I climbed up into the ladder and could tell right away there was too much of an east component to the wind. My wind check  powder was blowing directly east to west right in to the clover. No good.

Across the field ,inside a little opening I created as few years ago ,sits a stand in a cedar tree right at the edge where bluff starts to drop off. I very slowly and ever so quietly crossed over to it. Its called the Possum stand. Here it is in relation to the Dallas stand

Awesome... I'm up grading papers, so I hope this story will be done before I am!

I have been doing some intensive invasive species work on this end of the ridge. This summer when I was burning some large brush piles, I noticed some very large deer beds in the heavy cover I was leaving standing near the burn piles. The stand is about 40 yards north of where these beds lie. Its thick with blackberry bushes, dogwood, sumac and wild apple trees both crabs and big apples too.   I 'll go back up and snap some photos for you so you can see the stand site. I forgot to do that tonight.

I really pussy footed my way in to the stand barely making any noise at all. I was in the tree at 5 pm. The wind really dropped off and it got really quiet. I have had a really rough kind of head ache all day and I was sitting in the stand with my bow across my lap . Eyes closed doing some deep breathing exorcises trying to get rid of it. I heard the faintest crack of a stick from the direction of the deer beds. I quickly knocked an arrow and stood. He stepped out of the shadows under one of the apple trees at 25 yards distant. The sun made him just glow. I thought it's      Mr. X!!!!

The opening I created with a chain saw  a few years ago was now going to pay off. There was nothing between us except air. I felt confident about the shot having practiced with a broad head that very after noon at this very same distance. He was slightly quartering to when I began the draw and broadside when I hit anchor.

I wish I could say I make a perfect shot. I did not. I do not know what happened. At release I think he bolted forward and my shaft buried to the mid point in his hip! He didn't run! He stopped and then slowly walked out the opening of the clearing and was standing on the mowed firebreak! I was sick! Physically sick! He took a couple of steps and was behind some trees. I heard him cough. I thought I saw him go down but wasn't sure. I tried as quietly as possible to get my bino's out of my pack. I then search for 45 minutes  with them to find any part of him thru the screen of trees and grass and  I could not. I was heart broke. I thought what did you do? I was sure I had just wounded and lost a tremendous buck.

At 6 15 I couldn't take it any more. I slowly climbed down, knocked an arrow and made my way to the opening where I last saw him. I got to the opening and looked down the mowed trail. No buck , no blood!!

I felt like crying. Then I looked up and he was laying in the tall grass ! I pulled him only ten feet to take this photo

He isn't Mr. X as Mr.X has double brows on both sides. This buck has only one double brow and the other is bladed. He is an amazing buck and I have not seen him prior to tonight.


I am one happy hunter


So now i will do some doe hunting and help some of my friends hopefully fill their tags too, The first of this seasons guests arrive this Friday!

I'll continue to post about my doe hunts and hopefully some of my trad buddies will increase the score card too!

Very exciting.  Tagging out early (on a buck) can be bittersweet (Although, obviously I wouldn't hesitate a single second to tag out with that guy!).  It's still a lot of fun if you have friends to film and does to hunt!  Nice work! Nice buck! And thanks again for bringing all of this to us!

Great hunt in every aspect and a well deserved buck.  Very nice animal!  I'm glad he was right there waiting for you after descending from your stand.

Thank you for the efforts you bring to documenting the hunt for us.  I remember admiring your attention to detail in your hunting approach last year and it only seems to have gotten better.  I also admire your property management, habitat projects and herd management - improving the native habitat and keeping things in balance.  What a great working example of stewardship and hunting passion.  Kudos to you Jim!

Congratulations and thank you again.

Wow! I wasnt expecting that pic so soon. Awesome Buck.

is that a bobcat shooting mechanicals?

awesome buck - well done!!

Great Hunt!Your preparation surely payed off.Beautiful Buck.Thanks for your time.

Congratulations on a fine buck.  I had a feeling all your hard work was going to pay off early in the season.

All's well that ends well. But this ended REALLY well!
Nice goin', Jim. Sounds like a real roller coaster of emotions making for a GREAT day afield.

Beautiful Buck. Good mojo in that feather combo.

awesome stories and way to stick with it and taking us in your journey along thxs for sharing and beautiful buck!!!!now harvest some of those does

Outstanding. Enjoying this whole thread.RC

Congrats Jim, that's a real dandy. So glad you found him. Just shows a person what can happen when deer jump the string. You must have hit the artery.

As is my pattern since you started doing this last year, this thread is the first thing I look at as I take my first sip of coffee in the morning.  I just about spit it out when I saw that picture this morning!  
Great looking buck Jim!  Congratulations buddy!  A very well deserved reward for all the work you put into your property.  I am so very happy for you!

Can't wait to hear the story.  Wonderful buck!

 That's fantastic.  Congratulations on a beautiful buck.  I'm enjoying my morning coffee reading about your hunts.  Keep em coming and good luck filling your doe tags.

A very well deserved buck, after all the effort you put into your hunts. Congrats!