I was hunting in Illinois with my son on a friend's farm. We had seen a few nice deer moving the days prior, but couldn't get close enough for a shot. On Friday the 13 this dude walks by at 9:30. He is too far away on the other side of a small creek. He seems like he will keep going never to offer a shot. Three soft grunts later has him crossing and headed my way. Each step bringing him closer, 40,35,30 never offering a clear shot. To my horror he's starting to angle slightly away bringing him into my wind. As I stand motionless, willing him to turn and walk the other way, his whole demeanor changes. He begins throwing his massive head up catching my scent. He backs up then turns to vacate the area. Stopping at the creek crossing for one last look was his downfall. I focus, draw, anchor and release. A benefit of shooting a recurve. I watch my arrow fly in slow motion as it appears to pass under him into the sparse vegetation. He bolts down into the creek and as he emerges up the other side I can see 7 inches of my fletching protruding from behind his last rib perfectly angled reaching the vitals. He runs into the thicket out of sight. As I strain my ears in what seems like eons I hear him crash. I follow the short blood trail and find a 13 pt, 250 pound brute that green scores 184 2/8 inches. The shot was later ranged to be 43 yds.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc438/jimneye/184_zpsx6aryjep.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/jimneye/media/184_zpsx6aryjep.jpg.html)
Stunning buck!
Congrats!
Bisch
Great deer you can be proud with that beautiful animal.43 yards gereat shot.kip
OOOHHH MY thats truly a TOAD of a buck!!congratulations on a buck of a lifetime!!!!
Oh my!!! Congrats! What a buck!!
Congrats!!! That is a Giant Toad!!!
THAT is a monster for sure. Great shot!
Super buck!!! Wish they grew them like that in McHenry County.
Wonderful! Tremendous shot! Congrats and thanks for sharing!
Steve
Good Night, he has it all!!!!!!
HIGH WIDE AND HEAVY :campfire:
Good looking buck, great story and wonderful shot!
God bless,
Rodd
Awesome deer , Congrats sir....
,,,Sam,,,
Wow, what a buck!! Congratulations
WOW :saywhat: ...great buck AND shot!!!! Congrats :thumbsup:
Truly impressive sir!
Incredible hunt. Congratulations!
That's a whopper way to go !!!
Oh my! Congratulations on a fantastic whitetail.
Darren
Giant for sure.
I wonder what the biggest "score" for a buck is on tradgang ?
that buck is a monster - few ever grow that big, to be taken with a recurve is incredible
Oh wow! That's a stud and great shot! Congrats Brother
What a brute, congratulations!
-Jay
Thanks everyone. I grew up in Pike co. I am very lucky indeed.
Congratulations on the buck of a lifetime!
Incredible deer and shot. Congrats!! What a story behind that one.
That is an incredible animal. And an incredible shot sir. Congrats!
I know there are some monsters killed in McKean County every year. And Elk County where I grew up and still hunt. But that is a monster. Congrats on a great shot.
That's about as good as it gets! Congrats on a deer of a lifetime! :clapper:
Bernie
Great shot on a massive buck! :notworthy:
Incredible... Well done all the way around on a genuine stud of a deer! Congrats & enjoy!
Wow..Congrats what a beautiful buck. Probably will be the biggest taken with a stickbow in IL this year.
Impressive shot on an incredible buck. Congratulations!
Beautiful! Congrats
Congrats on a beautiful Illinois buck!
Dang what a buck!!
Your buck gets my vote for buck of the year on Tradgang.... Wow.... Congrats.
Jimneye- Well done! You used the right call at the right time. One day last week I saw ten diffrent bucks, and called four of them in to 15 yards using the grunt call. The ones that came in were alone and cruising. But they were all 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 year olds that I gave pass to. Good shooting as well, and holding it together through the pressure. Mike
Your buck gets my vote for buck of the year on Tradgang.... Wow.... Congrats.
Ok I'm moving!! I've only seen 2 deer all season. A doe and a spike!
Congrats on one heck of an awesome deer!!!
Absolutely beautiful animal
monster buck! Congrats!
Outstanding buck and congrats on letting the scene unfold and not rush it!
Mighty fine beast!
Wow wow wow
What a Giant! 43 yards!!! Awesome shot! Congrats
Great Buck! Congrats!
Good lord what a buck! Congrats
Buck of a lifetime, Congratulations!
Wow that's a gorgeous trophy buck. Many congrats to you sir!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :archer:
Welcome to the club!!!
Congrats!
Said before but "what a buck", well done and excellent shot at a distance most would not attempt. Congrats on your brute.
