fly

Thanks everyone! I think he's 4.5 years old. I'll get the jaw soon and let you all know. I take the legs off the tripod and wheel it out nearly a mile on my game cart. There is an old closed road that makes it easy to wheel out. Still, it is a pain and this is the last year I'm doing it. It's going to KY later this month to rest in peace. The same tree pictured above should accommodate a 12 foot ladder stand (on the other side). It's not high but great concealment - you can't even see the stand from the side the deer travel through. Here is the tripod from the other side of that tree.

So glad you were able to recover that beast Al. Reminds me of my first Monsterbuck in 2006. Arrow got one lung with a short blood trial. I went back the next day and found nothing. I couldn't look the second day but went again on the third. After a few hours I got lost and stopped looking - and tried to figure out how to get to my truck before dark. I was over a 1/2 mile away from where I shot him when I just walked right up on him next to a creek. I was so lucky - as I never would have went that far if I had not been lost. I finally figured out where I was thanks to some barking dogs. Coyotes had already started in on his hind quarters but the cape was good as was the 161 inch rack.

Determination all over this hunt. I'm glad it worked out Al. Amazing story and buck. Reminds me of my first ever monster buck (161 inches) that died a little over a 1/2 mile from where I shot him. I looked the next day and lost the blood trail after 100 yards. Started grid searching and came up with nothing. I couldn't go back until 2 days later. I looked for several hours and got lost. I was simply trying to figure out how to get back to my truck when I walked up on him dead next to a creek with my arrow still in him (got one lung). It was getting dark by this point and I still did not know where I was. I heard some familiar dog barking and figured they were the dogs from the farm house I parked next to and thank God it was. Wish I had thought of tracking dogs back then. A guy with good dogs could do well here in the mid-west.

Great story about the tracking Al. Can't wait to see the pics - headed there now.

Thanks William - I'll get the pics and tag posted soon. My hunt is officially over. Saw a couple more shooters this AM but they were way out there. Here is a pic for the Blood Brothers! Driving home on the interstate I had several trucks speeding up to take a look. Then as the passed me I got the thumbs up! Made my day!

Outstanding!

Thanks William - the scale I used isn't real reliable so I'm not certain but I know his dressed weight was right at 200 lbs (give or take 10 pounds). I ranged the spot I hit him at today - he was 45 yards from my tripod which is likely why I hit high. That and he might have ducked the shot. Saw an 11 point this AM at 40 yards but couldn't get an ethical shot before he turned and left. I think he would have went about 140. Tomorrow is my last day - we'll see what happens as I have one IL buck tag left.

Two years in a row I have managed to take a mature buck in October. Columbus day (the 12th) was the 5th day of my 7 day hunt. It had been an awesome week with mature bucks seen on each day. Frustration was setting in as I was having bad wind conditions, high temps, or just plain old bad luck and couldn't get it done! Then finally at 7am I looked behind me and just happened to catch him headed to bed for the day. I shot him from a tripod stand I had concealed in the tree below. I estimated the beast to be 50 yards away and I had to bleet at him 4 times before he stopped. He finally stopped at the last opening I had before he was gone for good. I was very lucky that he stopped where he did. All I could see was his midsection as his head and rear were obscured by brush. The arrow hit high (spine) dropping him in his tracks. I had to send a second arrow to finish him off. What a fantastic hunt! Finally all the scouting, and hard work paid off. This buck may not be the giant my 12 from last was but he's a 200+ pound deer that should make P&Y. I shot him not more than 100 yards from where I shot my 12 from last year. I am thankful to the good Lord for blessing me and for making me a hunter.

gzilla - yes maybe a little higher than 40. Long story but this morning (day 5 of a 7 day hunt) paid off! I saw a ton of deer the past 5 days including the 10 point I have pictured and even a bigger typical 12 that is the biggest deer I have ever seen in the wild. I'd say he'd go 180 inches. Had him at 60 yards yesterday AM but couldn't get him closer. Still got tomorrow and Wednesday to try my luck at him. I did connect on a respectable big bodied 8-point that I estimate about 125-130 inches. This thing is a brute! Pictures in the Deer Hunting room later.

Thanks, my best chance to harvest a monster starts tomorrow. Hoping to connect on that 10 point I pictured first - I have a week to get it done. Hope they timber before the 23rd smh.

Good for you Pat! You paid your dues last year and passed a lot (maybe this one). This year it paid off with an early season stud! Congratulations and good luck getting your dad on one! Congratulations on the doe as well.

Opening day doe. fly - Team 2 (Blood Brothers) - William can you add the team name please?

Have been out of venison for a while. The first doe was going down and she did - on opening day. Love it when they fall below the stand!

These are some of the shooters I'll be looking for tomorrow (private IL ground). Curve Brow 9 Shooter 8 Sticker 8 Big 10

Good luck OKstate! My first day will be tomorrow evening. I already have my tripod stand set up for the public ground area I got drawn to hunt. Been a while since I've been so excited for the early season. We had a cold front move in today so I'm hoping for some venison real soon!

If you remember Pat, I guessed that 12 last year to be a 170 and he ended up at 153. Figured I'd play it safe this year (LOL). The most impressive feature I saw was the spread. It looked like a 20+ inch inside spread. Although the main beams had some length to them as well. Going to hunt every day and try to get a tape on him to find out.

Good luck Pat and all of team 4. You too Al. I'm back in that special draw area I took the 12 from last season. Starts in a few weeks. I scouted yesterday and saw a nice 10 point. Got a picture of him posted in team 2. Nothing like Al's deer, but I have a few shooters around my base area as well. - Frank

I have a week in October to hunt a special draw area. Went out there yesterday AM to start my scouting. Saw a real nice 10 pointer that I estimated to be a 3.5 year old that should be around the 140 mark. Saw another 8 point that would go about 120. Got a long distance shot at the 10 point (with my camera).

Good luck Gary and the rest of team 2. I'm hunting KY this year and the season is open but I haven't been able to get down there. Not sure if I'll get a September hunt in this year or not. Going to be working a lot more this fall, but hoping to connect on a few deer this season. If team names are still a thing how about Blood Brothers? Frank

Mark Short (Buckfever Taxidermy) near Brighton IL. Been going there since 2008. Very happy with all his work.

You all may remember the 12 pointer I took last October. I call him Merlin and he now hangs among the knights in my living room. (I name all my bucks after King Arthur's court). In my opinion it is the best mount of the 7 I have.

Hello Ben. Congratulations!

Awesome! Congratulations

My Ten Point shoots 316 fps. I set the dial on the scope to the speed it shoots (316) and the elevation for the first dot is automatically set for 20 yards. The 2nd, is for 30, the 3rd is for 40 and the 4th for 50 yards. I adjust the dial for left and right as needed and it's ready to go. There are three visual settings - black dots no light, red light, and green light. I purchased lighter bolts and shot 320fps last season. I dialed it to 320 and all the dots were good to go.

Welcome B-ran. I hunt IL and KY but not MO. Not sure you'll find many here that have hunted those locations. Public land bow hunting in the early season isn't too bad. Hunting public ground in November is generally frustrating due to all the hunters. I prefer stand hunting to still hunting. I've killed about 30 deer with a bow from a stand and zero while still hunting. A lot of people are very successful still hunting though. If you can purchase a camera - place it high in a tree out of reach and sight of others to deter theft and you'll get a better idea of how the deer move. In the early season (before Halloween) the last 3 hours of light seem to be the best to hunt. Good luck with the wife.