Illinois round 4

[northwesthunter84]

Well last year didn’t go well, hit a decent buck and lost blood. Turns out my scope had been bumped. Figured it out this year after shooting high (saw impact on a tree) and missing another decent buck. Went back to the shop, fixed the scope issue and then ended up shooting the same deer that I had missed the next afternoon. Pretty happy, only drew 1 permit this year. Weather got crappy and the deer harvest in camp reflected that. We ended up with 7 out of 20+ permits. They have 2 more weekends to get it done. So hopefully they can make it happen. 

The hunt was kind of quick. I got blown out of the tree stand in the morning. Sideways rain and high 30’s for the temp sucks, so went to the shop to make breakfast for everyone. Deer sightings were pretty limited but there was a weather break coming up at 10 am.  I got dried, fed and ready to go. Made the plan to still hunt in to another section of the timber I was planning to hunt and get in to a stand overlooking some cut soybeans.  I wind bumped some deer out of a neighbor’s pasture and they ended up working out into the bean field (no bucks). I made to the stand and got set up. Deer were out everywhere but I hadn’t seen a buck yet.  About 1230 my dad texted me that one of the big bucks they had put eyes on just walked past the other stand which was 150 yards NE of me. He crossed 2 fields and went into a neighboring piece of land that is off limits. I responded to him and said a few choice words as you can imagine. I looked up from my phone and there was my buck walking on the fence row 130 yards out. The bean field was out of play but he was headed into my timber patch.

Ok time to move, made it down to the ground undetected, awesome. I could see his body still heading to the corner so I used the wet leaves to my advantage and cut the distance to 50 yards. All of a sudden I catch movement on the edge, he had cut back south and was now at 30 yards. Still couldn’t shoot him. Safety off as quiet as possible. For this to happen he was going to have to come into the timber. I stop behind a big oak 15 yards into the timber and wait. As if on cue he steps on to a trail and enters the timber. I shot him quartering to high shoulder with my SX2 and down he went. I had only seen him for 5 min total but never thought of passing on him. Turns out it was the buck I missed the night before in the timber. I’m really happy with him. Local taxidermist is doing a euro for me.

3x4 with a split eye guard and a 4” droptine. Bases were just under 5”.

[pd]

Beautiful, and so much fun to hunt with the family.  Don't kid yourself, 7 out of 20 isn't bad.

[northwesthunter84]

Yeah my dad had a great time. It’s been hard for him since my mom passed 2 years ago. He works him self to the bone, but fishing and hunting is his release. He got a small doe, he still has 4 tags to fill himself so 2nd season and muzzy should be busy for him. I’m the only one tagged out so there should be 12 guys in camp.

[ch1pnasty]

thats awesome , cool buck

[NRA4LIFE]

That's an 11-pointer in them thar neck of the woods!  Congrats.  Beautiful buck.  Just got back from across the river in MO last week.  Love those corn/bean fed whitetails.  Yum.

[northwesthunter84]

Thank you guys. Yep they are super tasty, he was really rutted up so I’m interested to see how he tastes.

[kball4]

Do you get them tested for CWD before eating?

[C-Money]

Very nice buck!!

[pianoman9701]

Beautiful buck there, sir!

[northwesthunter84]

@kball4. No the area I hunt is down south and away from the zones that are affected. They do random testing if you drive to Springfield. EHD is really the major concern in Southern Illinois but that is caused by insect transmission and by November those deer have already been lost.

[highside74]

Very cool

[northwesthunter84]

Thank you all for looking.

[northwesthunter84]

Dad was able to pick him up for me on Friday.  Super happy I went with a euro.

[jae]

Looks Great!