Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Decker on December 14, 2010, 10:05:17 PM

Title: Late Season Succes
Post by: Decker on December 14, 2010, 10:05:17 PM: 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."
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Decker on December 14, 2010, 10:08:43 PM: 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!!!
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: huntergreg on December 14, 2010, 10:12:16 PM: Hope you find him in the morning. Congrats!!! Woops.. didnt know the story was ongoing. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Decker on December 14, 2010, 10:15:40 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Decker on December 14, 2010, 10:16:57 PM: We follow the blood another 40 yards and spy something up ahead.
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Decker on December 14, 2010, 10:19:50 PM: I point to him. "There he is Hon." She starts to tear up.

"Come on, let's go get your trophy!"
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: huntergreg on December 14, 2010, 10:20:35 PM: Awesome Buck!!!!
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Decker on December 14, 2010, 10:21:56 PM: I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Such a blessing from the Lord had walked right into my world.
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Decker on December 14, 2010, 10:23:03 PM: 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!
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Decker on December 14, 2010, 10:27:42 PM: 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~
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: HardCorpsHuntr on December 14, 2010, 10:28:59 PM: Way to go! Great story, pics., buck, and all with your wife. :)
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Decker on December 14, 2010, 10:29:56 PM: 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!
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: buckmaster_wa on December 14, 2010, 11:15:32 PM: 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. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: AKBowman on December 14, 2010, 11:55:59 PM: 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!
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Decker on December 15, 2010, 12:03:06 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: mtndew on December 15, 2010, 05:57:44 AM: VERY nice buck, congratulations!
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Bandit on December 15, 2010, 06:15:40 AM: Awesome buck DEKKER, have seen some really nice white tails coming from up North. Great pictures too.
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: lewy on December 15, 2010, 06:26:11 AM: Congrats! sounds like you earned him!
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: KimberRich on December 15, 2010, 12:01:55 PM: Great buck and great story! That's great that you got to share it with her. I think 155-160 is pushing it but high 140's is possible for my guess.
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Pathfinder101 on December 15, 2010, 04:17:16 PM: Very nice buck!
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Quackwhacker on December 15, 2010, 04:30:41 PM: Awesome Buck! Great story and pics. Thanks for sharing
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: BoomWhop on December 15, 2010, 04:34:39 PM: Nice Buck, great pics. The black and white pic was way cool. I am guessing 146-148
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: teanawayslayer on December 15, 2010, 04:44:59 PM: nice buck congrats. I love the black and white photo
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: vandeman17 on December 15, 2010, 05:01:37 PM: Nice buck and nice bow. I shoot a Diamond too and love it!
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: PA BEN on December 15, 2010, 05:04:13 PM: Nice 4x4. Love the pictures. ;)
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: boonerboy on December 15, 2010, 05:46:41 PM: beautiful buck!! 138 4/8". have your taxi score him and post it up. oh, CONGRATS!
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: boonerboy on December 15, 2010, 05:58:05 PM: after more gawking I wanna change my score to 144 2/8". :chuckle:
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: cooneyes on December 15, 2010, 06:01:21 PM: Way to go Mr. and Mrs. Decker! Great buck and story! That's cool your wife enjoys being with you for the hunt. I wish I could talk my wife into it...no way she says!
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Lightning_Rider on December 15, 2010, 06:02:40 PM: Wow, great story and awesome pics. congrats
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: patton1 on December 15, 2010, 06:06:50 PM: Awesome! Couldn't ask for a better end to your season. Congrats!
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: ser300wsm on December 15, 2010, 06:09:00 PM: That was an awesome story & love the way you set up the pics leading to him. Congrats on a very fine Buck.. Hears to you & yours .... :brew:
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: bowhunterforever on December 15, 2010, 06:17:58 PM: Good looking buck, Congrats 150 ish
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Decker on December 15, 2010, 06:27:03 PM: Thanks everyone! I really appreciate your kind remarks and comments. Last night, while getting ready for todays hunt (last day of the season :'( ) we checked the trail camera and my wife was a little less than pleased at the new development we found.
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Decker on December 15, 2010, 06:29:40 PM: I told her that we'd have to wait to harvest this guy until next year now. I think he'll be a fine buck, the trail cam pics look like he's trying to get some split G2s going. In two years this could be a dandy buck; all the pictures I ever see of split G2 bucks seem like they're always huge.
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Ihuntelk2 on December 15, 2010, 06:49:26 PM: That is awesome, im so dam happy when i see that... great pics..congrats. :yike:
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: MuleySniper on December 15, 2010, 06:59:08 PM: Great job man! Love the pics too. :tup:
MS
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: steen on December 15, 2010, 07:12:39 PM: Awesome buck and sounds like your wife is hooked also!
Title: Re: Late Season Succes
Post by: Decker on January 18, 2011, 09:41:49 PM: Went to the taxi today and put tape to him. 153 2/8 gross, 147 5/8 net :IBCOOL: