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I originally that this deer was a doe until right after I shot. Nothing wrong with taking a young buck, but it was not my intention. Still, his life was not taken in vain and I don't want my shortcomings to detract from what was otherwise a fine hunt.
My current job allows me little time to hunt. Although I guess it would not matter what job I had, I always wish for more hunting time. Anyway, I was able to leave work a little early which afforded me the rare opportunity to hunt on a day other than a day off. With limited time, I hurried to a spot near home. Deer densities are very low in this spot, but it was better than not hunting! She (he) came through at very last light. I was on the ground in a ghille suit. He was moving through very tall grass but stopped for a second, allowing me to draw and shoot. As soon as I hit him I saw a flash of antler. My mistake. He only had one side of a deformed antler but still weighed 198 pounds on the hoof.
I shot him on the ground with a Habu Vyperkhan and a big Simmons Tree Shark on an arrow dynamics shaft. He was down in seconds.
Although I was disappointed in myself for mistaking the deer for a doe, my wife was thrilled. The last few seasons I have let most deer pass, and our freezer was empty. Despite my shortcomings, he will feed us well. Good luck out there guys.
well done!!
"IT" happens! I'd be happy with her(him)!
Congrats on the freezer fillings!
Bisch
I don't see any shortcomings here .... you filled the freezer w/ some tasty Venison, culled a deer that probably needed to be culled anyway, and most importantly ... you made your wife happy :D
Don't see anything wrong with that. Good job :thumbsup:
YB
Note the pink arrow in the background. I had that one reserved for a doe! HA!
I agree with Yankee Bill completely !
Glenn
Congratulations Jon-Hap
Congrats on takining a deer from the ground. That's real hunting.
198? That's a lot of tasty meat! Congrats on the shot! :thumbsup:
Good deer Jon.Nice and fat from that good ILL corn and beans!
Great deer Jon.
Good job, those things happen!!
I did it with a rifle at 125yds; not much past first light; looked for head gear, saw none so i took it. My buddy found it first and yelled "Dave I have bad news"; knew right away, Yelled back "(swear word), it's a spike" He replied, "Nope, it's a spike with 1 antler broke off" Side toward me was missing and even in the scope I couldn't see the one on the far side. Things just happen; it's a traditional deer, good animal in my book.
A great deer Buddy! Congrats and enjoy the meat!
Good job anyway,Jon.
Now if you are out of buck licences and your spot carries some big bucks you can always count on me for free.LOL
Congrats, John! You made a good hit and recovery, that is what's really important. There's another buck tag waiting for you. :thumbsup:
Jon, he'll eat just fine! Same thing happened to me yesterday morning. Thought I had a doe in there with me...was also in my bushrag. Except you are a better shot than me. I mmmmissed!
Great job, he will eat well for you.
Tom
Great work Jon. Sounds to me like at that weight unless he was injured he never was going to be much if that is all the bone he had on his head.
Any deer taken with traditional gear is a trophy, congrats! :thumbsup:
I didn't shoot at a deer 15 yards away from me a week ago because it was just too dark to be certain. I feel ya, but. . . its gonna make some FINE eating and that is, in part, why we are out there. Sounds like you made a great shot.
How are you liking that style ghillie suit ? Does it come in a green version ?
ChuckC
Thanks guys. Chuck this ghillie suit was designed by Marc Anthony. I really like it. Marc is an exceptional bowhunter and he designed the suit with the bowhunter in mind. It's very light weight. Easy to put on and take off, etc. It does come in green and I think I will end up getting a green one, as I hunt in a lot of honeysuckle. I believe bush in a bag might be the company who makes it.
No apology needed, a clean trad kill is a trophy, period. I was a whisker away from doing this last Saturday, had a young feller with spikes even smaller than yours playing around. Was in some heavy cover so light was dim, and his antlers were chocolate colored - short version, he about bit a Zwickey. I left him for my buddy's daughter, but had I dropped the string I'd have happily put him on the grill....
it happens to us all. great shot. my buddy has the same ghillie and loves it.
great job congrats
This may sound critical but isn't intended to be. You say you have shortcomings because you shot that deer. If you are a trophy hunter then that is what you are. However, shooting any deer with a trad bow has always been thought of as a trophy where I come from and I thought was the sentiment of most on this site. I only feel I come up short if I don't put meat in the freezer...doesn't have to have bone on its head. I shot a button buck day 2 this year and a young turkey two days later. I still have two tags to fill. My special archery tag requires me to shoot a legal buck. The one you shot would qualify and I wouldn't hesitate to shoot given the opportunity. When the firearms season opens I can shoot any deer for 10 days and I will given the chance. And you got this guy on the ground. Come on man!
