I was on my way to my daughters field hockey banquet last evening when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and its my best brother of the bow "LoweBow". I answer and his soft whispering voice says..."I just shot X-man". He has been watching X-man and all the deer on his farm grow up for the past few years and not cashing a tag he was very anxious to do so this season. He has many trail cam picts of X-man (please upload some of the early velvet picts from this season LoweBow).
After I congratulated him my first thought was "Oh crap there is no way I can get over there and help". He then told me the hit was low and he was just going to back out. Then my next thought was oh yeah I can be there in the morning and told him I would meet him early.
I showed up about 8 a.m. to a red eyed brother and the first thing he said was "I haven't slept a wink all night". Hahaha don't you love it.
LoweBow's at the taxidermist now more story and picts to follow.
Can't wait for pics. I love seeing trad deer!
Just got in from the Taxidermist...wow..what a big form he had to order..22" neck..7-7/8 nose/eye....I'm still running around w/ honey do's and gotta debone this deer as my farmer's hispanic help wants to make taco's of him...
Heres the pic that started the whole event off... Not much to look at, but even then his mass looked above "average"..
The 1st of many "Thank you"s to my Brother TJ!
(http://www.orba42.com/photopost/data//610/medium/IM000006.JPG)
Then a little more growth....almost a month later...
He seemed to be way behind all the other deer I was getting pics of in growing...
(http://www.orba42.com/photopost/data//610/medium/ORBA_101.jpg)
What's that?....Yes Dear, I'll be right there...
:coffee:
One more while she's not looking.....
Date is wrong...July 28 hate setting those things....
(http://www.orba42.com/photopost/data//610/medium/IM000193.JPG)
Lowebow told me on the phone the previous night and this morning that he thought he heard a thumping sound after the rustling leaves stopped with the fleeing buck. But he didn't hear him stumbling through the dry leaves as we all do when one tumps over. I told him the story of a doe I had shot earlier in the season when she ran out of sight and I heard the same thump noise and just knew it was her head hitting the ground. I was hoping that thump he heard was exactly the same thing.
We didn't sit around long and after refilling my coffee we got in his truck and went out the drive. We got out and walked back to the stand. He had it set in one of the spots on his farm that has been a very hot spot over the years. A mere 10 yards in front of his stand he showed me the back part of the arrow that had snapped in two when X-man took his first step while bolting. We found the first drops of blood maybe 10 yards from the point of impact. The blood had great color but seemed to be sparse at times although we didn't have much trouble picking it up and moved along fairly quickly. About 60 yards from the tree LoweBow stopped and said "There he is". Laying another 40 yards down the trail was X-man.
Here is the view we had....
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Deer%20photos/PB040742-1000.jpg)
Way to go Mike....he's a "GOOD'UN" for sure...
Congrats!
Surely we get to see some more pics! That's a great buck! Congrats!
Wonderful! Congratulations!
Oh there's more. I'll post some soon.
Wow That's great, congrats!! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Here is the lucky hunter approaching his harvest.
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Deer%20photos/PB040708-1000.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Deer%20photos/PB040705-1000.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Deer%20photos/PB040724-1000.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Deer%20photos/PB040734-1000.jpg)
Awesome deer bro, congrats you earned him.
T.J.
awesome!!!!!
Lowebow's arrow had center punched the deer's heart. He was stiff. X-man had just laid down at the end of his last trail and the "thump" Lowebow heard was surely his rack hitting the ground.
Wow, what a beauty!!!!!!!!!! Congrats brother!
Nice story, and even better shot :notworthy:
Man, What a buck.
A beautiful buck! Congrats!!
Wow what a beast! Congrats on the hunt.
WOW....Awesome Buck....Congrats..Mike
Super Buck! Congrats
That is one sweet buck. Nice Job!
very cool,congrats
WOW!! Congrats on a great buck!! :thumbsup:
Fantastic buck LoweBow!! Great pictures taken too. How do you like those fmj arrows?
You weren't kidding Tom that's a nice buck!
What a great Buck......Congrats
Awesome all around! Congrats :notworthy: :clapper:
Another fantastic deer and terrific pictures. Very nice.
Louis
Great story, awesome deer!
Thanks for the pics TJ and for taking so many memorable moments and making them accessible for me in the future.
Being as I can not resize them here...would you post up a few more please?
Fast forward till late August. It took me months to learn this guys home range setting out 5 cameras all over my 200 acres, as you can tell my all the background changes.
(http://www.orba42.com/photopost/data//615/medium/2009_0815second0451.JPG)
Then September and his shedding of velvet.
He held 1 antler in and one out of velvet for almost 3 days...
(http://www.orba42.com/photopost/data//617/medium/DSC_0108.JPG)
I then lost him for about a month.....I believe he was visiting the neighbors bean fields...after the combine left, he showed back up.
