Its been a LOONNNGGG season. Started out hot and dry in my neck of the woods as in much of the Midwest. The rut around home didn't really fire up and I only saw one good buck in Indiana in November. Had a good hunt in NE Missouri the 1st week of November but just couldn't get things put together. Well, last night the worm, as they say, turned. Caught this guy and a little buddy headed out from the bedding area in the snowstorm and shot him at about 5 yards. He came directly under me from behind, I could hear him walking in the snow but didn't have the cover to turn and look so the first view I had of him was down through the platform of the Windwalker at about 10 feet. Shot him at a steep quartering away angle with my "sissy stick" - 53 lb Jack Howard Gamemaster Jet and a 2215 with a big Snuffer. Arrow entered just in front of his right rear leg and the Snuffer poked out through the left front armpit. Penetration to the fletching. Got a bit of everything, including a chunk of the heart, but he still went about 200 yards. Easy track in the snow. He's probably a big 3 1/2 yr old and I'm tickled to end the season on such a positive note. Killed this buck in the same patch of woods as my wide 8 point last year...I'm liking this spot!
Ryan
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/RyanRothhaar/IndianaBuck2010.jpg)
That's a dandy!
Nice job Ryan
chris <><
Nice buck Ryan and way to stick with it!!!! There is something about hunting late season...... :thumbsup:
David
Great deer. Congratulations....Phil
Kinda small don't ya think Ryan. :scared: I only get to see deer like that in pictures. :biglaugh: Congrats it is an awesome buck!
:thumbsup: Congrats Ryan, gotts love hunting big bucks in the snow.
awesome!
love the jacket too! beauty buck.
That is one outstanding buck. I only see ones like that in pictures and in my dreams. I love hunting in the snow but I don't take the cold very well anymore.
Congratulations. And by the way, real nice to see those old recurves still out there taking care of business.
woooooooooo, what a dandy! congrats!
congrats! :thumbsup:
Very nice deer, congates!
Shazam! Very impressive buck!
Don't say "sissy stick"; say "finesse bow".
excellent! thats a big deer for 3.5, we couldnt grow that in the north at that age. awesome bow, awesome coat and awesome deer!
NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
congrats on a beautiful beast!
That is one heck of a 3 yr old!Congrats Ryan!! :clapper:
Bill
Man what a deer. I think I would like that patch of woods also. Congrats!
I'm impressed!!! But heck who wouldn't be?
I mean "How cool is this one? Way!! I'm saying"....
Congratulations!!
God bless,Mudd
Nice way to stay after them! :thumbsup:
Great buck Ryan! Love the persistance!
Nice buck and that "sissy bow" definitely did the job. Wonderful picture.
Nice Ryan. How's your dad/mom doing? I met them a long time ago when you were very little and living in Ohio. He's the man who got me to put down my compound and go back to trad. I owe him a lot. He also taught me how to sharpen 3 blade heads.
Those midwest genetics and fine food sure make some fine bruisers at 3 1/2!
Congrats Ryan......beautiful buck. Persistence pays off!
Great buck Ryan. Congrats
Outstanding all the way around! :notworthy:
Well done. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice buck,congrats
I would have passed and let him grow a bit......what were you thinking........ :biglaugh:
:clapper:
kybowman
beautiful buck Ryan...congrats!
Congrats Ryan....that sure is a beautiful animal! :clapper:
very nice buck, :thumbsup:
Excellent, glad your persistence paid off!!
Something very special about, " Snow Bucks ". Love the extreme peacefullness of the woods with a blanket of snow on them. We do not get the luxury of snow here in TN that often but have killed two deer in the past two seasons in the snow and it was so special.
Congrats Ryan on a fine buck ! Thanks for sharing.
Ryan, that is a great buck, especially this late in the season! Congrats!
Nice buck Ryan...
I've got vacation following Christmas - New Year's so I'm going to be at them pretty hard... hopefully! I'm hoping for some snow also... never killed one in the snow...
