Rhino Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 The past couple of years for us in MO the early season has mainly been seeing does, fawns, & young bucks. Not that way this year! We decided not to hunt any mornings...just afternoons till rutting activity starts cranking up. My 1st afternoon was like past years...does, fawns, & young bucks & the only deer in range were the young bucks. The 2nd afternoon was different. I almost got a shot at a nice mature 11 point. No clear shot when he was in range (~35 yards)...only clear shots were at 50+ yards in a clover field. Too far for me with a buck like that. He was the 7th buck I saw that afternoon. The 3rd afternoon I decided to hunt in the timber where I have a stand in the hub of about 4 or 5 trails. Saw a couple does at long range. About 20 minutes before the end of legal shooting light I catch movement on a trail south of me in a line a cedar trees. I glass through the cedar limbs & see the frame of a very wide buck. He turns his head revealing nice heavy tines...then I realize he's a big mature 10 point. No need to glass him anymore...need my bow at the ready. He eases toward me coming into clear view at 15 yards easing right at me. At ~8 steps he turns broadside...my kind of shot! I turn an arrow loose & watch it bury high into his left lung. Exit ended up being in the edge of white hair on the off side...yep...he was real close for me in a treestand 22' up. He trots off & from his departure it sounds like he's headed back to where he came from. At dark I ease down & ease out. Gave him about 2 hours before tracking & recovery. He went about 150 yards before piling up. No ground shrinkage. My buddy was covered up in bucks the 1st afternoon. He said 3 where shooters. He passed one of them because a big 12 point was following him. He shot at the buck but hit a limb and never touched the buck. I found his arrow...nothing but dirt on it. He was sick. The next 2 afternoons were uneventful for him. The 4th afternoon was a charm for him. With about 15 minutes of time left to hunt this 11 point came in to the 15 yard line. He did the job this time. The buck fell within sight of his stand. I love those kind of tracking jobs. To add icing to the cake, my son killed a doe the last afternoon of our hunt so with just the 3 of us hunting everyone killed a deer. That's never happened for a bowhunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smha6784 Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 wow that is an awesome deer congrats on him and the triple kill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maine Hntr Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Beautiful deer Al, your hard work is paying off. Your deer certainly has width, mass and length. Congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Congratulations Al. That is a great deer. Congratulations to your buddy and son too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Trips like this are rare indeed. Glad it worked out for you all. Congratulations on a great buck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted September 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Thanks...it was a hunt I'll never forget. For those interested in my buck's score it's 158 3/4" gross...nets are for fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Congrats Al!!!!!! Great pictures of your buck. His rack really pops. Simply beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 I'd guess your buddies buck maybe 140-142 range. Any history with these guys? I know yours was a no brainer. Age estimations on that second one? Man I'm jealous, that's how you kick off a season l!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Awesome you are being able to see the results of your management pay off. Thanks...it was a hunt I'll never forget. For those interested in my buck's score it's 158 3/4" gross...nets are for fish. Would have guessed him to be a 160 class deer. That is one heck of a 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Wow, congrats to you and your buddy Rhino! Two beautiful deer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 two awesome bucks. congrats to all 3 todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted September 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 (edited) I'd guess your buddies buck maybe 140-142 range. Any history with these guys? I know yours was a no brainer. Age estimations on that second one? Man I'm jealous, that's how you kick off a season l!! You'd be real close with that guess on my buddy's buck Pat. I got him a little over 139. His buck was mature though. We don't have any trail cam pictures of my buddy's buck. May have to look a prior years to figure out some history on him. I believe my buck was a wide 10 point I got trail cam pics of last year in that same general area. Saw him a few times last year too. Once at close range. He needed another year. Thought he was in the mid 130's last year. He sure added a lot a mass and bone compared to last year. Edited September 29, 2014 by Rhino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 You can't beat that kind of action for early season. Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OKstate Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Awesome deer! Congrats on the buck and a great start to the season! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbarcheryhunter Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Congrats on a awesome buck u and your friend got there !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Awesome deer Alan! Congratulations bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Awesome buck! Congrats to each of you! That MO place paid off quickly this season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 congrats on a great hunt!!! good luck to all the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted October 4, 2014 Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 CONGRATS ON A GREAT HUNT! Thanks for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowmadness2186 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Gongrats to the 3 of you. Very nice deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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