being 2020 I figured the deer season was going to be garbage just like everything else. I was wrong! I got to my ranch in northern Lampasas county Friday night kind of late so I decided to scout my front pasture from the house. Right before dark a BIG buck went cruising through. I did not recognize him at all but new I had a target worth chasing for the rest of the season. I new the trail he was running came close to one of my bow setups so I new exactly where I would be hunting the coming morning. I got on stand at 430am. I was excited and couldn't sleep. When the sun came up there was no wind and no movement for an hour. I had a group of hogs come by but I didn't shoot because I didn't want to compromise my position. Around 815 I saw him crossing the pasture to my pecan bottoms and I started shaking. He was 250 yards away but was on the right trail. Around 930 the wind picked up a bit and this brought out the deer. A bachelor group of young bucks came off the trail to my hand corn and milled around for a while fighting with each other and goofing off. Then I saw him. He locked in on the small bucks on his trail and came in to run them off. My heart was beating out of my chest but I was ready. He hung up at 45 yards and just stared at my blind for about 5 minutes. Then, to my amazement the thought of running off the young bucks took over and he kept coming! He got to 30 and started to posture to the other bucks. He then dropped his head to eat some corn. Quartering away at 31 yards and I was at full draw. I let the arrow fly and the 100 grain muzzy trocar hit him and it sounded like a baseball bat hitting a side of beef. Right in the armpit. He bolted with the arrow still in him lodged in his far shoulder. I heard him crash within seconds. I backed out and waited 90 minutes before walking back in. He had run 40 yards and fell over dead. It was a perfect heart shot. I've shot a few decent deer with my bow but this one is by far the biggest. He is also my biggest WT I have ever taken. After checking him out up close and comparing old pictures I think this is a buck I let walk 3 years ago. I never saw him again and thought he was shot by a neighbor or run over. I have not aged his teeth yet but he is OLD. I'm never gun hunting deer again after this experience. The rush of that deer up close and personal is burned into my brain. Now I get the rest of the season to put my daughter on deer!

Thanks for reading,
John

congrats!

Nice buck. Congrats!

Congrats. Great story and great buck.

Great way to start the season.

Fantastic trophy. Congratulations!!!!!!

Although my age is self restricting the use of my bow. I have known the euphoric sense of achievement that success with a bow provides. It's what the basics hunting is all about!!!

You should be proud!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really nice

Great story and a great buck.
Congrats

great job!

Congratulations

Congrats. Awesome buck dude

nice...

Oh heck yeah that is a great buck and cool story. I bet it would be hard to pick up a gun again after that.
Good luck getting your daughter on one

Thats a beautiful Buck... Congrats!

Sweet!

Great buck and fun area to hunt! That feeling is fantastic hunting them close and closing the deal

That’s a stud, congrats!!!

Congrats, no need to rifle hunt anymore.

Beautiful buck! Congratulations.

Outstanding bow buck
Congrats on your new PB

Great buck! Let us know what he scores.

Great write up.

Very nice buck. Congrats.

Great story and great ending, congratulations. Hunted the Gage Ranch near you a few times.