Thunderchild and a Mississippi 10

Swinestalker · December 16, 2012, 09:51:00 AM

Fortune smiled on me yesterday in the form of an opportunity at a rutting swamp buck. I got a late start and did not reach my natural hide until about 8. This is a mature cypress swamp on the egde of a Mississippi river tributary and is simply one of my favorite places on earth. Only about 40 percent of the land is above water with the rest in shallow sloughs and some deeper bayous. Visibility is good at about 100 yards this time of year when the understory leaves have fallen. About 9:45 I could see a doe bounding through the swamp and watched as she passed me at about 60 yards and disappeared into a nearby thicket. I had a strong hunch that a buck might be harassing her, so I quickly abandoned my hide and scrambled about 45 yards closer to a spot about 15 yards from the trail she took. I could see him coming before I reached the small, stunted cypress with overhanging limbs that I had chosen to use for an inpromptu hide. He had his head down trailing her like a bird dog and luckily did not notice me. I settled in got ready, filled with that delicious exitement that only fellow hunters can understand. He trotted past at 18-20 steps and I released on him slightly quartering away and still trotting. The heavy arrow tipped with a 250 grain tusker slipped between his ribs and broke the far shoulder. He went down head over heels, got up and struggled another 30 yards before he went down for good in plain sight. The bow was my beloved Big Jim Thunderchild that has served me so faithfully the past few years. She's about 61 pounds at my 30 inch draw.

December 16, 2012, 09:55:00 AM

Congrats on what sounds like a gret buck! That is a neat story of how it all happened too.

Congrats again,

Bisch

magnus · December 16, 2012, 09:56:00 AM

Congratulations!!! That's a dandy.

ti-guy · December 16, 2012, 09:57:00 AM

Congrats!

medic77 · December 16, 2012, 10:04:00 AM

Nice buck and way to make it happen

Orion · December 16, 2012, 10:08:00 AM

Most wouldn't have had the presence of mind to move. Nice buck. Good shot. Well done.

wooddamon1 · December 16, 2012, 10:11:00 AM

Congrats!

awbowman · December 16, 2012, 10:12:00 AM

Great job, looks like the first phase of chasing is kicking in right now.

Does Bryan know you got one,

South MS Bowhunter · December 16, 2012, 10:14:00 AM

Beautiful Deer and love the "make it happen" opportunity when the door dosn't appear to be open or anywhere around sometime we make a door!

BOHO · December 16, 2012, 10:32:00 AM

way to go swine !! Wish we had a video of that one.

A.S. · December 16, 2012, 10:40:00 AM

DamselflyFarm · December 16, 2012, 10:40:00 AM

Congrat's. Nice buck taken with your favorite bow in your favorite spot. Doesn't get much better than that.

KentuckyTJ · December 16, 2012, 10:41:00 AM

Now that's woodsmanship congrats!

Beautiful bow.

joe ashton · December 16, 2012, 10:43:00 AM

that is a nice deer... oh and a good story.. thanks for sharing.

pitbull · December 16, 2012, 10:45:00 AM

Adaptability in the woods pays off, congrats on a dandy buck!

Nathan Killen · December 16, 2012, 10:46:00 AM

Cool hunt and a great buck ! Congrats !

pdk25 · December 16, 2012, 11:01:00 AM

Great job and way to adapt to the situation.

Joeabowhunter · December 16, 2012, 11:16:00 AM

Way to go following your hunch. Wish I would have done that earlier this year! Congratulations

swp · December 16, 2012, 11:19:00 AM

Awesome!!!

Swinestalker · December 16, 2012, 11:21:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by awbowman:
Great job, looks like the first phase of chasing is kicking in right now.

Does Bryan know you got one,

Yes, talked with him this morning. He had stuck a deer and was giving it some time before going to recover it.