To start things off, I'm new to posting here but have read and learned a lot from y'all over the years. I have hunted hard my entire life on our family farm in Anderson County(28 acres) for a trophy buck. I grew up looking at the mounts of bucks my grandfather and father had taken over the years, and dreamed for the day I could have one of my own to claim on the wall. At the age of 25 and at least 15 years of hard hunting in those piney woods, it had started to seem like a pipe dream a long time ago. I have taken some nice bucks across the state over the years, thanks to some great hunts my father has taken me on. I never could seal the deal on a trophy on our own piece of dirt though, but pride would never let me give up.

Every year since the implementation of antler restrictions we have always had one good trophy buck on camera. The only problem is that most of these big bucks fail to show during hunting hours. A few months ago I began to run the trail camera again. After a month or so of the camera being out I checked it and to my surprise there was one buck who clearly met ar's and then some! My father gave him the name the "Bowie Buck" because of a bladed G2 he had. My father and I had a great hunt with Rusty Kimbrell (therancher) of Big Iron Ranch Adventures at his Zavalla county ranch a few weeks ago, and got plenty of meat for our deep freeze. I knew that the Bowie Buck was the only buck I would shoot this year on our farm.

I hunted bow season for the first time ever this year, and didn't see a single deer. This was not looking promising and it started to make me think the Bowie Buck was just a pie in the sky dream. Opening weekend of rifle season was a great weekend for deer activity as far as our farm goes, but there was no sign of the Bowie Buck. There was enough action though to keep my mind on the prize, and keep my head up. On the drive to East Tx. Friday night my hunting buddy was cussing the full moon, and thinking it would be a bad weekend of hunting. I thought the same as well, but I know you can't kill one unless you're in the woods. Saturday morning there was a nice chill to the air, and the feeder went off at 6:30 on time. I was mainly focused on the oat patch on the power line right of way as that is where most of our deer our seen. The deer don't pay too much of attention to the feeder with the acorns on the ground this early in the season. At 7:25 a.m. I happened to look to my left towards the feeder for the first time in a minute or two, and saw a brown figure moving! I then noticed it was a buck, and a big one for sure. I saw how long the tines were and knew it was a trophy, even if it wasn't the Bowie Buck. I immediately grabbed my father's Wichester Model 70 chambered in 25-06 I had borrowed for the weekend. I only had about 5 seconds from when I saw the deer to when I sent the 100 gr. Barnes TTSX towards the buck's vitals. After the shot I immediately heard the buck running and hitting lots of brush in the woods and making more noise than usual. It stopped after just a few seconds. I figured he was down but wanted to give him plenty of time to expire. That was the longest 30 minutes of my life. I immediately found good blood and found the Bowie Buck about 50 yards from where I shot him. It was a perfect heart shot that brought him down. I had finally achieved my goal of killing a trophy East Tx. deer on our farm like my father and grandfather.

I am still in shock that I got the Bowie Buck. I will never forget November 8, 2014 for the rest of my life, and hope y'all enjoy the read if it's not too long. Here are a few pics before and after because I know this thread is worthless without pics...

Frank

and Congrats on a great buck!!! Even better that it is from your own piece of dirt and carrying on a family tradition. Enjoyed the read and the pictures. Thanks for sharing

Really nice Buck you have there...

Charlie

Really proud of my son for hunting so hard for so long and not giving up!

The best Deercam pic I have ever seen ...

Awesome buck. Love the chocolate antlers.

Congrats on a great buck. Good write up and pics, like the additional TC pic

Good story and great buck!

Awesome story and awesome event! Congrats again Frank!

Congrats on a nice buck!!! Perseverance pays off!!!

Welcome aboard and heck of nice tall buck

Fantastic buck

Congrats! Nice to see you side of the story as well!

And

Great buck and great story

X2

Congratulations!

Congratulations on a great East Texas buck.

Congrats Frank, great lookin' buck and story!

heck of a buck! congrats

Great buck!!!!

Great story and congrats on a real stud! Time for grandpa and dad to get that spot on the wall picked out.

great buck! congrats

Congrats on an awesome deer and story!

those ugly guys get all the good ones

Congrats on a great buck

This couldn't have happened to a better guy, you've earned it man!I was hoping you would post this on here, that was a great write up.That's cool that you shot him with your dad's gun, very fitting. I was afraid he would be the buck that just disappears when the rut kicks off, I'm glad you didn't let him. Congrats again to you and your dad!! I know your dads So proud of you, and Im sure he can't wait to get his hands on that rack! Awesome buck! Congrats buddy!!!