Well after another roller coaster year I finally filled my buck tag today.
I've spent hours and hours this fall reading books on mature whitetail, scouting whitetails, and spending even more hours in a treestand for whitetails. I did fill a doe tag mid October, but no mature whitetail bucks passed by me.
Anyways I'll get to the story.
I was working this afternoon pulling some old barb wire fence when my father in law pointed out a mule deer out in the middle of a pasture. After glassing him I decided he was a pretty nice buck. My father in law asked if I thought I could get him, and of course my reply was yes! I don't know why but it just felt right, the wind wasn't blowing but maybe 10-15 mph so it wasn't exceptional stalking weather.
So I run home get my bow and go back to the pasture. Good he's still there. I'll try and set this up for you. He was facing east with a south wind. He would look north and east a lot. So I got behind him from the west. Once I was straight west of him the boots came off.
:campfire:
:campfire: :coffee:
Every time he would look to the east I would move, very slow and cautious. Then he would look to the north and I just knew he was going to bust me, but he would calmly look back east. He had his ears tucked back and down the whole time. Slowly but surely I was getting closer. 30 yards, I think I can get closer than that. 20 yards, this is pretty close but I would really like to get the little nob in front of me. Finally after a couple scares at about 15 yards I settle for a 12 yard shot. He was laying down but quartering away from me. I pick my spot, draw, and the arrow is gone. I hit about 2 inches left of where I was looking but it still hit his spine. After a quick well placed heart shot he was done within 10 seconds.
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Tim sent me your pic...congrats!!
Congrats Jon. Can't wait to hear the story and see the pics.
bretto
And here is my first mule deer with a trad bow!
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/ff6787d5-9bf2-4f27-8f6e-67167d9567b2.jpg) (http://s1116.photobucket.com/user/snakebit40/media/ff6787d5-9bf2-4f27-8f6e-67167d9567b2.jpg.html)
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/fcd1ba5a-c8e9-4bd3-8f1e-65efea1a6502.jpg) (http://s1116.photobucket.com/user/snakebit40/media/fcd1ba5a-c8e9-4bd3-8f1e-65efea1a6502.jpg.html)
When I finally got back to the farm I grabbed my 18 month old son and got him in on a pic.
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/e641653e-2d54-4081-8ec9-48e9ab4de91a.jpg) (http://s1116.photobucket.com/user/snakebit40/media/e641653e-2d54-4081-8ec9-48e9ab4de91a.jpg.html)
Thanks for coming along!
geez that's a dandy! wow
That's a tall sucker! Nice deer!
Jon,
That is an amazing buck! Good on ya buddy!
Bob.
Well done!
Fine hunt! Congratulations on pulling it off... :bigsmyl:
Thanks for all the kind words everybody!!!!
I guess I should put my specs-
I was shooting a 71@28 Schafer Silvertip with 350 Heritage shafts and 200 gr. VPA three blade on the front.
Holy smoke! Nice buck.
Excellent deer. good job there.
ChuckC
What did Pa in law say after the fact, hehe?
That's a very nice first mule deer. Might be hard to beat that one for a while. Congrats on a job well done. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That is an awesome buck. I love how tall that rack is!
Congrats,
Bisch
Nice Buck!!
bretto
HOLY COW!!! What a buck
That is such a great deer. Nice job getting so close.
Congrats to my buddy and soon to be "Kansas State Trooper"!
:clapper: What an incredible week you've had Jon!
My he's a nice one........ :thumbsup:
Good for you! Congrats!
Wowza! Dream buck
Wow
Way Togo:-)
Wow that is a heavy muley good job
Sweet buck! ...............you did good..........congrats!
Great job!!! Congrats on a fine deer!
Wow, what a tall buck and great mass too! Congrats on a great stalk!
Nice job, great stalk. Congrats all the way around.
Tim
Nothing better than doing it on the ground, sneaking up on them.
:clapper:
Jon, it's great to hear of your success, hope all is well with your family!
Congrats on a very nice buck! Great job!
Congratulations Jon!!
You did an awesome job buddy.
That was about as thrilling as it can get, I'd imagine.
The 8pt whitetail I tried stalking was eating acorns like a vacuum cleaner and still heard the acorn I crushed with my right ft because like you I wanted that extra yard...lol
Thanks again Jon for sharing with us.
Awesome story and pictures!!
I love that camo pattern you were wearing...lol
God bless,Mudd
Hey Jon, terrific buck to say the least! Just love the story, sighting, stalk, harvest>> Doesn't get much better than that. Congrats again.
Hey Jon, terrific buck to say the least! Just love the story, sighting, stalk, harvest>> Doesn't get much better than that. Congrats again.
Way to go thats a stud, I think I would pick him over a big whitetail any day. He is got some charecter!!!!!!!!!!
Way to go !! That is awesome!!
Fantastic buck!! Still working on getting my first Mulie.
Congrats on a fine buck!
Congrats... I love to hear a good "stalk" story. We don't get many stalking opportunities here in MO.
Jon, Fantastic Buck. That stalk would have had me pooping my pants.
Well done.
Good Deal ! It's great you got your little guy in the pic .
WOW :scared: I would say you did your research well! Great job dude. :thumbsup:
Great deer! Congrats!
Beautious buck! Congrats.
Boy that's a nice one. Congrats
WOW :clapper:
Nice buck.
Wow. That's one of the coolest stories I have heard on here this year. Awesome!
Nice muley! Congrats! :thumbsup:
Wow, that's a special one there! Very well done!
-Jay
Nice, congrats!
Nice muley, Congrats!!!!
:archer2:
Very nice!
Great Deer!
Congrats on a great buck!!! I bet that was an exciting hunt!
Awesome story!! Congrats :clapper:
And good luck with your new career...stay safe!!
Hot diggity! Awesome buck, congrats! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
What a buck! Coming from Studley, Kansas also! Quite fitting! :goldtooth: Congratulations on a super stalk!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
That is a GREAT buck. Congratulations!
Incredible buck, congrats!
What a stud! Congrats!!!!
Man, thats a great buck!! congrats.
Great muley :thumbsup:
Awesome hunt!! Great buck!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Awesome hunt!! Great buck!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Wow Congrats.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
All around great thread. Pics, story, everything. Congrats!
Thanks again everybody. Your congrats and kind words mean a lot!
Nice! Congrats! :thumbsup:
Nice buck!!
LarryDawg
Jon,
Good story and great buck! Thanks for sharing. Spot and stalk mule deer is one of my favorite hunts.
Ya ain't snakebit no more! Congrats. Nice buck. Great story.
now you have to top that whopper!!! Wow, good on ya.
thats a hoss. Great deer
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :thumbsup: :archer: :archer2: