Had seen this dude my 1st weekend of hunting after missing the 1st two weeks of the season. I always scout the 1st weekend and seldom take anything. Saw him on three hunts and confirmed his advanced age the 1st time I laid eyes on him.
Came back Sunday and left with SIL 3 on Monday. He got a nice mgt 8. Saw this sucker a couple of different times over an hour each time. He wouldn't jump in a pen, but he would stick to corn on a sendero like a bear with a honey comb. 3 couldn't believe I would not take him. No matter who was going to shoot the buck, Klappenbach was going to be there.
On Thursday, SIL 2 told me could not make it. I got down there late Friday afternoon and if Klappenbach hadn't a filled my road feeder, I would not have been in the blind when the 4:15 feed Time came. Even so, just barely made it.
First mature to come out was this one. He was so close to the blind sitting on a ten foot tower that I could not put my scope on him. At about 30 yards a doe in front of him alerted and he quickly retreated. He never gave me an opportunity until about 140 yards out. So glad I read TLK's posts and had my 300 WM with me. I comfortably leveled down and took my shot. There was no rush, but I could tell by the reaction my shot was farther back than intended.
The buck bolted into the brush and luckily, for me, he came back out prior to veering off again. I shot at 5:05 and went to the shot site after ten minutes. Good blood which was what I was expecting (no green). I waited ten minutes and got on the blood trail. It slowly gave out after about all of thirty yards. I kinda freaked. Texted Klappenbach and told him I needed help. He wanted to know if I needed help loading and I replied, yes after we find it. Went into the brush and there he was, showing me his belly. Klappenbach got there, helped me load and we mighta had a victory snort or three. Alls well that ends well. I am so very fortunate.