If you are good with the 357 use it. It will get the job done, one of those through the lungs and he will not go far. I prefer 158 or 180 gr bullets for deer with the 357 for deer.

Well, I didn't get him, never even laid eyes on him. Hunted him early, late, and afternoon for 7 straight days (iced in, couldn't leave the ranch) between Christmas and NYE last year.

15 minutes after I closed the gate and left the ranch, he's on camera having a bite for lunch.

Conclusion: I am 100% sure that he beds down in the really thick brush that starts about 50 yds from the feeder, and he can see me coming and going. He knows when there is someone in that stand, and he ain't coming out when someone is there. I tried parking the ranger in different places, walking to the stand, being in the seat before dawn, staying until after dark, no luck.

Guess I will tip my cap to him, that's how you get to be an old Buck.

The time to get him would have been 2 or 3 years ago, I noticed he was in decline a bit last year...a few years ago he was a really, really big 6. Now he's just a big 6.

Cameras are going to start rolling for us soon, wonder if he still lives? I guess I'll find out soon enough if he's back this year.

This was snapped probably minutes after I closed the gate. Thank God that guy in the camo is gone, It's cold, and I'm hungry.

I see you resurrected old thread.

If he starts showing up on TC this season, 2 things we have done. Make a 'dummy hunter' dressed like you dress and put in the stand. When you walk in to hunt have someone go with you and walk out with the 'dummy' while you remain in stand. Sounds crazy but I have seen this work one time on afternoon sit.

Oh yea, another time we had a big ol' buck keep aluding and suddenly showing up on cameras just after left stand. We decided for one of us to hunt stand as usual and leave as usual, but just before that hunter left stand as normal, the other hunter slipped in using wind and sat on ground. Sure enough, when hunter left the stand within about 5 min that big one walked right in. My partner took him and I turned around from walking out to help recover. Sometimes you just get lucky with a plan.