On November 6th, I visited an area that I'd only hunted once this season. It's a mix of crop land, open hardwoods and an expanse of cedars that deer use for a bedding area.
About 40 minutes into the morning, a pair of does being followed by a forky traveled through behind me. The does broke off into the cedars, while the small buck stopped and stared intently to the south. In short order a mature buck was walking toward him.
The small buck gave way to the mature buck, but the two of them remained about 60 yards behind me for a few minutes. With nothing to lose, I tried the grunt call on him. He snapped his attention my way, but didn't move. After the fifth grunt, he pinned his ears back and headed my way.
He eventually wound up at 15 yards, but a branch blocked any shot possibility. As I moved to prepare for a shot when he advanced, I could hear the forky bounding off behind me. This put the buck, a beautiful 11 pointer, on alert. After a tense standoff, he turned back toward the cedar edge where he'd come from.
When his head passed behind a large-trunked tree between us, I came to full draw and waited for him to step out. As his chest cleared the tree, I found a good spot behind the front leg and sent the shaft on it's way.
As he ran off, I could see the arrow had struck him solidly in the chest. He went about 80 yards before I saw him go down. It was time to sit down and savor the gift that I'd just received.
After I snapped some pics, the real work began. I wound up cutting him in two to get him out on a packframe. This method may not be new to those that hunt the western States, but we can't bone out the meat. So with a heavy pack and a pair of ski poles for balance, a couple trips to the vehicle had him out of the swamp. I'll be honest, with my sixtieth birthday approaching, I was really questioning my sanity as I slogged through the flooded cedar patch.
Was it worth it? Absolutely!
(http://s489.photobucket.com/user/garyvater/media/DSC02751%20-%20Copy.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0)
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Congrats! Well told.
CONGRATS...We need pics!!
congrats
Very nice! We want pictures though
Sorry, but I thought the pic would post. Obviously I haven't figured it out. Can anyone post the pic for me if I e-mail it to them?
Congrats! :archer:
Like said above, we need pics!
Congrats,
Bisch
Excellent....
Still hoping for a November surprise....
Excellent....
Still hoping for a November surprise....
Woo! Congrats!! :clapper:
Passed on my 30th separate shot opportunity on buck, from the ground, this evening.
I couldn't concieve of passing on that majestic buck.
Fine harvest...congrats!
Great buck, well done!
Wow! What a gift that is. Beauty. Thanks for sharing.
Dan in KS
Great deer congrats Brother!
Great buck!
Congrats! Well done. Can't wait to see him.
Wowser! That's an awesome buck!!!!!
Congrats again,
Bisch
Congrats!
Super buck. Congrats
Amazing buck. Congrats on that one!
Great buck and story. Sometimes we have to question our sanity with all the hard work for these big boys but as you said it is worth it. Congrats on a fine buck!
Awesome buck, congrats.
Congratulations Gary!! That is a very nice buck and you certainly earned it.
Nice buck congrats
Congratulations Gary.
Congratulations! Great buck!
Congrats on another wall hanger Knobby! That lights out shooting this summer really paid off on that great buck! :thumbsup:
Thanks for the compliments, everyone.
Congrats! Great Buck
Beautiful Buck Gary. You will have to show me your secret spot next year. I will tell you of all the deer I mess up on.
Nice one Gary, a well earned trophy no doubt!
Way to go Gary!! great buck
Congrats, beautiful buck!
Awesome! That's a dandy
Eric
Congrats Gary! :thumbsup:
:archer:
That's a dandy .... congrats
Gary brought the rack up to my cabin this past week and it is a very nice trophy. A job well done under the pressure of the moment. Congrats again Gary.
Boy, that's a nice buck! Congratulations!
Bernie
Wow, that's a biggie. Nice job.
I thought in Wisconsin you can register by phone then quarter them up in the field. Seems easier then cutting it in half and packing out the whole thing. LOL
What a brute! Congratulations Gary - you sure know how to pick em!
Nice one Gary
Excellent,great deer and great story.
That is one of those surprises that are welcome in your life. Congratulations!
That's a beaut! Congrats.
Nice deer and story!
Dang, thats a bruiser! congrats
What a nice buck !
Congratulations Gary, Beautiful buck!
Great deer. Congrats!!
Holm-Made,
We are allowed to break a deer/bear down, but not into more than five pieces. With the warm temps and the distance I had to pack him, I just wanted to get him out as quickly as possible. It sure would have helped if we could also bone out the meat in the field, but at least we can break it down somewhat. Thanks for the compliment. At 170#,I'm glad he wasn't any heavier.