Nothing wrong with that, great hunt.
There's nothing wrong with that guy! Most people would be tickled pink to have a crack at him! Your family will enjoy lots of great venison this winter. Congratulations!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Great hunt.. nice shot. 198 pounds is a big deer! :thumbsup:
:clapper: Well done!
Thanks again guys. Bill I know what you are saying and I agree. I would not call myself a trophy hunter, it's just that I prefer to fill a tag on a doe rather than an immature buck. Hunting locals vary greatly and in many areas you better take a shot at the first buck that comes by because it might be your only chance all season. I am happy with the hunt and the animal. But I would have let him pass if I did not think he was a doe. In defense of my mistake though, I live in a very fertile area. I have never seen a spike or a single antlered deer here in my life. Pretty much all of our young bucks are at least 6 pointers their first year. This makes it very easy to identify bucks versus does. I saw no antler and just knew it was a big doe! HA!
Also in regaurds to his on the hoof weight, I have to assume he was likely a 2.5 year old buck that had previously been ill or had suffered an injury. 198 pounds is much heavier than an average 1.5 year old buck. Also the absence of the "milk tooth" ,third cusp, also indicates this. I just thought he was a monster doe!
You just beat me to it Jon. 198# is no young deer even in luxurious IL. Looks like he was injured to me. I've taken ONE whitetail buck from the ground. That is no easy task!
Also wanted to commend you on the EXCELLENT articles is this issue of the Professional Bowhunters Society magazine. I a heading to Africa with Gene next summer and that is a great primer.
No explanation necessary, congratulations...yum! On the ground with your Ghillie to boot, how cool is that?!!! :thumbsup:
Enjoy the meat and think of it as culling some unwanted genes in your herd. Besides...big bucks horns scratch up the back of your truck...RC
Congrats on a fine kill.
Steve O, I am glad you enjoyed the P.B.S. articles. Thank you. You are really in for it if you are headed to Africa this summer!
Congrats!
I have to second Steve's comments on your PBS articles, Jon. Very well done. And congrats on the buck. I think HE made a mistake walking near you!
Its veni in the freezer, it's all good.
Nice deer , looks like some good eatn to me :thumbsup:
Congrats any deer is a trophy, one from the ground is even more speacial. You cant eat horns, I have big deer I killed that really dont mean that much and few small deer, where the hunt makes me smile everytime I think about them.
Did the same thing last year couldn't think of nothing to make from the antlers except ink pens. Finally started using them for string seperators. Im trying it from the ground this year I'd be tickled pink.
I'm very happy of the way things worked out. Thanks guys.
things happen but way to get it done!!!!!
Congrats, in my area oppertunities are few, so one from the ground and traditional is something to be proud of. I agree with a earlier post he was what he wasand chance of never being more.
Congrats, buddy! Eat well and thank the maker for the blessings of the hunt.
Fine harvest!!
Looks tasty! Congrats!
QuoteOriginally posted by Yankee Bill:
I don't see any shortcomings here .... you filled the freezer w/ some tasty Venison, culled a deer that probably needed to be culled anyway, and most importantly ... you made your wife happy :D
Don't see anything wrong with that. Good job :thumbsup:
YB
Ditto!!
Nice shot on that deer Jon. On the ground is just so cool. Congrats.
I bet there are very few "young" bucks that weigh 198 lbs.
Probably a very good deer to take out.! GREAT JOB!
Congrats Jon! You defiantly did it the hard way! Ground hunting so tough, congrats again!
I dont see anything wrong with taking him...congratulations on filling the freezer. Things happen in the real world of hunting away from television cameras and 3D ranges...it happens.
congrats again on your fine deer...and a big boy too.
Same thing happened to me Jon a few years back.... right at dark and the one antler, "she" had was on the side nearest me, about 3" long and grew right up beside and against, "her" ear. No way I could see it. I was on a club that had a 100" P & Y score for bucks minimum. Imagine my surprise when I rolled, "her" over and seen some extra equipment between the back legs..... :scared:
Nice hunt bud!
Nice job!
Thank you for the feedback guys. I don't want anyone to think that I regret shooting this deer. It was a great hunt. I was just trying to convey, that the mistake I made was thinking the deer was a doe, when it was in fact a buck. I would have let him pass, if I knew it was not a doe. My decision. Also, I shot this deer on my 8th hunt of the season, and he is the only deer I have seen this season. So again, his life was not taken in vain. I just made a mistake in the identification department. Good luck out there guys!
Congrats! :thumbsup:
:clapper: Great Deer Jon!
Way to fill the freezer, and keep the lil lady happy :)