Made my first trip of the year out to my swampy stateland spot last night. Heard him coming through the creek and watched him spar with a couple of trees then paw at the ground before he crossed over to my side. From 60 yards I could see he was a shooter buck for me, so I put the binocs down began to ready for a shot. On he came right toward my tree, looking to pass on the right side. He paused then went to my left, closed the gap to a whopping 2 yards when I took the shot. Right through the left shoulder blade and into the boiler. Watched him run a circle, crossing the creek again and then dissapeared in the thick tag alders. Waited 1/2 hour, climbed down and checked last spot I had visual on him. Found some blood, but not enough- didn't pass through the bottom. I searched for 1/2 hour, and decided I would have to get some help and come back this morning. Finding him last night wouldn't have happened. We did find more blood, but my brother kept hearing a group of crows making a racket 60-70 yards away and went to investigate. He found my buck, the coyotes had devoured him, and the crows were working on the remains. We figured he went about 150 yards. Not the ending I wanted- but mother nature fed her offspring last night. Shot with my Pittsley Predator Classic- my first buck with the bow!
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/drr324/swampbuck.jpg)
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/drr324/_DSC0020.jpg)
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/drr324/_DSC0011.jpg)
He's dandy for sure :thumbsup:
Great buck! Congrats! :thumbsup:
Nice buck man!! Great effort in the tracking!!
Well Done!
Congrats :thumbsup:
Shame the way it turned out, but you did what you could do. And, like you said, nature doesn't waste much. That just happens sometimes. Awful nice buck though. Better luck on the meat side next time!!
nice bow rack!
Congrats! Nicely arranged photos considering what you had to work with.
Sweet! Good job. :thumbsup:
Thanks guys! I wish I could make the pics a touch larger, but photobucket is giving me fits.
The crows had chewed on the face as well- thus my quiver covering it.
If someone wants to help me out and make the pics a touch larger, I could email them to you.
Thanks again.
That is a good one. Congratulations.
Like you said Mother Nature has to be fed as well.look at the great memory of the hunt and a nice set of antlers to boot.Congrats Bud
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Nice buck!
:thumbsup:
Nice Buck ! I have a few deer that the hide got messed up and a buddy of mine showed me a nice mount using a arrow head plack and just mounting the horns using the hide/hair for the center cap . It really looks good and only cost around $60 . Now i do all my Bucks with that mount .
Mike
Good one ! Congrats! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Dandy buck for sure. Congrats
Dude! Nice buck for sure!! Congrats.
Congratulations on an outstanding buck! Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup: :notworthy:
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Great Job !
Glenn
Nice buck!
Congrats. Next time you may want to try leaving your t-shirt or sockz out to discourage the yotes.
Congrats! :thumbsup:
That is a fine buck. Too bad about the coyotes. Your taxidermist might have an extra cape. He sure would make a nice mount.
Thats a great buck anywhere, but as a fellow Michigander, I know that is an AWESOME state land buck!!
Great buck and great bow as well!
;) :thumbsup:
Congrats on a fine buck! :thumbsup:
I just picked up a cape from a buddy, will be getting him mounted. No way to stop this pack of yotes- he was 60 yards from last blood- across a creek and through the nasty stuff... thanks for the compliments guys- I'm still pumped!!!
Nice Job.
awesome i feel bad the critters found him 1st
Good job!!
Nice Buck! bummer on the meat But nice buck none the less.
Stiks
Wow what a bitter sweet story!
I know how crappy it feels to loose the meat like that, but dang, what a rack. I'd do a European style skull mount with that guy... PM me if you want some how-to. It's not too hard.
:thumbsup:
Great Job on a great deer.... Unfortunate on the yotes taking the meat from you freezer, but I bet it'd make a great European mount!!!!
:thumbsup: Nice buck! I've had the coyotes beat me to them also before. Stuff happens sometimes.
That is a good buck, congrats!!!
nice buck...too bad about the coyotes! Congrats!
Thats a very nice buck ... good on ya !!
Nice deer & story tagged n all. Integrity is what you do when nobody else is around to see. Sorry about the remains. Good rig too.
Very, very nice :thumbsup:
Dang Dave!!!! That is one heck of a buck... especially a state land buck in MI!!! :thumbsup: That is just too awesome! Bet you're glad you didn't come up to Buck Jam now huh!
Email the pics over to me and I'll get them larger for ya.
Congrats again bud!
Great. MI. my roots!!
Dan- now in KS!
Sorry to see them dam yotes got to him first. Congrats on a nice buck!
Nice buck.
You simply MUST hunt Michigan public land to realize what an accomplishment taking a buck like that really is. This year especially... a summer of abundant rain has the woods chock full of food.
Friday is the opening of nightime predator calling. Payback.
Great job on the follow up, and congrats!!! :thumbsup:
Dave, congrats! Go shoot some does for meat, and save a couple broadheads for the Yotes.
Awesome Buck!! Congrats... :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Fantastic buck, story and wonderful photos. Congrats.
That is a GREAT buck off Michigan state land!! :clapper:
Unless you've hunted here, it's hard to grasp what an accomplishment that is. :cool:
FANTASTIC!!!!!
That's a great buck.
Awesome!!!!!!
Congrats, great pictures as well. Sure is nice to see when someone takes time to set up a nice picture. Makes for great memories later in life.
Good buck, congrats!
:thumbsup: :clapper:
:bigsmyl: :thumbsup:
Nice buck, congrats!
:thumbsup:
Well done!!!!
Great buck! I had a similar experience with my first buck with traditional gear. They let just enough hide for mount, though the taxidermist had to repair a lot of bite holes in the throat. Congratulations!!