Late Season Succes

[Decker]

So my wife and I have been aggressively hunting a particular stand/blind all late season because we have had a nice 5x5 coming in. We have failed to actually see him, missing the two days he actually showed up in the light. Just as I was about to pack it up, we noticed movement (she's been hunting with my in the blind all season; it's her first ever) coming from the left. Binos show it's one of the six spikes I have passed on several times. As she's getting ready to clip on to take the spike, I see more movement following from the left. Binos show a massive wad of antler. "It's the big buck, big buck" I enthusiastically whisper while setting my 'nocks down. The strap clanks against the metal on the chair... He stops short. ...starts walking again. I clip, raise, draw and here the sound of my arrow impacting freezer meat at 20 yards. They all blow out, including a third I hadn't seen coming.

Shaking now, have to set bow down. We look at each other and can't talk. Big smiles stretch our faces as we nearly tackle each other in hugs then attempt to jump up and down inside a blind we can't even stand in. "I hit him! Could you hear it?" Being her first season hunting I wanted her to take it all in. "Yeah" she replies "but I don't think that was the same 5 point we've been watching on camera."

I hadn't noticed. After I confirmed it was a shooter, I wouldn't look at the antlers. But she had. "I think he may have been bigger" she tells me. "Hon, low light can do that, play tricks. Odds are it's the same buck, we have yet to even see him except on the camera."

[Decker]

We wait 1/2 hour, go find a bloody arrow with 4" broken off. "Is that good to have it broken like that?" "Not entirely great" I told her. "But this bright bubbly blood and really short hair is." We decided to give it until morning just in case.

We arrive home for the night and decide to check the trail camera pictures to see what transpired the evening before.

I told you!!! I told you it was a different buck!!!

[huntergreg]

Hope you find him in the morning. Congrats!!!    Woops.. didnt know the story was ongoing.   

[Decker]

At this point I started shaking so bad I couldn't I couldn't use the mouse. She had to pan through the 50+ photos of the bigger buck that had just shown up the night before. Not wanting to count any eggs before they are hatched I get pessimistic. "I don't know, THAT one came in at midnight and left before 4:00AM. Do you really think it was THIS one?"

"Well I really couldn't tell, I just thought it might have been bigger. This one certainly looks bigger than the other one."

"I guess we'll find out in the morning. As long as it doesn't start snowing, I'll give him until first light to take up the track."

The longest night of my life passes and with it most of my energy; I laid awake the entire night. At 6:30 we head out to pick up where the broken arrow left off and find a decent trail.

[Decker]

We follow the blood another 40 yards and spy something up ahead.

[Decker]

I point to him. "There he is Hon." She starts to tear up.

"Come on, let's go get your trophy!"

[huntergreg]

Awesome Buck!!!!

[Decker]

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Such a blessing from the Lord had walked right into my world.

[Decker]

The best part is my wife was there to witness the whole thing and share the experience with me. ...and in her first season too!

[Decker]

Here are some fun shots that I took with the ultra-wide angle lens 10-22mm for fun and a black and white artistic piece that I'll enlarge to put next to the mount. Thank you for viewing and sharing our journey with us.

I want to thank our Lord, Jesus Christ for blessing me with this amazing animal.

"Every good and perfect give is from above, coming down from God our Father" James 1:17~

[HardCorpsHuntr]

Way to go!  Great story, pics., buck, and all with your wife.

[Decker]

Thanks Greg, I'm still on cloud 9 and will be for quite a few years after this season. As I took it straight to the taxidermist and didn't measure it, I'd like to hear guesses anyone has on a score.

Thanks again!

[buckmaster_wa]

Great buck and great story. Glad you got to share the whole experience with your wife. Next time she might just push you out of the way and shoot the buck. 

[AKBowman]

Love the pics and a great story. How was the meat after leaving it out one night? Id be willing to bet it was fine with the sub freezing temps.

Im bad at this but i would guess hes 155-160. Looks pretty typical probably wont have many deductions. Pretty massive too!

[Decker]

Actually, this buck is probably the mildest smelling and tasting deer I've ever shot. The meat is tender and AMAZING. No complaints what-so-ever. I'm hoping to get 150" out of him.