Well Friday was the last day of the Mississippi deer season. Tom Pittman aka Spurs and myself set out that morning morning in hopes of getting one more shot before the season closed. The morning hunt was rather uneventful and with highs in the 60s it did not look to promising for the afternoon either. Never the less we headed out for an the afternoon.
Well I was in the tree waiting on go at about 2:30. Well a couple hours went by of me starring at the pics of mine and Toms Talltines risers that Brian was working on. I also PM'd Mantitoba stickflinger to see if he was still lovind his 58"TT. I began to think back on the season. All the highs and the lows; with anticipation of the 4:45-5:15 getting ever so close. Then I get a text from my other buddy got a nice PY opossum coming in should I shoot him. It is now 4:50, I say heck no but I would go ahead and stand up at 5:10 and be ready.
Not long after that I get a text deer coming in from Dow. Then I get one from Tom got two damn wild dogs running all over me. I am thinking great no doubt they are gonna run by me. Tom says I'm getting down. I asked him which way they were headed he said toward you.
Great last day ruined by dogs. About 2 seconds later 2 does come flying by me at about 50 yards. Then I hear a noticeably different gate and some heavy panting, The Damn Dog. He runs to my right opposite of the deer then crashes through a big creek and headed off. I was pissed. I sat there for probably 10 minutes. Heck with it I'm bailing out maybe I can find one to stalk before dark. Hooked bow up and lowered it to the ground. Undid my safety belt and my limiting straps on my lonewolf. Climbed down one time.
Then it happened I heard footsteps coming from the same way the dog had left. It was a deer i reached for my pullup rope started bringing bow back up. I see the body coming it looks big. DAMN!! bow gets hung on limb(always lower feathers up makes it hard to get it back up without a snag) Oh know I see him its the 10. I pulled bow hard it made racket and he froze looking my way. Here he comes. I got bow in hand, untied it, and knocked an arrow.
He is gonna skirt me at 50 I am sick. He walks all the way by me, he hits the trail the 2 does had run through on. He stops, he turns and he is walking on a trail that would take him by me at 27-30 yards. Well now we got problems. I have a limb on the tree and I cannot draw to get a shot on that trail because I am to close the the tree. I cannot ease out to the end of foot platform because my sit and climb top is in the way.
I decide I have to step over the sitting bar. One leg over, He's coming getn close 35 yards. Got to get left leg over, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME, I am pegged bow in left, and my right leg up like I have a little captain morgan in me. He looks long enough to make me feel like I am getting wobbly and going to fall out of tree. So I eased my right leg down to set it on top of the sit and climb bar. He is still looking, I see it the tail wag. For some reason he takes a dead left which will put him 17 yards dead in front of me if he takes 10 more steps.
Is this really about to happen I am thinking. 25 Minutes left of Daylight on the last day of deer season. Well here he comes!!! I start to draw, AHHH!!!! the wind switches I panic he jumps one big bound I get to draw pick a spot and loose the arrow . Hard 1/4 big game buried to feathers. He bolted like on a death run. He runs 80 or so yards then DEAD Silence. 10 seconds later I hear what I think is a crash. I sit until dark it is 5:35 when arrow was loosed. I ease down the tree and leave didn't look for blood.
Well I get to the camp and we all decide (with the exception of the novice) to wait until morning to track. I knew that the shot went in a little back and did not exit, so there would be very little if any blood.
The next morning Dow Tom and Myself walk to the spit he was standing. We ease the direction he ran find blood but very little. we start to track. Dow and I ease about 40 yards to the right. Anybody that has hunted Mississippi knows that some spots are thick as hair on a dogs back, and this spot was no different. Well no blood or tracks our way, I tell Dow I am going back to last blood.
Then I HEAR IT. I GOT HIM BOYS!!!! Tom had gone straight and found his profound stumbling tracks. There he was laying in the middle of one of the main camp Roads. He had only gone about 90 yards and the arrow was buried in his off shoulder. What a way to end the season With my best friend and a MISSISSIPPI TEN. The Honey Badger (Talltines 55@28 60" bocote and myrtle) had taken It's best buck of the year!!!
