Well I have been hitting it pretty hard the past two months moving stands, trying to get the upper hand on a Kentucky buck. Today it all came together. Over the past week the bucks have been on their feet during the day and on the move.
Yesterday morning I had a great hunt with chasing going on behind me and a mature doe meandered in front of me at 10 yards. I had to bite my lip and just let her pass as I knew she may have a boyfriend on her tail. Well it wasn't to be so I got down and proceeded to do what it seems I am always doing and moved two stands into funnel areas for cruising bucks.
I put one of the stand in a funnel I have never hunted before between the end of a finger field and the back property fence. I have never hunted here because it is on the border of the property and has a house (dog, lawn mowers and blowers) not far across the fence. Throughout the year though I have noticed does in the back of this field close to the stand and knew if there were does there the bucks would be here sooner or later. When I walked in there I was pleased to see a well beaten trail around the end of the field.
(http://i65.tinypic.com/2ahtt0g.jpg)
Well I had planned on letting the area cool down a few days but tonight the wind was out of the NE and perfect for it so I climbed up at about 1:45. As I was getting situated and hanging my bow on a limb in front of me I hear foot steps down in the valley to my left. My stand is facing the East toward the fence and the house. I stand and grab the bow (thats still swinging from me hanging it up there) and ready myself. I am figuring its a doe or the neighbors dog. Ha.
Well to my surprise I catch movement and suddenly see antlers. The buck is walking at a pretty good clip about 70 yards away and headed right for my funnel. Then all the sudden he puts on the brakes and begins smelling around on the ground. He starts to turn away and I instantly grabbed for the bleat can in my pocket. I turn it over real quick and he stops and his head snaps my way. He then turned and began quick stepping my way again (from arrow direction on aerial pic). He makes his way and I can tell he is going to take the trail that goes around the end of this field and right in front of my setup.
He gets in front of me and I do a mouth grunt and he goes stiff legged slamming on the brakes again. He is slightly quartering to me but at 15 yards I picked a spot, drew and turned it loose. The shaft flew perfectly and he trotted off with 8" of the fletched end sticking out from high in his right lung. I can see the blood pouring out of him as he bounds off and knew the shot was good. He went out of sight at about 50 yards through the osage tangle but not 30 more yards or so after I hear that crashing sound in the dry leaves we all love to hear. I text a few buddies, gather my gear and head right down to the shot site.
Instantly I see what I knew had happened
(http://i68.tinypic.com/4t95dd.jpg)
About 40 yards in I find the front end.
(http://i64.tinypic.com/23vkvo3.jpg)
I easily followed the trail and wasn't long I saw his final resting place.
(http://i63.tinypic.com/2wgfbm1.jpg)
(http://i63.tinypic.com/10ckuwh.jpg)
(http://i68.tinypic.com/2d8s8xi.jpg)
(http://i64.tinypic.com/34ositz.jpg)
Gun season next week and that makes it that much sweeter.
I was wondering why I didn't get a pass through with the shot but later when I was about to clean up my head I figured out why.
(http://i67.tinypic.com/okwy7l.jpg)
(http://i68.tinypic.com/dlgnma.jpg)
Dang! That's a hoss! Congrats!
Nice buck, TJ!!!!
Congrats,
Bisch
Great looking buck! Looks like you got your area figured out. I've never seen a broadhead do that before...... weird.
Thanks for taking us along.
God bless,
Rodd
Wow bro, congrats!!!
Nice Buck....Congrats
Great buck. I enjoyed the story bouncing between text and pictures. Congratulations.
That's weird with the broadhead, but great shot and great deer!
Congrats and thanks for sharing!
Once again TJ, you got it done. Congrats on another nice buck. I had been looking and wondering when you would post up.
Tony
Thats a beauty Tom! Congrats brother!
I was hoping to get one down before the army comes out next weekend...but it just hasnt come together yet.
That's a big guy.
Very nice , been waiting for you to post one up.
Well done sir , well done....
,,,Sam,,,
Holy moly what a beaut! Cool pictures!
Well done TJ it is a dandy buck.
What a buck Tom!! Congrats
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great job TJ :clapper: :clapper:
It's about time we hear from you Tom !!! Been wondering how your season has been going. Always enjoy reading your posts. Congrats on a fine buck !!! :notworthy: :clapper:
Bill
Big deer! Well done, I like him!
Beautiful buck Tom, congrats! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
T.J,
Congratulations Brother and you are one of those fella's that cross my mind and I think "Wonder How T.J" made out this year and here you are with one nice Buck..You have to name him the old "Hedge Apple" buck!
Just look at all those Hedge Apples laying around him. God Bless Brother!
Keefer's <')))><
What took you so long? :notworthy:
Beautiful buck and good shot on him, love seeing a well placed shot and good short trail. Congrats.
Awesome buck brother Congrats again!!
Congrats TJ, nice buck.... :thumbsup:
Awesome job Tom! You are consistent! :clapper:
Congrats on a real beauty!!
