IowaDeerHunter Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 This is going to get long and sorry to those that have seen the pics before but this is his grand finale! FALL 2006 This buck popped up as a 2.5 yr old and we snapped a handful of trail camera pictures of him. In Dec. of 2005 we had an encounter with him during Late Muzzleloader season and the name of "Wacky Rack" came about due to the way this brow tines and G2s sat...something just wasn't typical about the bucks rack. SPRING 2007 While shed hunting over spring break, we stumbled on his right side shed. We were pretty excited to see the real size of this young buck! FALL 2007 Again he didn't show up until late summer in velvet. He had really grown up and we got numerous velvet but only one hardhorn picture of him all season. Again I had a distant encounter with him during the Late Muzzy season. FALL 2008 We weren't sure if the buck had made it through last season but he magically reappeared on a scrape in September. This year he was 4.5 yrs old and was looking very very nice! We had no encounters, pictures, or sign of him during the entire hunting season until December. This is the buck I missed opening morning of Iowa 1st Shotgun season at 150yds. A bittersweet moment but exciting to see a buck of this size. The day after I missed "Wacky" our neighbor also missed him 3 times at 50yds with his shotgun. The buck showed up A LOT during the Late Muzzleloader season on our land but never offered another shot. SUMMER 2009 Going into the fall "Wacky" was THE deer we wanted a chance at. We noticed a bean field on the neighbors land and put a trail cam on a trail leading to it...apparently "Wacky" liked to eat his soybeans all summer. The night we checked this trail camera was very exciting, I remember not going to sleep until 3am thinking about this deer! FALL 2009 After a few years of learning the habits of "Ole Wacky" we had a good idea where to expect to find him this fall. We did not plan on having a chance at him during the rut and bow season. So in prep. for the Late Muzzleloader season we built what we now call the "Bunker Blind" right in "Wacky's" home core area...the exact same setup Russ missed him the season before. We hung a trail cam on a cattle trail 20yds infront of "Bunker Blind" to see what deer were crossing here during the rut. To our suprise on Oct. 30th "Wacky" was out and about right at last shooting light! The following 15days of the rut you would never have guessed "Wacky" was a 5.5 yr old animal...he showed himself in daylight and walked around like he was a young buck again! On the morning of November 6th I was hunting and my brother was filming in an area we really didn't expect to see Wacky. With the winds switching we decided to move stands (around 9:00am) to a set that was 70yds away on the other side of the timbered funnel. Just as my brother put the camera in the case, strapped it around his waist, I tied up my bow, and handed it to my brother...we catch movement. It is "Wacky" and he's coming on a trail to us FAST. In world record time we got the camera out, setup, bow untied, and arrow knocked. Wacky walked on a trail 45yds away and I stopped him 3 times but no clear shot was offered so I had to let the bow down and watch as "Wacky" raked a tree 50yds away. We thought this was our one lucky day and we'd never lay eyes on him again...we were way off! ...stopped the first time... ...stopped the second time... On Wednesday November 11th my brother was now hunting and I was filming, we were hunting the same funnel that we had the previous encounter with Wacky but this time in the other stand he walked by the time before. When we can we like to setup hunters in both stands so we have both sides of this funnel covered. On this morning dad decided to sleep in, harvest was wearing down on him and getting up at 4:15 am and sitting in a treestand just didn't sound appealing. Wouldn't you know it, 8:30am "Wacky" walks 70yds away from us and right under the stand dad was supposed to be sitting in! While harvesting and hauling grain on Saturday November 14th dad and the other famers seen "Wacky" cross the road at 3:00pm from our farm to the neighbors land. We knew that he had just left his home area and once harvest stopped at dusk he would be returning at night. The game plan was to hunt the morning and setup in the two locations he's been seen in daylight the most. We would go to the funnel we've had the previous too encounters on film with him and dad would go to the "Bunker Blind". A little side note on the season up to now. Dad hadn't had much time to hunt due to harvest running late. He had a close encounter on film with a decent 8pt but we elected to pass thinking we could find something a bit better. This brings us to the morning of November 15th...dad is sitting on the ground NEXT to the "Bunker Blind" because it isn't possible to shoot a bow out of the blind. He had 2 does at 10yds early in the morning but nothing else. A bit before 9:00am he decided to do an aggresive rattling sequence as a last ditch effort before getting out to continue harvesting. He said about 15 minutes later he notices a big buck very close to his left. He lets the deer get past him a bit, draws, bleats/stops the buck broadside at 20yds, and shoots. He knew the hit was way back and glassed the deer as it ran off to a hill top in the pasture. Blood was coming out both sides and the deer appeared to stagger a bit. He let us know he shot a big buck, he wasn't sure exactly what deer but knew when he saw it