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k313/wcocke/FC49EA0D-7B62-46C7-806C-E4EE58F33EC5_zps0fuiea0e.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/wcocke/media/FC49EA0D-7B62-46C7-806C-E4EE58F33EC5_zps0fuiea0e.jpg.html)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k313/wcocke/726E8560-60E4-4A1A-B701-52C5E1DA672C_zpse0y4ckm2.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/wcocke/media/726E8560-60E4-4A1A-B701-52C5E1DA672C_zpse0y4ckm2.jpg.html)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k313/wcocke/2CF36E4B-68DB-4A0D-A51F-9769AE3AB94C_zpsbjz7ydnl.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/wcocke/media/2CF36E4B-68DB-4A0D-A51F-9769AE3AB94C_zpsbjz7ydnl.jpg.html)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k313/wcocke/1970C69E-23A7-4238-AA96-E2E7DD2D5068_zps7cb0orqw.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/wcocke/media/1970C69E-23A7-4238-AA96-E2E7DD2D5068_zps7cb0orqw.jpg.html)
Awesome story and a great buck, congrats!
Oh yeah, that's a stud! Congrats, cool story.
Woooeee what a buck! Big congrats on a fine animal with your Tall Tines!
:clapper:
Awesome Will! Congrats!!!
Awesome Buck!!!!
Very nice, congratulations!
Awesome story, awesome buck! Very exciting and thrilling to read!
Well done and congrats!
Congrats !! Great read
Congrats on a beautiful buck, and thanks for the story!
good lord, what an end to a season...
NICE!! Unbelievable how it all comes together sometimes. BTW, I took that bar off my LW.
Fantastic!!! Congrats on a beauty and an exciting hunt. It's funny how sometimes when you think a hunt is ruined it only gets better...
Very Nice, Thanks for the story! Beautiful TallTines too! Are you getting a 58"?
Heck of a nice deer!! Congrats!!
Great story, and buck! Wish I could have seen the "Captain Morgan" pose....Congrats!!
Thanks for the hunting story! Congrats on the buck :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
Very,very nice!! Congrats!!!!
Wow, nice deer. Must be nice to be able to hunt all the way into Feb.
Congrats!Crazy how things come together sometimes.
Great buck :thumbsup:
Dang that's going out in style, way to end a season. Great buck, story and pictures!!!
What a big mature HOSS :thumbsup:
great job beautiful buck I LOVE THEM TALL TINES FOR SURE!!!!! thxs for sharing
Congratulations and what a happy ending to the season! :thumbsup:
Nice Buck Will, just thinking about you and the guys that it had been silent for the past month, great way to end your season.
Good job !!!!!!
Congrats Will! I kinda figured late in the day when the messaging stopped that you were having some action. This I did not expect. Love that "Honey Badger"....Ryan
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Great story and ending! Congrats! The pics of your risers mid completion are amazing. Spurs has been keeping me posted cuz he knows I want a TTs:) Wish I could see your bow better. All I see are arras:) LOL!
Yes I am getting a 58" even though Brian tried to convince me otherwise :) Thanks for all the complements. I made some really good shots this year with my Talltines I think one of the main factors is how DEAD SILENT they are, no ducking or wheeling. And Ryan I definitely didn't expect it either!!
Great story and nice looking bow. congrats
good job Will !!!! great story and pics. hope you weer wearing a harness. HAHA you might have to change your username now :) congrats again man
The "Honey Badger" bocote has darkend as well as grain in veneers this is it new.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k313/wcocke/A9DCD1E7-55F7-40AE-9961-FCA9B110761E-891-0000008098A86A9C_zps12dcadef.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/wcocke/media/A9DCD1E7-55F7-40AE-9961-FCA9B110761E-891-0000008098A86A9C_zps12dcadef.jpg.html)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k313/wcocke/BC4BC166-183D-45C1-BC47-9D76A551F23E-891-0000008090BD4779_zpsbc3ad626.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/wcocke/media/BC4BC166-183D-45C1-BC47-9D76A551F23E-891-0000008090BD4779_zpsbc3ad626.jpg.html)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k313/wcocke/F9CB7006-F9B2-442F-89DE-0F34E1F4C3BC-891-000000807CB90BF5_zpsbaaf8200.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/wcocke/media/F9CB7006-F9B2-442F-89DE-0F34E1F4C3BC-891-000000807CB90BF5_zpsbaaf8200.jpg.html)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k313/wcocke/8255EB9A-0046-42D1-B959-96CE7A71F758-891-000000806D63C88B_zps333e1079.jpg) (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/wcocke/media/8255EB9A-0046-42D1-B959-96CE7A71F758-891-000000806D63C88B_zps333e1079.jpg.html)
Love it!