Great job! Great story too. Congrats!
Great buck! Congratulations.
Nice Buck!
congrats!
Congrats on the great buck.
Beautiful deer. Congrats!
Nice buck! Congrats!
Way to go. Beautiful buck. Congratulations. :thumbsup:
Congrats Tom, Heck of a buck.
Does the wind get swirly in the area you put the stand? I know you haven't hunted it more than a few minutes to find out but it looks like you can get all sorts of funky winds in there.
Congrats again :thumbsup:
A.S. Said it best - what took you so long! :biglaugh:
That's a real handsome buck. Congrats!
Real Nice Buck Tom.
Thanks for the share, great story and pics. Congrats on a very fine Buck.
Nice one Tom,congrats!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Beautiful Buck Sir!!
Awesome buck Tom! Congrats man
Great Buck TJ, enjoyed the story and pictures!
Fantastic deer, great job - not what you want to see in a broadhead!
QuoteOriginally posted by Keefer:
T.J,
Congratulations Brother and you are one of those fella's that cross my mind and I think "Wonder How T.J" made out this year and here you are with one nice Buck..You have to name him the old "Hedge Apple" buck!
Just look at all those Hedge Apples laying around him. God Bless Brother!
Keefer's <')))><
Keefer, that draw is full of Osage. They do make for good deer jungle but the thorny limbs are hard on an old man. This time of year when they are falling it can sound like you are on a artillery range. They hit the ground pretty loud as they bounce and roll through the dry leaves.
Well done on all accounts! Happy for you! :jumper:
good job on a great deer!!
Good hunting and a great buck!
Good hunting and a great buck!
Awesome animal Tom! I always look forward with anticipation this time of year for your posts cause I know you usually have one you are trying to catch up to and usually do! Good job brother!
Thanks all, yeah Randy he was the biggest one on this farm. Here is a trail cam pic I got of him back in August in one of the narrow bean fields. When I was about to shoot I was looking for the little sticker point off his right base but didn't see it. But figured this deer was just as good. On the ground inspection I found that he had broken it off.
(http://i67.tinypic.com/hun383.jpg)
I had shot a dandy back in September but no luck in finding him.
Nice Buck TJ! Congrats!
Was that a 70's Bear head?
Good job Tom. Congrats!!
Nice Buck! Congrats
Nicely done!
Nicely done - congratulations on a fine buck!
Well done, sir. Very nice buck.
Nice deer, congrat's.
Yup, i've seen Bear heads do that in the distant past. Mostly while shooting the heads into dirt while 2D target shooting, but also in a deer.
It was a weak spot that once in a while showed up. It is what it is. That deer sure looks dead !
Congrat's again
ChuckC
Wow! Great story and great buck! Way to go! What happened with the broadheads?
Beautiful buck,all that work paid off.Congrats
Wow! Great story and great buck! Way to go! What happened with the broadheads?
Nice buck TJ!! Congrats!!
I got these Bear Razorheads from Biatholonman (Brad). I was having a touch of nastalgaitis I think. This one had been repainted and had a dent in the feral when I got it. I had shot it through a turkey the day before (that I didn't find ugh). It didn't hit any rocks or anything. I think it had just had a tough life and it could well be 40 years old. They do get really sharp and fly fantastic. Going back to my Grizzly's.
I tried to get a refund from Brad but he said since my payment never came he didn't think that was going to happen. Haha.
Good work! Love those big whitetails.
Congratulations on a very nice buck.
Having been on here much lately ,good to see your still getting it done...CONGRATS on a DANDY...
Fantastic!
Great buck TJ, congrats!
Mighty fine buck TJ. Congrats buddy! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great Buck TJ!!!! Good work as usual coming from you. Cheers, SS.
I was just thinking yesterday about PMing you to see how your season was going since we usually see something from you in September....... :thumbsup:
Congrats on a Dandy TJ!!!!!!!
Great shot on a great buck! Congrats!!
Well done Tom! That's pretty weird with the broadhead but I guess it worked thanks to your shot.
Heck of a whitetail TJ!!! Congrats
Perfect!
Nice deer. Congrats. .
Jeff
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
Congrats on another great Kentucky buck!
Very nice buck! Congrats!
Good for you sir, Nice buck.
Great buck, tom!! Like
Many of the others I have been waiting on this thread. Way to get it done!
Jake
Beautiful beast TJ, congrats!
Great buck...Congratulations!
Awesome Deer, congrats!
Nice buck, TJ :thumbsup:
Awesome man
Another nice KY buck. Congrats, Tom!
congrats
QuoteOriginally posted by Cyclic-Rivers:
Congrats Tom, Heck of a buck.
Does the wind get swirly in the area you put the stand? I know you haven't hunted it more than a few minutes to find out but it looks like you can get all sorts of funky winds in there.
Congrats again :thumbsup:
Charlie, Not at all. Its hard to tell from that aerial but the two fields you can see are along ridge tops. Where the deer died was in a bowl depression. The elevation difference isn't much probably 30'-40'. I know what you are talking about though. Around here when in one of our cedar patches the wind gets very swirly even on the tops. I had a very consistent wind from the NE that day from the walk in until I shot the deer.
