Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 12, 2011, 10:24:28 PM
Sunday found me checking cams and I discovered I now had one Mature buck showing....at night of course. My friend hunted my other stand the entire day again and yet again none of the P&Y class animals presented themselves.
This morning I decided to hunt the same stand I had my friend on during the weekend because he wasn't able to hunt and there was generally a lot of action from the nice 3 1/2 year old bucks. I wanted to get a look at them and mainly just enjoy the hunt. I arrived at the stand around 0600 and was settled in by 0615. At 0900 I had a few does come through on one of the travel corridors approximately 80 yards from my stand. At 0930 I had five yearling bucks come into my location. They were milling around for the next 30 minutes and constantly moving between my stand and the travel corridor 80 yards in front of my stand.
At 1000, just as it looked like the yearlings were leaving I caught a flash of antler. I could tell it was a nice buck and I figured it was one of the 3 1/2 year olds. I was finally able to get a good look at the buck and realized he wasn't one I had seen on camera. I could see that he was wide 5x5 with very nice main beams. His mass and tine length were average and I figured he would go 140 gross (give or take an inch or two). I determined that he was 3 1/2 so I decided to pass him up despite his impressive head gear.
He was there only a five minutes when I heard a grunt/snort/wheeze and saw another 5x5 coming down the hill at the buck. I was familiar with this 5x5 as I had many trail cam photos of him. I had judged him at 3 1/2 and 135. They squared off and postured a few moments. Seeing them side by side allowed me to realize the buck I hadn't seen before was actually older than the 5x5 that was a regular at my location. Comparing body shape and size it became obvious that this 5x5 was definitely a mature animal! Fortunately the mature buck won the stand off and stuck around. He was at 35 yards when I took the shot. My arrow hit a few inches lower than the sweet spot but the results were still pretty sweet. I watched him run 25 yards before falling and expiring within seconds.
When I walked up to him his antlers actually looked even more impressive. After finishing the work (700 meter drag) and getting him prepped for butchering I put a tape on his antlers. He has a 19 4/8 inside spread and 23+ inch main beams. His mass is average and tine length is average. His green gross is 148. It didn't matter much but it was a nice surprise since I had judged him as being smaller. After looking at pictures of those giants for the past two season I believe I am completely underestimating a lot of animals and this was one of those cases.
It was a great end to a great season!! I couldn't ask for a more beautiful buck!! Now I am ready to enjoy some fresh venison while I am waiting to see what next season holds! :drool:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1210.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc413%2Fdbhawthorne%2F2011Buck4.jpg&hash=c405e118069e7ad5704b7590a8806178a04963bd)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1210.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc413%2Fdbhawthorne%2F2011Buck3Crop.jpg&hash=00cbaf27f2691afdcf407dc5a2cdc23134157b70)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1210.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc413%2Fdbhawthorne%2F2011Buck2.jpg&hash=8430437d725f0beaa2fa705eb56b943638a3f433)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1210.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc413%2Fdbhawthorne%2F2011Buck1.jpg&hash=a876a1a29fae3afa8bd9ddedb146fdb8099cb84b)
Post by: johnnyaustin44 on December 12, 2011, 10:30:42 PM
Post by: gjbruny on December 12, 2011, 10:33:32 PM
cool double throat patch!!!!
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on December 12, 2011, 10:37:05 PM
Post by: Turner89 on December 12, 2011, 10:40:36 PM
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 12, 2011, 10:45:03 PM
I forgot to mention. After hearing guys raving about the Trophy Taker Shuttle T-Lock Broadheads I decided to give them a try this year. I was highly impressed with the results. My entrance/exit holes were unlike anything I have had with my G5 Montecs or Muzzy broadheads. The broadhead hit the off side leg bone and it still looked good as new. Once could just be a fluke so I look forward to trying them out on a few more animals over the next couple of years. :chuckle:
Post by: huntnnw on December 12, 2011, 11:01:43 PM
Post by: Bigluke1981 on December 12, 2011, 11:03:55 PM
Post by: PolarBear on December 12, 2011, 11:07:51 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on December 13, 2011, 01:04:30 AM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on December 13, 2011, 01:33:16 AM
Post by: the509hunter on December 13, 2011, 02:43:02 AM
Post by: Steve Jo on December 13, 2011, 05:08:48 AM
you earned it! Congratulations.