Wow! What a way to end the season. Great story and a great buck!! Congrats!
Congratulations on a great buck and a very nice looking Tall Tines! :thumbsup:
Awesome Buck! and you also know how to tell a great story! :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Congrats Will,nice buck and a fantastic ending!
Your TT is a beauty I like those veneers.
awesome... thanks for sharing, we still have till the end of Feb. here but a lot of horns have dropped... congrats on a great buck and great story !
Great Story and Great Last Minute Buck! Congrats!
Nice story and buck congrats!!!
Nice goin'!!
Great story and buck. Thanks for sharing.
What a great buck!
And you're bow is stunning...
Way to go! Very nice buck and the bow isn't bad neither!
Great looking buck, congratulations... :thumbsup:
Holy cow! What an awesome way to end the season! Congrats! :notworthy:
Wow! What a buck! Great story as wheel!, congrats!
Very nice, congrats
Congrats on a nice late season buck!
That's two years in a row. Maybe next year I will get to be the guy holding the antlers. It was awesome nonetheless. I kept thinking. Will is gonna think I'm an idiot walking away from them. The blood stopped and I found a huge set of tracks. I just had a hunch at how deer it was and slightly twisted that it wS his. Not another drop of blood the hole was plugged. I look up and the best feeling on the world. A white belly!!!
You are obviously doing something right. Great job!!!!!
Nice! What a way to end the season! :clapper:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
:jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
Way cool, man! Congratulations! It ain't over 'til it's over.
Very nice end to a season :thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper:
That's a great buck and story!
Is your bow named after TM7? ;)
Heck no a real Honey Badger, makes snacks out of cobras. They bite him he takes a nap then finishes eating them!
However mine has been dropped 25 feet out of a tree, and slung out of bad boy buggy twice and doesn't have a scratch on it!
:goldtooth:
It takes what it wants!
now that is the way to end a season!
Will,
Congrats! Nice Buck, Great Story, It pays to hunt up to the last minute doesn't it!
Harry
That's awesome! Congrats
Great end to your season. Congrats, that is a beautiful buck.
Beautiful buck!
Congrats!
Bisch
Great story & an enviable "buzzer" buck! :banghead:
Congrats!
Congratulations!!!
Nice buck
I would say that was probably one of the best 1/2 hours you've ever had, very nice buck!
-Jeremy :coffee:
Great buck, thanks for sharing! :thumbsup:
Great last minute buck. Thanks for the story and pics.
Great buck!
Great story and one heck of a buck! Congratulations!!
Nice deer.
Great buck Will! Kieth Zimmerman sent me some pics of the Tall Tines risers you guys are having made, those bows are going to look awesome!
Awesome animal! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats man, I was a little nervous about your text to me right after the shot but after thinking about it, I knew the buck was in trouble. Glad y'all found him
Damn Nice!
60 degrees - you're lucky too!
Congrats buddy! Great buck! And after our previous conversation and this story... I'm thinking tall tines! Thanks for your help man. I'm sure I'll have more to ask soon, but still waiting on Brian to email me back on some info. He must be in the woods as well. I wish we had a late season like you guys in SC.
Congrats. Thanks for sharing. Great buck and bow!
Great commitment, great buck, and the TT is a great bow.
Nice story and a great buck!!! I don't know which is prettier, that Tall Tines or the Ten Tines!!!!
Man what a fine buck! Congrats!!!
That's awesome!
Nice story and awesome deer Wilbur......Glad you directed me over here. Looks like a great place to learn something!!
Congrats
Very nice buck Will, congrats Brother!
Excellent Will...congrats on another fine buck!!!
Real nice. :thumbsup:
Welcome Josh this site has definitely got the best guys and info out there for traditional archery.
Thanks for all the comments!!! It has been a blessed year for sure!
Congrats Will!! Beautiful Buck!!! Beautiful Bow!!!