Biggest Buck to date

[castie2504]

Opening morning came and my brother and I hiked into some CRP  land in GMU 149. Just before daylight we spotted two bucks 100 yards west of the ridge we were on. They busted us and ran into a a draw and over the next ridge. We could not tell if they were  legal so we stayed put. A couple hours later we spotted the same bucks headed back in our direction so we decided to stalk them and try to put 3 points on them. As we made our move we noticed another hunter trailing the same deer some 800 yards further west. At this point we were a couple hundred yards east of where the deer were bedded. We hit the south ridge and the wind was in our favor only 50 yards from the deer and the wind changed and we were busted but we could not put 3 points on either deer. As we watched the deer run up the next hill they stopped and we finally saw one who was legal...but so did the the other hunter who was tailing them, he shot and shot and shot. He shot three times but only managed to scare away the bucks.

Feeling deflated my brother and I began the long 5 mile loop back to the jeep. We saw plenty of does but no more bucks. Also it seemed like every hunter in the county was in that plot. I have never seen so many hunters on this CRP plot. Anyway, a while later we finally made to the jeep. I opened the door and had set the rifle down; as my brother held the door he just happened to notice 2 does and 2 good bucks 150 yards south of our position. We could tell they were legal bucks right away. We decided not to take a shot but wait until we could get over on top of a hill and cut them off at 50 yards. Again, mother nature had a different plan and the wind shifted...busted. We made it to the top of the hill just in time to see the deer running like hell. That ended our morning hunt.

We didn't make it again until a quarter to 5 and the weather had gone from bad to worse. The wind was really howling and then the rain began to pour. We were already headed to hunt a Creek bed where we saw some deer earlier in the day so we just trudged on. As we reached the bed we walked from west to east upriver following the high bank and trying to stay out of sight. Not 100 yards upstream of where we started my brother noticed a white rear. He put a scope on it and realized it was the best deer we've seen all day and he was only 75 yards east of us down in the creek bed facing away. We knew we could get closer so we creeped up rather quickly because the rain and wind covered us well. We got 25 away and the buck was still oblivious to our presence. We both took a knee but my brother let me take the shot. Hit him in the neck and dropped him where he stood. Turned out to be a 4x6 with a double eye guard and drop tine on the right side. Best deer I have ever shot but even better memory made with my brother.

[bobcat]

Nice buck, congratulations. Gee, you guys should take up bow hunting since you don't seem to have a problem getting within bow range!

[vfilbert]

Nice buck!! And nicer stash!!

[jrebel]

Nice buck...congrats

[castie2504]

Nice buck, congratulations. Gee, you guys should take up bow hunting since you don't seem to have a problem getting within bow range!

Yeah it was incredible how close we managed to get not only on this buck but the others earlier in the day.  On a side note my brother headed out this afternoon and jumped an enormous buck, biggest one he's ever seen. Took a shot at 30 yards but missed, guess buck fever got to him. Gonna try for him later this week though!

[runningboard]

Congratulations to you on a nice buck & good job on those stalks 

[Pathfinder101]

   Like that one.  Nice job.

[coachcw]

cool dropper congrats

[Smokepole]

That's a good buck.  Sounds like you have a good hunting partner in your brother.  Doesn't get any better.  congrats!

[boneaddict]

Nice dropper and great experience to share with your brother

[castie2504]

It's only June and I'm ready to try for another buck! Can't wait...

[fishnfur]

Good story.  Nice buck!  Thanks for sharing.

[DOUBLELUNG]

A whole lot of good ethical decisions in that story!