Late post, was lucky to connect with this buck week of Thanksgiving in Mason County. Had seen him come in once before during bow season but he was out of range and as he was working his way from the feeder pen towards me that day hogs came in and ran him and the does off.

Decided to try and hunt most of Thanksgiving week as that seems to be when rut is kicking in at the lease. Had planned on spending Friday week before Thanksgiving through Weds right before then head home. As things normally go, plans changed. I kept getting a feeling like something was gonna happen if I left home so I decided to hold off and finally left Saturday around noon after my daughters were harassing me about going. So we get packed up still feeling uneasy but left the house anyway. Well halfway to the lease I get a call from an unfamiliar number and it’s the First Sgt, hardly a good thing. One of our NCOs got himself a free trip to a cell for the night and they wanted me to bring him in Monday for some paperwork. Decided to keep heading out and hunt through Sunday night then head home and race back Monday after the meeting.

Hunts that night and Sunday were decent, saw some young bucks and plenty of doe but decided to hold off on does till I got a buck this trip. After the Sunday evening hunt we left and Monday my girls again were chomping at the bit. Finally made it out, later than I wanted so we sat that evening hunt out so we didn’t disturb the other guys that evening.
Tuesday morning was really slow compared to previous days because the weather was a little warmer than weekend as the cold front came and left as quickly as it had come. Kinda bummed as I saw spikes and a few doe. Normally have decent activity through about 9:30 then it settles down till about 3. This morning by 7:40 it was dead, so as I’m considering hopping out or staying I hear a shot behind me. Sounded decent so decision was made for me as it came from one of the other hunters set up. He’d had a rough season missing several deer so I knew I had to wait in case he injured the deer or needed time for the deer to die. As I’m waiting a couple more doe and a young 4 Pt come into the feeder so i sit back and watch them. After about 20 mins I decide it’s about time and the deer are working their way back into the woods anyway. As I stand up I see some movement behind the pen. Bigger bodied deer than what I had seen so far this trip. So I scope em and see atleast 8 points with decent tines.

Now I’m excited so i settle in and get the rifle ready, as he starts working his way to the road between my blind and the feeder. Those doe ended up working their way towards me looking for scraps of hand corn I tossed earlier. Well that buck came in to those does to investigate but settled on some corn. Waited for him to go broadside and when he did it was over. Squeezed the trigger he bucked and did a 180, ran about 40 yards into some cedars. Heard the crash and waited about 20 mins and started my track as I had lost sight of him after he cleared window. Almost didn’t find him alone and as I was headed back to camp feeling defeated I replayed the shot and his path and out loud said he’s gotta be right over there and pointed towards a clearing and low and behold there he was. Very pleased with him as he’s the first and only buck I got from this ranch. Last year I hesitated as the deer didn’t look mature enough. Felt this buck was atleast 4.5 maybe 5.5 but taxi says he’s 6.5 atleast. Sorry for the long post.

Good looking buck
Congrats

Great buck and an excellent write up. Well done and congratulations! Sounds like y'all are a good bunch of guys on that lease, helping each other out, they way it ought to be.

Great story and awesome mature buck.

Congrats!

Ditto! Congrats!

x4 nice buck!

Nice one!

Nice!

Great Buck! Congrats!

👍👍

Nice Buck!

Awesome deer.

Congratulations, I really like that rack on your buck! Great writeup too!

Nice. Forrest

Congrats