Buck of a lifetime

[bucknbullhunter]

I have a 3 year history with this buck and boy did it payoff this year. Three years ago I tried to hunt this buck but only got a few night time pictures of him. I never saw him in 2019 but my son did pick up one of his sheds in the spring. So we new if he made it through the winter he would be big. I decided to put up a stand near where my son found his shed. So my son and I went up to set our stand in early November before season started. Unfortunately we had a bad experience with another hunter that thought he owned the whole mountain. So we decided not to hunt that spot and move to another location where there were some good bucks in the past. After a couple of weeks not seeing much I decided to go back and check on my first spot. By looks of it nobody had been there for quit some time. The other hunter must shot a buck. So the Sunday before thanksgiving we went back up and set up my stand. It was a great spot with some good rut activity. We set up a camera and with in two days got a picture of the buck. I sat Tuesday morning and evening and didn’t see or hear much. Wednesday morning I did some rattling and had a buck come in grunting but never came out of the creek bottom. I sat again Wednesday evening and had few does come by. I decided not to hunt thanksgiving day. I went back Friday morning and had what I thought was a mature buck grunting in the creek bottom again but he never appeared. I sat till 10 and decided that I wanted to adjust my stand and put it higher in the tree to give me better shot options if a buck gives me an opportunity. So I was again sitting by noon. Didn’t have much action until about 3:45 when I started hearing movement in the creek bottom to my left. I then see a doe coming across a clearing about 100 yards away heading into the creek. Within seconds of the doe going into the creek I hear a buck grunting up on the ridge above the creek. I look over to where I just saw the doe and I see a buck with his head down grunting coming down the hill to  the creek bottom. I put my binoculars up and took a look I can’t believe how big this buck is. He runs into the creek bottom blowing out about 5 deer. Not sure what they were. He’s in the creek coming up the hill in my direction following the doe. So I get my self all ready and range the shooting lanes where I think he might come out. I don’t even get time to try to settle my nerves and I look up and he’s at 60 yards facing me looking for the doe that walked through. He comes from my left to 42 yards and stops broadside. He can’t see the doe and is looking all around. So I decide that I’m going to take the shot. I draw my Hoyt bow back as slow and smooth as I can so I don’t spook him. I settle my 40 yard pin right behind his shoulder and squeeze the trigger on my release. The shot looked good. He spun and headed back down into the creek bottom. As I sat there in disbelief that this really happened I can hear him running through the brush. I felt the shot was good but was a little concerned that it was high and back from where I wanted it. I gave him 15 minutes or so. I got down and went over to check where I shot him. The blood was really good and was spraying quit a bit. So I followed the blood trail for about 40 yards into the creek bottom. After going into the creek bottom I decided I was going to go get my hunting partner and my son to help me follow the blood trail and recover the buck. After about an hour and getting something to eat we made it back up to the creek bottom. The blood was still good but he actually headed up the hill to where he came from. I was a little bit concerned that he was going up hill. But within about 40 yards we found him. He died within minutes of my shot. The emotions we all felt walking up on this buck were incredible. I had never seen a buck this size in my life. He is an absolute giant in every way. I put in a lot work and many hours.
A good friend of mine told me never say this is luck you put yourself in the situation with hard work and dedication. I truly believe my hard work and dedication put me in the right spot at the right time. I had this buck officially scored last week and he scored 201 4/8 gross and 194 4/8 net. Truly a buck and a hunt of a lifetime and many memories that I will never forget. I was so lucky to be able to share this with my son and my hunting buddies. I hope everyone enjoys the story and the pictures as much as I do.
 








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[Miles]

Congrats!

 It’s awesome going through that process.  It’s also a little sad once the chase is over.  I went through this with an elk and sometimes wish I was still chasing him around and figuring out his habits.

[Ghost Hunter]

Awesome buck.  Thanks for sharing.

[Bowhunter3]

Holy smokes

[carpsniperg2]

Amazing deer congrats

[elkboy]

That is an amazing buck.  Congratulations on a tremendous hunt!

[High Climber]

Wow! Thanks for sharing that’s pretty cool your boy found his shed 👍

[DeerThug]

Wow thats awesome...

[zwickeyman]

Great Buck

[MADMAX]

Stud whitetail 

[Buckhunter24]

Holy smokes 

[Pinetar]

WOW!! What a monster! Congrats and way too put in the time

[Ridgerunner]

What a great whitetail.  Thanks for sharing. 

[h2ofowlr]

Great buck.   

[cbond3318]

 That’s awesome! He really stacked it from 19’