walking in it was big and wouldn't have any ground shrinkage when recovered! We met him at the cabin and to no surpise there was guts on the arrow but also very decent blood...which seems odd for a pure gut shot animal...maybe he hit an artery we were thinking? Another thought of ours was he is shooting 60lbs and Rage broadheads. He got a full pass through so our initial thoughts were he hit back far enough that he didn't touch a single rib. We decided to go check out the blood spot in an area dad marked that the buck had stoof for a while. Upon looking at the small puddle of blood we were left with mixed feelings. We thought if he'd hit an artery there'd be more blood at the spot? We had let the buck sit 5 hours and decided to work slowly through the timber glassing to see if we could spot him bedded. Either he was dead, or we'd have to put another shot into him..unfortunately we didn't have much time today or tomorrow to let the buck sit...our options were limited. Dad sat on a hill top watching for any deer exciting the patch of timber he ran into as we slowly did a grid search. Nearly 3/4 the way though I gave a very exicted shout! Both of us sprinted through the timber like deer being chased...I even hurdle jumped a barb wire fence to get to the buck! Turned out the buck hadn't gone another 100yds from where we stopped and examined the blood puddle from before. Dad had hit an artery in the buck apparently and now the celebration, picture taking, phone calling, etc. began! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkV Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Nice deer and glad you found him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scdeerslayer Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 now thats a monster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Whoa dude....incredible buck my friend. Hats off. Nice work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 What a brute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Awesome Job Dad...and Excellent story about the event too;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 thats a heck of a buck and you all look proud. really nice photos and story. see what happens when you let little guys go, that you dont think will grow up big? congrats your dad.. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Awesome animal! Great story and pics, congrats to you all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csimon Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 congrats on a great looking deer. thanks for the pics and the great story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doe-ee Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Wow Great story and pics.......awesome buck. Congrats guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloodtrails Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Wow!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowTech292 Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Great documentary, and an ''Awesome" Buck......Congrats to ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kid Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 hes a dandy, hes gonna look good on the wall for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_lou Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 That was a great story and awesome pictures. Congrats to your Dad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2008 Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 The pictures and the long story were all worth it! Just an amazing animal and I know you all worked hard to lay him on the ground. Congrats to all of you and especially your dad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 A real "buck of a lifetime". Great story, congrats to your dad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kman43 Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 There are monsters then there are monsters. WOW!! Thanks for sharing the story about getting to know and finally harvesting this deer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccwhitey Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Awesome story and pics and congrats on a monster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest outdoorgirl Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Great looking buck cool pics and story thanks for sharing. Congrats !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Awesome buck and great story man! Congrats to all of you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6sixpoint_nobrows Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 man that story had me on the edge of my seat. lol glad somebody in your family got to shoot that giant. wow he is just a pig! tell your dad congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagleboy Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 What a great buck. Awesome story through the years. Congrats. Awesome buck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Great story and AWESOME buck!! Congrats to you all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davetucker Posted November 17, 2009 Report Share Posted November 17, 2009 good job your efforts really paid off!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted November 17, 2009 Report Share Posted November 17, 2009 awesome buck. Dad needs a big smile--he looks like he's still in shock!! congrats guys. Enjoyed the story and all the pics todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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