons than anything else. A few pics of does and the occasional 1 1/2 old buck. I did one nice buck at a mineral lick in early August but that was it. Then like magic, there he was on camera again. September 23, the night before season opener. And again on the 24th. I had never got pics of him this early in season. And WOW!!! Hi Beam had put on some serious mass!!! And again, his rack had morphed but still had those tell tale brow tines. Unfortunately the same day I pulled the card from the camera, I also went for a walk around the property checking what oaks were dropping. But I hunted that night anyways. The wind was right and I knew Hi Beam usually didn't hang around long. The hunt was a bust, with only a couple of squirrels to be seen.
I have never dedicated a season to an individual buck, and don't intend to this year. But this buck will definitely get a lot of my attention. Hopefully there is another chapter to this story. And hopefully that chapter has details of the final hunt.
(http://i.imgur.com/HUB2pgA.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/VVbZZcu.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/0jk6EXi.jpg)
good luck...i am pretty sure he's laughing at you in the last pic :knothead:
What a story - for you, and the buck! Just incredible to have his maturation and development documented in pictures over the years! May your next photo have you kneeling behind him, your bow across his side!
Very cool story, good luck this season :thumbsup: this could be the year.
Good luck.
Good luck, you came this far
Good story and good luck.
I love going one on one with a big mature buck, especially when you have a lot of history with him. Hope you have a great season and have some encounters with high beam.
QuoteOriginally posted by Dave Bowers:
good luck...i am pretty sure he's laughing at you in the last pic :knothead:
Probably. And in the next to last one he's sticking his tongue out at me!! :p
Good luck to you!
Would be nice if you could connect .
The buck I killed last year I was able to get picks and video of from age 1.5 till I got him at 9.5. He had a severe injury to his right knee and was easy to follow through the years. Like you I just new somebody else would get him but was always thrilled the first time he showed up on my cams each year.
His rack was never amazing but his body was crazy big from 6.5 on. His injury never bothered him or slowed him down, they are such tuff animals. Good luck and I hope you get your chance someday.
Tracy
Weird looking rack on him. My question is how does your feeder stand up without falling over?
Good luck! Hope you get a crack at him!
Bisch
QuoteOriginally posted by D. Key:
Weird looking rack on him. My question is how does your feeder stand up without falling over?
Pure hillbilly ingenuity :goldtooth:
Feeder was built entirely out of free parts.(other than the electric feeder unit itself).
For six weeks now, high beam has remained nearly nocturnal. In that time I have gotten lots of pics of him, but only in two was he moving during legal hunting time. Both of those were cutting it really close. Trying to pattern this deer has been impossible. Just when I think I have him figured out, he completely changes his travel pattern.
Now that the deer are showing rutting activity, patterns have gone right out the window.
I took a little vaca time Friday and got in stand for a morning hunt. About 10:00 I got out after having a pretty good sit. I had seen three different bucks and a couple does. When I got out, I went for a stroll and swapped cards in my cameras. I was happy to see that activity was picking up, and a few new bucks were passing through the property.
Then, Sunday afternoon I had a little free time and decided to go for a walk and check the cams again. What I saw was exciting, and sickening at the same time.
This pic was taken exactly 35 minutes after I had checked the camera on Friday. I know, because the cam snapped a pic of me leaving.
(http://i.imgur.com/3McFLTh.jpg) (http://imgur.com/3McFLTh)
Cool story - I hope you get him!!!
Get in the woods....now is the time to get'em
Good luck
Tim
That's a very cool looking nontypical! good luck!
:thumbsup: Stay after him, he has a lot of character!
Well to say I am ecstatic would be an understatement. I finally get to finish the story of high beam.
Yesterday I when I finished up work, I ran in and pulled cam cards on the property where he hangs out. While there, I noticed a nice scrape had opened up. I had to go, so I "freshened" it up. A quick trip home and a look at the pics revealed that a doe and fawn were at the feeder the day before when high beam chased them off right at the end of legal shooting time.
My loving wife was looking at the pics over my shoulder and said "Get your a** out there! I'll see you after dark. Just remember, your daughter has a soccer banquet at 6:30".
That was all I needed to hear. A super quick shower, grabbed my gear and off to the woods. Conditions were perfect. Overcast, a light breeze, And slightly cooler temps than they have been.
I wanted to sit a stand that I had positioned about a hundred yards from the feeder on a path that I knew he occasionally used, but the wind direction was no good. I had no choice but to sit the stand at the feeder. This was risky as I knew I would be getting out a little early and there was a good chance I'd run into high beam.
At about 3:30 a little fork horn passed by and mingled around on the flat for about twenty minutes before finally dropping into the hollow on the opposite side. About five minutes later I see a deer come back up out of the hollow close to where he had gone in. I just assumed it was him and didn't give it much thought. I continue scanning the woods looking for other deer. I look back at the deer as he turns his head and I see rack flash, lots of rack. I look harder and can't believe my eyes. It's high beam!! And it's nearly two hours til dark!! He walks right up to the scrape I freshened just a few hours ago and give it a quick but thorough thrashing. Next thing I know he's headed right for me. I'm already standing, bow in hand. He walks out at 20 yds, slightly quartering away. I draw and do my best to pick a spot, but it is hard to do as adrenaline has kicked in and I am shaking like leaf. Next thing I know the arrow is on its way. I hit back about 4-5 inches, but the angle looked good.
I call a buddy and we decide to give him an hour. Normally I would've given him a little longer, but rain is coming and should be here in about two hours.
Luckily the trail was short and the broadhead did its job, liver and one lung.
My bow was a 67' Kodiak Hunter given to my by uncle. I can't thank him enough, and he couldn't be happier. I used Easton aluminum arrows with 200gr VPA 2-blades up front. The VPA
shattered one rib and came out unscathed.
By the way, I was about twenty minutes late to the banquet. But my daughter understood why. I walked in and she discreetly gave me the two thumbs up.
(http://i.imgur.com/CrG5K8t.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/C9QOgkH.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/9eWeakK.jpg)
Congrats to you! Love that you took him with a kodiak Hunter!
Congrats thanks for sharing your story with us
awesome story...... congrats.
super super awsome story brother funny how things have a way of working out congrats to you sir hope i get one half as nice !!
Well done. And accomplished with a bow of 49 years and family history. Very cool.
Congrats, he is a brute! way to stay after him, and thanks for taking us along for the journey!!!
Fantastic well done ....
Awesome buck! Congrats on getting it done!
Bisch
Very cool congrats
AWESOME ENDING!!!!!! Congratulations! :clapper:
Good luck
Congrats! That's an awesome story with an amazing outcome!
That deer looks like he has a huge body, any idea on what he weighted?
It's funny isn't it? The harder, and smarter you work, the luckier you seem to get.
huge body...cool rack!
Congratulations
Way to go! I love taken exotic horn deer.
That is a whopper bodied deer with some great headgear
Thanks for all the kind words. This buck is super special to me. Knowing that I shared the woods with him for five years, and this was only the third time I had ever laid eyes on him gives me a new respect for just how ghostlike some deer can be.
Although I have been a member less than a year, the knowledge I have gained by reading through the pages of TG is enormous.
So I tip my wore out faded "lucky boonie" to all those who helped make this possible.
Awesome story and journey with a Buck...
:archer:
What a cool story :thumbsup:
Great srory and hope the story has a great ending.
congrats!