I got home yesterday from my 2 week rut hunt - planned to get down to Missouri as well as Iowa, but it took a while to get close to a good buck at Dad's place so I'll forego Missouri for this year.
I started hunting on Nov 3 and saw a few good ones over the 11 days it took to kill this guy. I saw this particular buck 3 times - on the morning of the 6th he brought a hot doe 30 yards from me (too brushy to get a shot) and put on quite a show for 45 min or so chasing her and doing the snort-wheeze thing several times. On the morning of the 13th he cruised past me in the timber about 60 yards off, in a different stand 1/3 of a mile from the first. Finally on the afternoon of the 14th he made his fatal error in yet another block of timber 1/2 mile from the second stand - this guy was all over the farm - when he walked under me to check out a family group of does. I let him get out in front of me a bit and shot him at 4 yards. (I can say, honestly, I'm freaking DEADLY at 12 feet!). Got one lung and the heart due to the angle, into the offside front leg, and he piled up after a short sprint and longer slide to the bottom of a DEEP ravine. Shot him with my trusty Jack Howard Gamemaster Jet - getting about 64 lbs out of that bow - and a 640 grain carbon with a big Snuffer out front. He was 238 lbs live wt - a pretty good sized deer for that area - and was probably 5 1/2 yrs old. I'm tickled with him.
R
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/RyanRothhaar/2012IowaBuck.jpg)
Mighty fine buck, congrats ... I'm smiling for ya ! :bigsmyl: great way to pose your bow in the back ground.
Great in all sense of the term!
thanks for sharing....
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Glenn
Excellent story and deer! :thumbsup:
What a beauty Ryan. Sounds like a great way to spend a few weeks. Thanks for the story....and congrats on another toad.
Congrats!!
Did you get him with a Gamemaster Jet?
Thats quite a deer, congrats and GREAT job!
Congrats another fine buck from a Rothar!For sure you learned well.LOL
Heck of a buck.. way to stick with it and put em down
very nice
He's a dandy Ryan.. Your diligance and hard work paid off nicely.
Good shooting, even if it was only 12'..
Handsome buck and a giant!
Congratulations on a good buck and a nice story.
Congrats nice buck!
Nice Buck, congrats.
Pa will be proud!!
wow. congrats on the great buck.
Congrats Ryan.
That is a great buck and a great hunt you had.
The bow is great as well.
CTT
Congratulations on a Giant Buck..Great pic by the way :thumbsup:
That's one heck of a buck. Nice story and congrats.
Awesome animal !
Holy moley!
Beautiful buck! Congratulations!
I figured you would let the pup do some tracking but at 12ft and a Snuffer they buck dropped quick.
Nice one again.
Good job Ryan. Thanks for maintaining the tradition. I always enjoy hearing updates from you folks. My best to Mom and Dad. BW AKA UB
Congrats Ryan, Always enjoy your big buck hunts. Show us a photo of dads buck when he gets it.
One beautiful buck!
I really like that buck! Excellent job as usual Ryan. What a beauty!
Beautiful buck Ryan! Congratulations!
Right On Ryan!!
Nice buck, congrats!
Very nice!!
Obviously a result of good genes, good buck too!
Another great buck Ryan - congratulations! I'll bet Oskar was a little hacked off at you though for such a short blood trail.
Nice shooting!
I like those in your face shots too Ryan. Nice going!
Great buck, congrats!!!
Great buck Ryan!!
What a buck! Congratulations!
Way to go, Ryan! Nice buck and congratulations!
Kenny :clapper:
Not bad for a Buckeye! :p That forked/crab tine is cool. Easy track for the pup, eh? Neat to take it with that vintage bow. Is that the first kill with that bow?
Great buck Ryan!
RR how was your EHD kill, bad? I was a bit east of you and I only saw two bucks as big as yours that weren't bloated or stinking. One live and one beast my buddy shot.
CONGRATS ON THE TROPHY RYAN
Congrats , nice buck :thumbsup: :clapper:
Wow, nice buck Ryan. Nice getting out hunting at the family farm.
Nice buck TURTLE! How's dad doing this year? Hope everyone is doing well.
Quite a buck...and at 4 yds, Wow! :archer:
Great looking buck, congrats... :thumbsup:
Heck of a buck! And I'm diggin' the traditional plaid shirt! Congrats!
Awesome buck, congrats! :thumbsup:
Thanks for sharing, great buck!
great job
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Super buck, and great picture. Congratualtions. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Nice buck!
Great deer Ryan. What a giant!
Congrats on another great one bud!! How's dad's hunting going?
Thanks for the kind words, guys.