What a Stud! Congrats!
Wow!!!
Man what a deer and shot, congrats!
Tracy
Congats on a stud of a buck! I thought my shot was on the far side for my buck this year at 37 yards, nice shooting!
wow. good lord congrats
What a great Buck and story. Congratulations and thanks for the share.
One unlucky deer and one lucky archer. The best combination ever.
That truly is a great buck. Congratulations!
Holy COW. What a bruiser. Congratulations!!!!
Holy Cow! That is a brute! Very nice buck. Congrats!
Congrats!! A true Giant. Way to stay calm and pick a spot, it's amazing how distance becomes relative when you remained focused with Trad gear.
Wow!! Heck of a deer sir...congrats!
A buck of a lifetime by any means! Congrats to you sir on getting it done with the recurve and making an awesome shot!
Great hunt!! Amazing buck, thanks for sharing!!!!'
Whoa! Nice one....
Congrats, great buck and great shot!
Congratulations, terrific buck, great story and picture, thanks. Nice shot it pays to know your equipment.
Way to make it happen :thumbsup:
Incredible!
Beautiful Buck!!
Whoa! What a stud!
WOW, stop hunting now and take up bowling. It can't get any better.
Congrats on the deer of many lifetimes and a great shot.
The only thing you can say is awesome buck and great shot!
Wowzer!
Very impressive!!
Congrats, that's an awesome buck!
Wow! What a buck! Congrats to you! Wow! :clapper:
congrats
WOW what a DANDY!!! Congrats!
Wow is right! What a giant, congrats!
Thanks to all. When opportunity meets preparation great things can happen.
A monarch of the woods!!! Congrats
I don't know what else to say other than WOW!!! What a beautiful deer! Congrats!!
Steve
Well I guess that old boys time was up ... an absolutely stunning buck
Incredible buck, congratulations!
did they ask you, when you bought your tag.
(would you like to super size that ?)....HELL YAA!
CONGRATTS! :thumbsup:
Unbelievable buck! Congratulations on a great shot. :clapper:
No, I didn't have the deer aged. He was spotted chasing does the evening prior. He was approximately 600 yds from where he was shot. Before that he was never seen on the property. In fact, the Wednesday before I was in a tree 50 yds from our destined location and as I was starting to climb down...well you know how you get that feeling, I looked around and saw a 150 class looking up at me. I moved to another part of the farm and had just hooked my gear to the tree when what to my wondrous eyes should appear, 160 class buck standing at a creek crossing 40 yds away. A false sense of urgency rushes over me as I struggle to hurriedly put on my face mask, shooting glove and knock an arrow. By this time he has decided to turn and start walking away. So I doe bleet with my mouth stopping him in his tracks, he turns around and began scanning for the doe he just heard. We both stand motionless. Then ever so gently I am betrayed by the wind. Man oh man does he ever get a full nose. I've rarely heard a deer snort with such purpose and vigor as he bounded out of sight. After these two failed encounters I figured my luck had run out. To be so close to two shooter bucks and fail at each.
I believe that's one of biggest bucks that Ive seen killed with traditional gear..he is a monster. Congrats !
A "Majestic" whitetail ..Congratulations.
That truly is a buck of a lifetime and to take him with trad gear at 43 yards is incredible. Congratulations.
Wow!! Congrats
Fantastic buck! You waited him out and made him pay for that fatal hesitation.
:thumbsup:
Jeez what a magnificent animal.
:clapper:
:clapper:
Awesome shot, congrats
holy deer! what a buck!!! congrats to you!
Great shot, congrats
Wow!! Congrats sir!
Nice shooting man! What a beast!
That's insane!!! What a beautiful animal. Congrats to you!!
Congratulations on a beautiful buck!
All I have is, WOW! And Congrats!
Wow! Congrats
Holy Wow. What a deer. Congrats.
Damn! :thumbsup:
What a buck!
Congratulations!!
Unbelievable buck! Pike county huh? Glad to see there are still a few monsters over there!
WOW!! :clapper:
Congrats!
MASSIVE!
very nice glad it came together for you its always amazing in the deer woods
Wow that buck is huge. Congratulations!
A Buck of a lifetime !
You are definitely a lucky Man to have connected on a 43 yd shot.
Congrats
Congrats on a stud of a buck! :clapper:
You are the Man!!
Good GRACIOUS!!! What a buck and what a shot!
Would have been thrilled with the inspiring encounters alone. You were gifted an absolute rare opportunity for which you were well prepared.
CONGRATS!
Please share the setup details of your arsenal?
wow................
Whale of a buck...congrats on a great shot!