Very cool! Congrats! Love the pics and the map. I shot a buck Sat morning with my new Tip. Love that sound when they fall in the leaves.
Congrats TJ and thanks for sharing. Always fun to read your post. :campfire:
I told you to use a Ribtek, but no one listens to me! Lol
Nice one TJ! Just incredible...
:thumbsup:
Congrats on a great buck! :thumbsup:
TJ, Great job of posting pictures and good example of using the can, nothing to lose when they are leaving the scene. Most times it doesn't work but I also have seen it work. Nice post....Nice Buck
Nice buck! Weird thing going on with that broadhead.
TJ...you are the man...! Good job..!!
Beautiful buck. Well done.
Congrats TJ! A very fine buck.
That's a beauty! Congratulations on a great looking buck! :thumbsup:
Bernie
Great buck congrats
Congrats on your hunt!
A real hulk you should be proud. Big Jim curve? :clapper:
Beautiful buck TJ, congratulations!
-Jay
QuoteOriginally posted by Biathlonman:
I told you to use a Ribtek, but no one listens to me! Lol
Haha, That's gonna cost me a beer isn't it?
Great buck and nice shot.
Very nice...
QuoteOriginally posted by Possum Head:
A real hulk you should be proud. Big Jim curve? :clapper:
Howard, its a Morrison Cheyenne.
congrats but i'm not getting any pics :dunno:
Beautiful deer TJ. Congratulations
That is a fine buck sir! Sorry your broadhead went to poo.
Excellent harvest!
Congrats!!
Great buck T.J.
NICE!!! I just love shootin down into a buck. I gotta get out! Nice pics Thanks for sharing.
Oh my!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
I guess you got it done!!!! Awesome buck! Congrats to you Sir!
Yep, that got it done!
Very fine buck ... congrats
Congrats!
Well done sir! The last pic is a great one!
Congrats TJ! Glad to see one KY hunter having a some luck. We've been on a dry run the last few outings. And with gun season starting Saturday I'm looking for some soft armor to go into my orange vest. Nice buck as cool story!
Great job and great pics! Congrats TJ!
Thanks guys I appreciate it! Why I am I sitting here at work wanting to be in the woods?
What a Brut! Congrats
Very nice buck,congratulations!
A beauty, Congrats!!!
:thumbsup: :archer:
Congrats on a beautiful buck!
Way to go TJ. Awesome buck as always!!
Good job TJ!!RC
Congrats!!
I don't know how I missed this one? Great buck TJ! Congrats! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Just saw this. Great job, and a great buck.
Way to go TJ!!! A dandy!!
Nice job TJ !! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice buck!!! Big bodied dude!
That's another great buck! Congrats :thumbsup:
Thanks guys! Our gun season starts today. Sitting here sipping coffee trying not to think about it.
Congrats on an awesome buck!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Cruising bucks, funnels and trad bows. What I live for. Way to go.
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Excellent!
Nice TJ! Congrats!
Thanks guys!
I had two emails on the Bear Razorhead failure. I don't want to give the perception that these good ol' tried and true heads aren't something I like. I've decided to finish out the year and hopefully take a doe or two with the them. I think that head was just beat up and finally gave way. I really like how they fly and they do get really sharp. I have gone to a heavier shaft and shot them the other night and they still are flying great.
Nice one TJ!!!
Congratulations, very nice buck!
Congrats on a wonderful deer!
Really nice buck and great story! Thanks a lot!
Awesome TJ
Congrats again Tom! I missed the story here while I was gone - glad I caught it for all the details. He is a stud!
really nice buck.
Wow! Awesome buck.
Awesome deer!
Congrats TJ!!
great buck and great pics, I must have missed it first time around. congratts! :thumbsup:
Great buck TJ, congrats bud!
Tracy
Congrats man. Nice buck and nice pics
congrats
Outstanding
Love it!!
Thanks you guys, I hope you all had a great Turkey Day!
Great job, beautiful buck!
Congratulations Tom.. Dandy deer and a short trail....
:notworthy: :notworthy:
Awesome deer TJ :thumbsup:
nice buck good shootin congrats
T J you are da man! Congratulations
Wow! Congrats TJ that is a brute.
This is why I love Tradgang....
TWELVE PAGES over a hunting story!!!!!
Congrats Sir!!!
Congrats TJ....great storytellin' and way to stick with it for a nice buck!
nice buck! :thumbsup:
Congrats on a nice buck! :archer:
Little late but, great buck Tom.
Very nice buck there... Congrats! :thumbsup:
Beautiful pictures. Congrats.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thanks all! Hope to see some of you at our annual Ky Trad Fest shoot April 8-10 this year. Its a great shoot. Plenty of venders and Mike Mitten is the guest speaker this year. Here is a thread with info:
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=94;t=003488
you are my hero bro!! That's awesome!!