Well for as long as I can remember, I went into deer season in Illinois with one goal in mind. I wanted to shoot a buck that the instant I laid eyes on it, in my mind, I would know there was no doubt that was the biggest deer I would get to see that season. That had never happened until this year. Most years I would see nice bucks out of range, in the headlights driving to/from hunting property, or taking a break for some food at deer camp. This year was a rare opportunity, and as I have had the chance to reflect truly blind luck.
I flew Wednesday to give myself time to verify scopes after traveling and to set up some new blinds on property I had never hunted before. Thursday was set up and sight in day. That went well and I spotted several deer. Including one big bodied deer as I was walking out, to far and fast to make out horns. So O was really pumped for opening day.
Opening morning found me in one of my blinds. It was a constant drizzle and I only saw a small forky that morning. I had originally planned to sit all day but the rain continued and the wind was slotted to shift after lunch. I decided to run the 20 min to the deer camp my uncle was hosting. Warm food was calling.
After filling up on a good old fashioned “haystack” the weather started to let up. I told the guys good luck and headed back to the property I was hunting. The wind had switched and I went to the second blind that I had set up. The problem with this spot was the field crowned to she water but the line of sight only allowed 100 yards of visibility. I planned for this and every once in a while would slip out the door so I could stretch my legs and look to the other side of the field.
At 4, I slipped out of the blind to stretch my legs and I spotted a group of six deer at 235 yards. A quick check with binos showed 5 does and a small forky. The little buck was pressing his luck with one of the does but she wasn't having it. Then a little 6pt (3x3) came from my north. He ram over to the group, chasing them out of the field. About 430 he came back on the field followed by a nice 8pt (4x4). Neither were shootersbut still fun to watch. The two bucks sparred for about 5 min then went back into the timber. Finally at 455 all the deer filtered back into the bean field. It was at this point I noticed a lone deer 400 yards north, across the road. The body said buck. The wind was out of the south so he caught wind of the doe, his whole demeanor changed. He threw his head up and at that second I knew that I was looking at a, “ No doubter. Big boxy frame, well outside his ears. Then he started to trot, jump the road and head south towards the does.
I knew that I wanted to cut the distance so I slipped out across the the field. I got to a point where I felt comfortable with the shot distance so I got ready. After a minute I couldn't see the buck, I started to second guess myself. None of the deer had spooked but I couldn't see the buck. That changed all of a sudden, I could hear him grunting as he ran with his head down. He got even with me and stopped where the does had been. At this point I think he noticed me but it was foggy so he couldn't figure me out. He was 200 yards and head on so I had to wait. Then he started walking directly at me grunting every two or three steps. I kept ranging him and adjusting my CDS turret as he came. When he hit 120 I flipped it to the zero stop. If on cue he started to turn broadside. As soon as I saw shoulder crease in my scope I touched off the shot. It sounded good, he jumped and ran off towards the timber. I chambered another round but shot high. No matter he had gone 60 yards and wobbled. Then he tipped over. I was calm up to that point, then all of the adrenaline hit. I grabbed my things from the blind and made my way over to him.he was everything I had hoped for for all those years of chasing white tails in Illinois. Another hunter who had permission to cross the property that I was hunting walked out at that time. He took some pics and also ended up having a single trail cam photo of my buck from Tuesday night. He was kind enough to share that with me.
All in all it was a great trip, tons of memories with family and friends, and a great buck to cap it all off.