After finding this pic under a white oak that boardered the standing corn I hung my stands.
(http://www.orba42.com/photopost/data//618/medium/DSC_0100.JPG)
great buck,congrats. :clapper:
WOW ! Very nice.
Absolutely AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! :clapper:
Nice deer.
Uploading these photos for Mike due to he can't resize them.
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Deer%20photos/PB040713-1000.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Deer%20photos/PB040722-1000.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Deer%20photos/PB040736-1000.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Deer%20photos/PB040754-1000.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Deer%20photos/PB040739-1000-1.jpg)
Cool story and really cool pic's. oh heck yea very nice deer!!
Great Story and a great buck!!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Amazing!!!
Congrats!
I don't care who you are, that's awesome!
What a bruiser! Congrats and great story and even greater harvest. :thumbsup: :clapper:
Thanks Thomas...
I almost forgot the best parts.....
Stats.... 53# Black Widow MA IV "Mossy Oak" shooting Axis FMJ 500' and a KME sharpened 125gr Magnus 4-blade Stinger.
I climbed into stand at 5:45 am taking w/ me a turkey sadwich, Gatorade, and some Halloween candy I stole out of my sons bucket. I didn't see a deer until 3:30 pm when a few does and button bucks came under me and began feeding on whiteoak acorns about 25 yards in front of me. The first buck I had come in is a 125" 8-point...wow was he tempting...he leaves the scene after scattering the does....he never chased or pursued them, only making them nervous.
at about 4:45 I have one doe and button feeding in the white oaks when I hear the distinct footsteps of a buck... from my left appears a 1-1/2 yo 9-point. He eyes the doe for a minute then dissapears behind me down the same trail leading into the briars and cedars.
Right at 5:30 I hear a deer coming out softly from the cedars...looking back slowly I see a big boddied deer standing at the opening of the briars licking his nose..when he turns I knew immediately who he was. I ease my hand over and spray doe urine in the air as he's a little down wind of me, but this trick has worked all day for me.. He begins walking in and stops at 15 yards hard 1/4 to me..I have drawn, and have to let down as he walk behind some cedars...as he continues I draw as he exits the back side of another cedar and is now 8 yards and staring directly away from me at the does in the whiteoaks...I release and he's gone in seconds w/ my 1/2 arrow flung high into the air landing on the trail he once walked. 100 yard run to the edge of the woods/corn and all goes quiet..no crash.........20-30 seconds go by and I hear a "THUD" like a mellon cracking open....then all quiet except the does still rustling around wondering what the hell just happened. I sit, pray, and text TJ saying "I think I just killed X-Man"
After sitting for another hour I climb down at dark....look at my shaft that is only missing 10" and make my mind up that he'll wait till morning as I may have been further forward than I thought...why take a chance.
When it was all said and done, Tom and I found him exactly where I last heard him...The Magnus left a perfect X thru the center of his heart..the dead center!
I am fortunate to have taken a great animal, but am blessed even more to have a great friend and a better hunting partner there is not. Thanks again Bro!
Awesome!!! Thanks for sharing.
Great story, great pics, CONGRATS !!!
nocams :notworthy:
Great Job!!!
My what an awesome buck and story.... thanks for sharing !!!
good job......
Great story, fantastic pictures, and an incredible deer!
Congratulations!!!
Great hunt and report...thanks and congrats!
Great job! You earned him for sure
:thumbsup: :campfire: :archer:
I like that!
Mike
Congrats :thumbsup:
Very nice buck, congrats!
Congrats! GREAT deer!
Fantastic!! Those are great pics too.
Great pics. Nice work.
Very cool... Great pics....
Cody
nice!
I find it really cool to have all those "live" pics of him leading up to your harvest. Awsome!
WOW...awesome job!!
Great story and photos thanks
great deer, awesome shot
One of my favorite threads. This will get you pumped up for the upcoming season.
One of my "All Time" Favorite posts from TJ, one of the good guys here at Trad Gang!
Hats off Mike on an incredible animal! :clapper:
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
I look forward to seeing some more pics of those big KY bucks this fall!
Great story and an awesome buck. I'm pumped, come on Oct 15th.
Great story, awesome buck real, cool pics.
Here's an old success story to read to get us through some down time if you haven't seen it.
It`s fifty four degrees and rainy here at my house...kinda like October.
If it`s so cool out, WHY is my blood boiling? :D
Great addition to my day! :campfire:
Thanks for bringing this one back up, Tom.
Mission accomplished! :eek: :notworthy:
Can't get tired of this one.
Good job, that is a good boost as I was just looking at the calendar and thinking...
Thanks, Tom.
WOW! LoweBow congrats,it has got to be hard to stay composed when a buck like that starts heading your way. Awesome Buck.