Jonathan
Nice one Ryan. Last night and this morning would be great days to hunt. I live in N Central IN and the deer on my plot have been few and far between this year. Glad yours has produced!
beautiful buck! something special about a big buck in the snow, well done
What a dandy Ryan! Congratulations - a mature late season buck like that is quite an accomplishment!
Great buck Ryan. It is well deserved.
What a BEAST! Congrats to ya. Nice.
Shooting the cull bucks that Katia passes up I see!
Holy smokes Ryan! Congratulations on a fantastic deer!
If you wouldn't skewer them like shish-ka-bob your little tracking dog would get some more experience.
Beautiful deer Ryan. Congratulations and way to keep after them.
Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. My goodness way to end the season, congratulations.
I like your Jacket.
Earl
Awesome- love the snow pic.
Nice work Ryan not to turn around and see what he was are what he was doing. That's tough on a sole.
TJ
Congrats Ryan... Beautiful buck..!
:thumbsup: Congrats on a great buck!!!!
Sweet Ryan!! Nice Buck...you earned him.
:thumbsup: Way to stick it out!!!! Congrats
Congrats Ryan, very nice buck.
Nice buck!
Very nice!
Nicely sweet!
that is an amazing buck
What do you mean down to the wire. We still have a week and a half. ;) Nice deer.
Way to persevere-definately one to be proud of!!
Nice story about a great buck! Congrats! :thumbsup:
Awesome animal sir! Way to go!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Very nice!!!
Very nice. Congratulations on a lengthy, yet rewarding season.
Awesome buck Ryan!!! Congrats!!!
Awesome Buck Ryan :thumbsup: Congrats and Have a Merry Christmas.... KY :archer:
Nice job! How's the ol man's season going?
Nice one Ryan, we didn't get to visit this year,maybe next!
NICE!! Great buck. Great pic. Man, that is one sweet lookin old bow- in snow camo no less.
Very nice Ryan! Would like to meet sometime and talk trad hunting.
Great Deer! A deer like that would be a scrub here in Mississippi :biglaugh:
What a great buck Ryan. Looks like the Howard bow suits you well. Congratulations.
My goodness!!!!
Do you really think that deer is only 3 1/2?
Serious congrats...that picture is awesome!!! :thumbsup:
Way to go! Nice buck! Still working on it here in MN.
Ryan, You sure know how to end the season! Congrats!
Dandy Deer, Ryan! Great job!
I was out also during the Storm, had does all around! Nothing presented the Shot, though!
I was covered in snow, on stand, and remembered a story John Hale told me, back years ago.
He was hunting in a snow storm also, on stand for awhile, the snow had built up on him considerably.
John said he grabbed his hat off his head, and shook the snow off. Well, from behind him, a huge buck had snuck in, and well you know the rest of the scenario! Great Patience!
Wow! Great buck...great bow combo too! The pic in the snow --- just the whole package!
A buck in the snow! Yes, that is just awesome. Congratulations. One of my favorite hunts all year is seeing someone harvest a deer in tough conditions like you did.
Way to go Ryan...congrats bud :notworthy:
congrats!! thats a great deer!!
That's a great buck Ryan! Hunting hard this late in the season sure paid off.
Fantastic Ryan! I'm still trying to make it happen. Passed up some pretty good bucks this season and the clock is ticking. Congratulations!
Thanks for the kind words, guys.
A couple guys asked how the old man is doing - he's fine, the late archery just opened up so he's back at it. He shot a 150ish older buck early this year, the kind that doesn't seem to get bigger as it ages. He's holding out now.
The coat is a dandy - that is from Rob at Classic Bowman. This color is an odd/end that he had around. He told me he is thinking of doing the color as a standard if there is enough interest. Great treestand color.
Terry - fortunately Katia doesn't hunt or there wouldn't be much left for me. She is the designated tracker (of course with a little help from the Wiener Dog).
As far as his age - we'll see when we send a tooth in from him. I figure 3 1/2 due to his shape and size. If he's 4 1/2 he'd be a pretty small one for that age. He weighed right at 200 lbs live wt. Regardless, I'm real happy right now. Gotta fire up the smoker - I see some deer jerky in the future!
