Here's the story. The fortunate hunter and myself share an 800 acre pasture. We have proprietary blind set ups. I am smack dab in the middle of our pasture and he is near an interior fence line where there is a 1,400 acre sanctuary which he draws from. On the West side of me is HF and HF all to the South. Other hunters on our lease to the North and each about a mile away. Two years ago, during a fly over count, some photos were taken right near the HF line and in between his spot and my spot. Looked somewhat akin to a picket fence. A nice buck, but we needed to see it in order to be sure. Neither of us ever got a photo nor a live look. Not that season.
The next season and after hunting had already started, the other hunter got a few photos of that buck, but one side was already broke off. Appearing to have been in the 170's class (if not broken up) and expressing our regrets, I told him to try and find the animal that broke that antler off. The other hunter did end up seeing him in person a couple of times and did note, he likely would have been taken that year save for the fact he was already broken up.
This year, the other hunter had lots of photos to the North of his primary stand at his secondary about 7/10ths of a mile away. He hunted it relentlessly. Two Saturdays ago, a norther came through and it was windy. The other hunter was, of course. at the only blind where photos of the target deer had been secured. His son was at his primary stand. That deer came out at the primary. The son texted his Dad to let him know. He said shucks or something like it. The son told his Dad there was so much wind, he could probably drive over in his PU and not disturb the deer and that is what he did. He got out a couple of hundred yards short (deer had been on the other side of that blind), walked in to the stand and then went up the steps on the 20 foot tower. Once in, the deer wasn't present. He came out on another sendero, but it was at that time when the does were just about to come into estrus and the big bucks were walking restlessly looking for that first companionship. He did not present himself for a shot opportunity. He came out again and the same scenario unfolded. He came out a third time, by the parked PU and made his mistake. The other hunter made a good shot and brought him into camp.
I am so happy for the guy, our lease ramrod. In the prior 17 seasons, he had shot more than a couple of deer with his best being a nice, very nice 162. Everyone else has taken something bigger. Some much larger. This buck did blew us away in person. Shock and awe comes to mind. Seeing and holding it is a lot different than a photo. Los Cazadores did score him at 193 and some change and that buck will book typical. We have actually seen their computer generated scores to be less or more conservative than what official B&C scorers measure. I have no idea if he is going to have him remeasured or not.
Talk about setting a new standard. In 2013/14, Prudhomme had shot a 186 which netted 181 (see below). That year, it was the largest typical entered in the low fence South TX division at TBGA. I never thought that deer would be bettered. Although trophies taken are only a few each year, it does appear we are on the right track.