18 years in the making......mature buck down

I have been hunting hard for 18 years, mostly public land here in Virginia. Well on Saturday I shot and wounded, but did not find what would have been my first mature buck. I have felt sick since. On the way home from my friend's house after a tiring search, something happened to my left front tire of my truck so I had to take it into the shop last night. Well I got a loaner truck and was all set to go hunting this afternoon, but my son got sick so I had to stay home with him...my day was shot. Well at 11am my mother in law called and said she could watch my son so I dropped him off and headed over to get the loaner truck from my wife's school. Well she did not leave the doors open so I could not get in and get the key. I could not go hunting. I was sooo bummed but reality sunk in and I accepted the situation.

But......I have about 35-40 yards of creek property that I own in suburbanville. I decided to slip into the woods and just set up...today was a beautiful day and I wanted to enjoy the sounds of the woods even though I did not expect to see anything at all. After 7-8 minutes in stand I hear something coming down the creek...HOLY crud! I was shocked. I got my bow and got ready. He was downwind of me. Time to test out my scent control. He stopped and smelled, curling his lip. I thought it was over. But he kept coming. My god he was coming toward me! I told myself, that the other days poor shot was a fluke and that under pressure I am a dang good shot. He passed through the thickest mess in the woods. His head went behind a tree and I drew. He was quartering toward me so I did not shoot at 10 yards. The only problem was that if he made it past that tree he was behind, more than likely I could not shoot at him at all again. So he stepped and turned to eat something, turning broadside, maybe quartering away. There was a 1 foot window to shoot through which was my last chance. I put the pin behind his left shoulder at 8 yards (how ironic that I got the exact same shot as Saturday for redemption).....WHAP! I heard two cracks. As he ran I saw blood pouring out of his heart area. I waited an hour and fifteen minutes then came down to inspect the arrow. It was full of blood but he had snapped my arrow off. I slowly snuck back up to my house and was so pumped I could not think straight. I told myself to calm down and measure the arrow. I measured that I got 17.5 inches of penetration.

I then called Jeff (GMMAT) and we talked. I decided to head back out after an hour and a half...I easily got on the blood trail and found him not more than 45 yards away!~

His body is the largest body deer I have ever taken by FAR. He is huge. He is a large 8 point and he is mature. He is my first 3.5 year old+ buck I have ever killed in 18 years of hunting. I thought I was cursed, for real....last Saturday was so hard on me that today I felt mentally and physically drained to the point where I just wanted to sleep all day. I forced myself into the woods and thank god I did....BOOM! KILL!

 

OuTStanDIng!!!!
Congrats to you!!

 

That what you call right place/right time! Congrats, looking forward to the pics.

 

Congrats! Can't wait to see the pics

Wha time did you shoot him?

 

1:40pm Buckeye.....I am telling you guys that I almost lost it after I knew I killed a 3.5 year old+ buck.....I cannot tell you how close I have been over the years. It was my day and I am elated to the point of I want to just start running for miles! My energy levels are peaked out!

 

big time congrats...


but...some of your own medacine for no pics :D :

 

awesome job!

 

Fantastic, way to get it done. I know the wounding thing was tough on ya..

Glad you got one to be proud of!

Huge Congrats!

 

Congrats! Looking forward to the pics

 

I hope to have them up in the next couple of hours Josh. Waiting on my wife to get home with the digital camera!

 

Congrats!! Sounds like you really deserved it!

 

Big Congrats VS!! You deserved this buck after your last shot. I am happy for ya bud.:D:D:D

 

Awesome Brett! Can't wait to see him! You earned him that's for sure!

 

Good job Brett, good things happen to good people. Lots of guys would of said screw it and not even went out. It proves the age old theory you just never know what your going to see unless your out there and your whole season can change in a matter of minutes. I'm happy as heck for you. On a side note, I intentionally didn't scroll down at first because I wanted to read the story first before seeing the pics.....all I can say is SACK PUNCH!

 

Congrats again on the buck, I couldn't be happier for ya! I can't wait to seem some pictures!

 

Nice story Brett. Can't wait for the pics.

 

Congrats Brett!

 

Awesome, Brett! That's awesome you finally did it after 18yrs! You deserve it, and you've earned it. Can't wait for the pics. Now...about that thread you started with my picture :D

 

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO congrats big man, that is awsome news. I do however agree that you need to be punched in the sack, although at this point you would probably just shake it off with the high you are riding.

 

Congrats on finally getting a buck! I am it made all those years worth it.