Oh, and to Frank B. - John Hale is one of my all time heros. They don't make 'em like John anymore. He's the best all around whitetail hunter I've ever met.
Ryan
For sure, Ryan, John is one of the Salt of the earth folk and hunter!
Nice job, Ryan...way to stick it out to the end.
That us such an Awesome buck Ryan! Oscar get a chance to get out in the snow and track him up!
Great buck Ryan! Those late season hunts can be tough I'm glad it worked out.
Wow,Great job! way to hang in there.
Congratulations, Ryan! Great deer! You didn't fall far from the tree, did ya? :thumbsup:
Nice deer! Congrats on sticking to it.
Hoowah! Great buck Ryan. Gamemaster makes a great late season bow with those white limbs!
Ahhhh Ryan, you are an inspiration :thumbsup: . Once December gets here, my wife puts her foot down. I get a lot of consideration during the rest of the year, so it is just Christmas decorating and entertaining here! That buck should help answer one of those always asked questions..."how heavy of a bow do you need for a big Snuffer?"
Great Buck Ryan !!!!!!!!
Nice one Ryan! Admire your choice of weapon, outfit and especially the endurance to keep after them this late.
Graetsche is doing well and looks more like Oskar every day.
So um....Ryan when can I come and hunt in your treestand??? :thumbsup: ...Oh and the smoked jerky...I'd be more than happy to help you out with gettin' rid of some. :campfire:
Congratulations, Ryan. Way to stick it out til the end.
You couldn't have used a Snuffer and only 53 pounds. . . won't get no penetration !
:biglaugh:
Great job
ChuckC
ChuckC, I'm sure the fact that Ryan can put an edge on a Snuffer like no one's business helped. I'm afraid to pick the dang things up after he sharpens one.
This is really a great feat. I know the general area where Ryan hunts and in order for a deer to reach 3.5 years old, it is a smart animal. Ryan definitely isn't hunting a petting zoo and the fact that he kills great bucks each year is absolutely inspiring. He must've paid pretty close attention when dad was handing out some lessons.
He's a hum-dinger! :eek: Very nice...Congratulations. :clapper:
Very nice. congratulations
Nice buck Ryan, as always.
Tell the family Happy Holidays for me.
Great buck Ryan.I'm thinkin maybe all our big bucks here in Il have crossed over into Ind. Snuffers are cool killers.Thanks for sharing I'm startin to forget what a nice buck looks like.Nothin like big antlers,like uncle Barry says,sure beats dancin!
dandy buck
looks like indiana has more snow than michigan
thats not a sissy bow thats a form bow
Great buck and story. Our late season opens up in just a few days so we'll see. This is good encouragement though!
Congrats Ryan,way to hang in there.
OUCH ! good job Ryan !!!! nice time to shoot a nice deer like that !
Wow! That's a good one! Congrats!
Great buck. congrats!!
Does anybody else end up going back to look at the picture(s) over and over, like I do?
That buck is awesome!
Congrats yet again Ryan. I bet this brought a big smile from dad!
Congratulations Ryan!!! :notworthy:
GREAT as always love the bow , the awesome 160 big snuffers and the elegant coat
And what a buck!!!!! :notworthy:
QuoteOriginally posted by Bonebuster:
Does anybody else end up going back to look at the picture(s) over and over, like I do?
That buck is awesome!
Congrats yet again Ryan. I bet this brought a big smile from dad! [/QUOTE
Ha ha yes I do
wow
When it snows around our place the deer patterns usually change drasticly and leave me out in the cold. Well done on a beautiful animal!
Nice buck Ryan...Congrats!
Conghrats there young feller. Wish our season went for a few more weeks.
I still have to January 16th, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Good job Ryan. Way to hang in there. You make me feel old every year you send a photo of a good one because I remember when you were born. Congrats. Best wishes to your whole family... including the pups. BW
Congrats Ryan.
Fine Buck Ryan.I hope to hunt in some snow one day.RC
Congrats on a great buck... :thumbsup:
Excellent! That is a big un!
So....where'd you say the spot was again...?
way to go trad brother! Nice buck!!!!!!!!!!