I hooked up with my guide, Art Rios on opening weekend of the 2012 season in hopes of shooting a big 8 pointer. When this big 10 pointer showed up I had to let the air out if his lungs. Art had showed me a great 8 that he had on the ranch that I really wanted bad. I shot the 10 on this first morning of my 3 day hunt on the ranch. Art and I hunted hard the rest of my time there opening weekend for the big 8.
I got home and kept thinking of the big 8 and the brow tines. Art kept sending me pictures that he was getting of him. I couldn't take it, I had to go connect with him. I booked a weekend hunt for Dec. 28th-29th. The time passed slow, but Art kept me going with a trail cam picture occasionally. I left Friday night to head to the ranch and dammed if my F250 didn't break down on the way to the hunt. I called Art and he said not to worry he would fit me in the next weekend under the circumstances. Now that is what is great about these guys they didn't take my deposit and say hey your SOL.
Saturday morning finally came and Art and I were in the stand that he had the big 8 on trail cam at. The morning hunt came and we saw about 20 doe's and 3 or 4 young bucks. We went back for the afternoon hunt and at about 3 we had a 140 inch buck he called the Grey ghost show up with about 15 doe's. Now that's hard watching a 140 and letting him walk. At about 4.30 the feeder went off and the deer parade started. We had 8 or 9 big bucks with 15 or 20 doe's at the feeder. I looked behind the feeder and saw the big 8 coming. I told Art that he was coming in. Art started talking me through things making sure that there wasn't any other deer in the way and trying to calm me down. The big 8 finally got broadside away from the pack and he said shoot him. I took the shot 185 yards. I saw deer go every where. I looked at Art and said did I get him. He grinned and said no doubt, I aw him spraying blood as he ran off. We waited for 20 minutes and found the 8 about 30 yards from the feeder. The 308 did its job again.
The Antler Hunt Ranch has some really nice deer. I highly recommend hunting with this group. It not everyday you meet people who take pride in there land and animals. They will do everything they can to give you a hunt and memory of a lifetime.

Nice buck

Congrats on some great deer. That 8 is really nice!

Nice deer. Awesome brow tines on that 8

Nice bucks.

X3 !

Nice bucks!

Nice deer, that 8 looks like some of the nice "untouchables" we see here in east tx

great bucks and story, congrats

nice 8 wow

X2

Great pair of bucks, congrats.

Nice bucks!

Love that 8! Great bucks

REALLY NICE 8 POINT AND GOOD STORY CONGRATS

Thanks, everybody. I still cant belive I killed both those this year. Cant wait to get them back from DD taxidermy.

Jeff, great job out there, you show composure and excellent restraint waiting for the absolute clear shot. Lot of critters in back traffic.

Thanks for being part of a great opening season for our ranch.

Congrats on the nice bucks and thanks for sharing.

that 8 got some mass

Great Deer!

Nice buck!

nice deer!