PS: thosee shuttle T's are nice! you catcg the bottom of the heart?
Post by: 3nails on December 13, 2011, 05:40:40 AM
Post by: LittleJohn on December 13, 2011, 05:42:47 AM
You did a great job on the photos too. :tup:
Post by: bearpaw on December 13, 2011, 06:21:34 AM
Post by: wamuledeer on December 13, 2011, 06:39:23 AM
Post by: 400out on December 13, 2011, 06:42:11 AM
Post by: HornHoarder on December 13, 2011, 07:05:15 AM
Post by: Skillet on December 13, 2011, 07:11:40 AM
Post by: GoldTip on December 13, 2011, 07:27:42 AM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on December 13, 2011, 08:19:43 AM
Post by: stormin85 on December 13, 2011, 08:23:17 AM
and you will have that much more history with him.
Post by: engelwood on December 13, 2011, 08:44:15 AM
Post by: DBZona on December 13, 2011, 08:56:44 AM
Congrats DB!
Post by: jgrimes on December 13, 2011, 09:58:15 AM
Post by: buck man on December 13, 2011, 12:34:02 PM
Post by: antlerman on December 13, 2011, 01:18:37 PM
Post by: bucklucky on December 13, 2011, 01:29:25 PM
Post by: stew pidasso on December 13, 2011, 07:14:12 PM
Post by: DBZona on December 13, 2011, 07:16:33 PM
Post by: jamesjett on December 13, 2011, 07:18:43 PM
Post by: BeeMan on December 13, 2011, 07:35:04 PM
Post by: KFhunter on December 13, 2011, 07:54:51 PM
good lookin buck, enjoyed seeing your hunt unfold via HW and the trail cams
Post by: RIVERRAT on December 13, 2011, 08:01:31 PM
Post by: Elkslayer on December 13, 2011, 09:20:59 PM
Post by: Birdguy on December 13, 2011, 09:39:47 PM
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 13, 2011, 10:05:53 PM
gorgeous animal, unbelievable patience!
you earned it! Congratulations.
PS: thosee shuttle T's are nice! you catcg the bottom of the heart?
A bit lower than I wanted but it did the job quick!
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 13, 2011, 10:11:06 PM
We must of just missed your wife dropping them off at Randys. Went in there with a buddy this evening and it was nice to see your bucks in person. Pictures do not do your buck justice and your wifes buck is just so cool looking. Those G2s are long and the mainbeams are sweet!
It is unfortunate she missed you. Randy has done our work for quite some time now and we have always been pleased. I have to agree that pictures do not do my buck justice. Nor does seeing him from a stand at 35 yards :chuckle:. I killed him because I knew he was mature with little consideration to his antlers. I knew he had a nice rack but I didn't realize how nice until I had him in my hands. I was surprised by his width and main beams.
My wife is very happy with her buck. He is not her biggest but she got really pumped when he came out and it was a great experience.
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 13, 2011, 10:16:29 PM
nice job bud way to go, solid deer, and just think dead eye makes it through this year he could be even bigger next year!!
and you will have that much more history with him.
Unbelievably deadeye may play second fiddle again this year after what I found on one of my scouting cams today. I will post up pics later.... maybe see how many people are hunting this giant.
Post by: runningboard on December 13, 2011, 10:17:44 PM
Post by: jnevs23 on December 13, 2011, 10:28:45 PM
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 13, 2011, 10:54:53 PM
Post by: Arteman on December 13, 2011, 11:42:50 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on December 14, 2011, 04:27:48 PM