Two doe and this guy so far. I had a couple ops on him early in the season and one of the other lease members, who hunts near me and has followed this deers development over the last few years, kept telling me to shoot him if I got the chance. I checked with the LM to confirm he would be a management deer not a trophy as I am looking to tag a 135+ if possible. Once he confirmed of course I stopped seeing the buck due to acorns and the rut.

I had hunted all last week. Shot a doe one day during a break in the rain and saw a lot of deer including some future draft choices in nice three year old 8 and 10 points but no mature bucks sighted while on stand. Hunting all week with another one of the new members (who got a doe as well) was good times but we were both a little discouraged with the lack of mature buck sightings. When he left Friday morning I was still on stand, still hoping the secondary morning movement with the full moon would send a cruising mature buck my way but it didn't happen. Once I returned to camp I decided to pack up and go home but I had some stuff to load on the trailer and by the time I was done I realized I would be getting home in rush hour traffic, on a Friday, and decided to just go sit instead. The first hour was really slow. The second was active, five little bucks at the feeder, but the short rain and the rainbow after were the highlights of the afternoon. Suddenly one of the button bucks ran from the feeder toward the road. Looking over my shoulder I saw two doe out there in a clearing. Then I heard raking antlers in the branches. I grunted twice and he came in, stopping to freshen a scrape, then walking past me directly through my scent stream, giving me a 17 yard slow walking shot. The G5 Montec basically cut the top of the heart off and the blood was gushing out. He hopped about three steps then walked stiff legged straight away from me and stopped at 25 yards. I grabbed another arrow, although I could see the blood pouring from both sides and running down his legs, but only had a Texas heart shot presented. He staggered, go his legs under him, and walked another 25 yards. Blocked at this point by branches and still no shot he started to stagger side ways and I thought he was going down. Not yet, he stiffened up, turned to the right and took four steps as I drew my bow for the follow up shot. But it wasn't needed. At that point he laid down and in just a few seconds his head was down and he stopped moving. I still had to wait about ten minutes to let the adrenaline ease up so I was steady enough to climb out of the tripod. On any other lease I've been on he would have been a "trophy" buck. This lease he is considered an average management deer. Regardless of the score killing a mature buck is rewarding in itself for me.

Great looking buck!!! Nothing wrong with a management trophy

Good looking.

Congrats. That's a trophy where I hunt.

Great looking buck. Congrats.


Walter

That is a nice deer, well done

Good job Gary!

Congrats! Great recap

Nice looking buck and good story!

Thank you gentlemen. I was hoping this place would turn out to be a long term lease home. With the core group of hunters being there long term being very accepting and helpful as well as an involved, friendly and helpful landowner (family) it is looking like I have gotten into a good situation. Plus I ain't gonna lie. Having all the time I need to properly prepare for a trip down there, no pressure to be home on any given days and being able to hunt as much as I choose is nice. Retirement is choice during hunting season. I highly recommend it.

Thanks for the story! Great hunt!