Found the top of my hit list dead!

[tonymiller7]

This is not how I was hoping this story would end. I've been hunting this specific deer for 4 years now. I've never actually seen this buck in person but have got tons of pics of him in my spot for 4+ years. Due to his size when I first saw him I'm guessing he is 8+ years old. Don't know if somebody made a bad shot during archery season or if he died from fighting or a predator or what. We completely just stumbled onto him about a mile from where I hunt for him. As we walked up to him my heart completely sunk as I slowly realized what deer it was. Definitely took some of the wind out of my sails going into deer season knowing that he is gone.  Last picture I got of him was 9/18.

[boneaddict]

Dang!

[JeffRaines]

That sucks!

[AROTTY]

Ouch...Sometimes the best laid plans go to waste.  Hope you get lucky and find another monster this year.

[pianoman9701]

Wow, too bad. I hope you had another to fill the freezer with.

[tonymiller7]

There's still nice bucks around but he was the biggest, and also been around the longest.

[carpsniperg2]

Bummer. Looks like he was a old guy.

[tonymiller7]

I'm guessing at least 7 more like 8.  First saw him as a 4x5 4 years ago.  Last year, he was at his biggest. 

[NRA4LIFE]

Dang, that sucks.  Too bad you can't take his melon in this state.

[C-Money]

Dang...that's to bad. Hope you can connect on a bruiser you don't even know about!

[trophyhunt]

That "Idaho" head would be coming home with me no doubt!!

[TeacherMan]

Cool looking buck! Wouldn't score high but love the character. How wide is he?

[tonymiller7]

I don't want it.  Not this way.  I wanted to pull the trigger and put his head on the wall and meat in the freezer.  If that's not how it went down, I don't want it.

[tonymiller7]

Didn't measure it, but shot a buck a few years back that was 20" wide and this guy dwarfs him.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Very sad!! Condolences and Sorry that happened . If there is a silver lining its that you actually found him, and didn't spend a season hunting for a ghost deer, when other opportunities may come knocking! Good luck this season

[boneaddict]

        That’s a good point

[fishnfur]

Not only that, assuming that he was pretty successful at breeding, there's a bunch of deer around that area that have direct lineage to the genes that produced that rack.  You might find a similar buck in the near future.

[andr3wxmma]

Atlease he spread his genes for the last few years as the dominant buck. There should be a few more of him soon enough.

[Gringo31]

This last week I've seen and heard from people watching coyotes work big bucks more than the rest of my life combined


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[Elkstuffer]

Wow! Great buck. Sorry for your loss!

[cryder]

Very sad , I have some suspicion , my ,4×5 ihas found the same , haven't seen him since bow  season started , very sad to see that , I would get that head gear for his memory for sure , it's a story worth remembering , he must of been a smart old guy , and thank our Creator for his existence .