If you are looking for a big buck story then click the back button. :p As most of you know I bought hunting land late fall of 2011. This was the first bow buck taken off our land. My early land improvements were documented here: http://forums.bowhunting.com/food-p...nt/28445-my-80-acres-hunting-land-thread.html Needless to say it has been somewhat of a struggle. We rarely get pictures of bucks during the summer/early fall. But we have some does that are residents of our land and we pretty much know them by name. So, comes the rut and naturally our property changes. Last year I missed a good 8 pointer and shot right over his back. I had a monster stand behind me at last shooting light. But the final result was I had to settle for a doe with the bow. The year before I saw some good bucks but they were never in range. I told myself in 2014 I want to take my first buck with the bow off our land and wasn’t going to be fussy. Saturday and Sunday I saw a spike at 10 yards, and a 6 pointer and an unknown buck at last light. This were a little slow but at least I was seeing bucks during daylight. Monday morning (Nov 3) was a really nice morning. I decided to set up downwind of our 1/3 acre brassica plot to try and catch a buck scent checking the plot. Low and behold at 7:30am this buck walked out of this thick stuff on the right side in front of me and he walked towards the left. I did not hear or see him and by the time I slowly got my bow in hand he was out of range. He went and stood over near the plot. I gave him and grunt and he didn’t hear me. I grunted again and he just stared at me and didn’t move for like 5 min. You can see the plot in the distance. Finally the curiosity got the best of him and he walked right over to me. I drew right when he was behind a pine tree and he walked right into the shooting lane. I took the shot, he ran off and I could see blood running down his chest as he ran. This woods looks open in the pictures but there is quite a bit of smaller brush growing. I saw him slow down and disappear into the thicker brush in the distance. About 20 seconds later I heard a crash. I poured myself some apple cider and sat down to enjoy the moment. About ½ hour later I got down to check my arrow. I was pleased with what I saw: The blood trail wasn’t too bad either. A short track of 60 yards and there he lay: I’m very happy to get over the hump and kill my first buck with the bow on our land. We have taken 5 deer in 3 seasons of hunting total (gun and bow) which I think is respectable. Things may be looking up as I believe we are starting to figure out the big woods hunting as it can be tough to hunt sometimes and the deer populations are not that great to start with. A couple more pictures. He had a dressed weight of 152 lbs.
Congrats, again, Brad! What an accomplishment. Probably makes all of those hours of work that much more worth it.
Nice buck! If you're not already, you should try putting a cam on a mineral site next year. I bet you'll start getting photos of bucks in summer and early fall that you're not getting now. I read your 80 acres of land thread the other day and it was a great read. Thanks for all your contributions to the site!
Nice buck Brad! Even better it was with that Elite haha! I'm still sitting in the tree stand waiting for my buck. Can't wait to tag one with the Elite! Sent from my IPhone 5S.
I actually got both lungs high and back. Might of got that artery too. As the lungs go higher they go farther back and I hit him there. I'm surprised I didn't get any paunch.
