Well, this one begins last year when I sold a bow that Bill made for me with some very special woods in it. I sold it as the longer limbs just didn't trip my trigger. I know I am weird but I really like shorter bows for hunting purposes and thats all I do. I'm not much into targets. Anyway Bill made one of his Nitro risered long bows out of a fantastic piece of walnut I had found. He liked the walnut so much he drug out an old piece of cocobolo he'd been sitting on for such an occasion. The combo is stunning to say the least.

I sold the bow then in a twist of fate he bought it back a few months later. Well anyway at that I asked him to build me another and he said "Trust me I have what you want" and nothing else. A few months pass and to make a long story short my new bow shows up in the mail. Its my old riser matched with a new set of 58" carbon longbow limbs. Well I loved it from the get go.



Fast forward to this weekend, finds me perched in an acorn patch in the corner of a small woodlot on a buddies farm. I had found that they deer were in these acorns and hung a stand last Thursday planning to climb aboard during this weekend. I climbed in last night and settled in for the evening. The weather was perfect with a NE wind and the temp was in the low 70's.

At just after 7 I see a white tail flicker in the thicket and stood to ready myself. Figuring it was a doe or young buck I was surprised to see a flash of long antler. He was around 25 yards out and slinking very slowly toward me. As he passed a cedar tree my curiosity rose when I see a long G2. Then at about 20 yard through the thick canopy I see he has a ton of junk points around his bases. That sealed the deal for me. Already standing and posed for the shot my heart started pumping like we know happens.

He stood there for about three minutes motionless surveying the oak flat and then stepped into a shooting lane. He took one steep too many and his front end was in the leaves covering the shoulder. He stood there eating acorns and I thought oh what the heck, I'll slide one close by the leaves into the back of his lung area. Off the arrow went. High and low it was perfect but I think my mind inherently aimed left to avoid the bushes and the hit was a touch back.

The buck bounded off at a slow pace and disappeared after about 20 yards. I sat down inspected my arrow that was laying there with the binos. I could tell there wasn't much blood on it so the worry started setting in. I texted Bill that I just stuck a dandy but was worried about the hit being too far back. He asked me a few questions and then assured me his dog would find it. I got down and with every step surveyed up through the woods with the binos looking for bedded deer. I did not want to bump him. I walked over and got the arrow and it had very little blood on it.

Well I have to say I wasn't as confident as he was as I have been on many many trails with hits like that. The only thing that gave me hope was this happened to be a small woodlot and I figured he wouldn't leave it if he was staying in there. Bill and I were to meet up at 8 am.

He made the drive down and we were off to the farm at a little after 8. We parked, harnessed old Moe and were off to my stand. Bill let him smell my arrow and dropped Moe on the spot of the hit. Instantly he was off pulling Bill as hard as his little stubby legs could pull him. We made a brisk paced walk in a loop back the way the deer had come and I thought "Huh, this may actually work". Well let me tell you, old Moe took us straight to the deer like he had done this trail in his back yard 100 times. We were over my buck in less that two minutes.

The night before I thought I had heard a thump and some leaves thrashing in that direction and I am sure that was him dying. But with me knowing the hit was back and with what the arrow told me  I knew I had to back out.

On closer inspection the shot was exactly where I'd thought and was a touch back. I assume it caught some liver and the 185 grain razor sharp Grizzly head had done its job very well. Unfortuneatly the coyotes got too him during the night and there was little left.

Bill thinks this is about the 17th successful find for Moe. Special thanks to a great friend and a special dog!

       

       

       

       

     

     

Congrats, Very nice Buck..

Man he is a beauty! Sorry the yotes got to him before you! I hate yotes sometimes, but in reality, they are just doing the job God put them here to do!

Congrats on another great buck, TJ!

Bisch

Awesome harvest TJ!  Thanks for the story and pictures.  We start tomorrow here in MO, and I can't wait to have some pictures to share back.

Beauty of a  Buck Tom.  Nice Bow too  

Do you have a picture of your bow as well?

Congrats!

Congrats, I have never personally witnessed a  tracking dog doing it's job.  But the stories sound fantastic.

Nice!

Superbe ,congrats    

Awesome job Tom... and Moe!            

Congrats brotha!

Man what a buck! Great story and to bad about the 'yotes. Congrats though all around!  

great buck! Congrats...love the character in the bases!

Great buck, lots of character on that rack.  Congratulations  

Awesome job Tom. Way to go Moe !!!!!

Very nice! Congrats

Nice buck Tom, and excellent job Moe.

Congrats buddy! Good stuff!

Congratulations! What a trophy! I was wondering when you would have one down and story behind it.