A couple questions answered - for those asking about the "old man" - he's doing well - getting out everyday, but not seeing much he's really interested in. He's getting pretty picky with the bucks he shoots nowadays. He'll probably zap a couple does to eat later - when I'm out there to help drag/gut/process them ;)
Steve H - we haven't found much on the farm from EHD yet - but frankly haven't been in the deep woods/bedding areas much since late summer either (stay out of those). Dad's friend that lives 5-6 miles away has found around 35 dead deer, 18 bucks, and 9 -10 of them being big bucks, on his farm (300 acres or so), so I'm sure we'll find some too. Dad has several water sources so that helps keeping them from getting too concentrated.
Someone asked about the bow - this is my "Lucky Jet" -I've had it since 2010 and killed a dandy bull elk and 5 or 6 deer with it since then. As best as I can tell it is a 1974 model...like I am!
Maddog - good to hear from you - Rob sent me an email, but haven't heard much from the rest of the crew. Sounds like the Hitman is headed back out your way to live off the fat of the land next week - good luck in Ohio.
R
Ryan, great job and congratulations on a great buck. I met your pop several times and always treasured his experience and advise, now it's great to follow your experiences as well. I wish you both well!
Ho-hum...it is Mr. Consistency with another great buck. Hope your Mom and Dad are doing well. :notworthy: all around.
:thumbsup:
wow - - nice buck!
Looks like Ryan has his own Rothhaar reputation and legacy well under way. Super buck!
That's a sweet buck right there. Congratulations!
Great job :clapper:
Congrats on a fine buck!
What broadhead did you use mate?...lol.
Nice buck!
Great buck Ryan. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. How is your father doing? He is a legend for big bucks in my eyes.
Congratulations. What a treat to hunt 2 weeks in Iowa during the rut. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Just love those short faced bucks.
Perserverance predicated his demise.
Fine accomplishment!
:clapper: Wow! Year in year out...amazing!
Congratulations Ryan, another great buck. Love the photo with the oak leaf brown woods. Hope to see you next spring/summer for Teckel gathering. I personally am freaking deadly all the way out to 25 feet. Good Hunting!
Nice :thumbsup:
Good job Ryan, that is a Hog. Did your dog get any work on that one??
Love the picture! Saving it.
Nice work! That's a dandy buck!
I just drooled on my keyboard...... Nice work. I love when a big buck is just tearing up a farm and you get to see him multiple times before it happens. Again well done!!!
Way to go Ryan!! Great pic too!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great buck Ryan! That's a really nice photo also!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
That is an awesome buck Ryan!I,m so jealous of you mid west guys .It's a rare day when somebody shoots a 5 1/2 tr old in CT.Congrats! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Fine deer. Congrat's.
I'm considering changing my last name to either Rothaar or Wensel if i can start shooting bucks like that one. Another stud, for sure.
Great Deer! Congrats!
Congratulations on an awesome buck!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congratulations on another fine whitetail. Nice pic and story to go with it, too.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Good job Ryan...I see the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.
I knew years ago when i first met you and Ronald you guys would carry the legacy.
Hang'em Low
George
That's a dandy! I have one in my area with bases like that, but he hasn't made that one mistake yet. I almost hat a shot at him at 16 yards, but had to squat and lean around a limb to get a shot. The stand squeaked and the game was over.
Congrats on one fine buck!
What a Buck! Congrats! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Beautiful buck Ryan!
Sounds like you had an incredible hunt.
:thumbsup:
But Ryan if they don't run very far you don't get to use your tracking dog
Excellent, Ryan! Well done, as always. :thumbsup:
Glad to hear your dad is still in the hunt. Best Holiday Wishes to you and your family.
Mike
ouch ! bravo encore Ryan !
Beautiful buck Ryan... Congrats!!!
Great buck!
Congrats,
Bisch
Awesome job on that deer. Great buck! Congrats!
Now thats a nice deer...
Nice one! See you in Febuary.
Congratulations Ryan, classy photo also.
-Jay
Congrats on another great buck. It is always a joy to see the presentation of the animal with respect and classy traditional photographs of your trophys. :thumbsup:
Congrats on a great buck :thumbsup:
Nice buck R!!!!!
Wow Ryan, another real nice one, congrats.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Great buck and great story. Thanks for sharing! 4 yards huh? Gota love those close encounters. And to be that close to such a fine looking buck. Man I bet you are still on cloud 9!
K.C.
Way to go Ryan! Another great buck, congratulations.
Truly awesome buck Ryan, congrat to you!
Great buck Ryan,good for you. :thumbsup:
Great buck Ryan. Congrates! :thumbsup: