I shot this buck last evening about 6:50PM in a small bean field. I watched him feed for over a half hour. He got to within about 90 yards and I decided it was time to take the shot. He was hit through the top of the heart and went about 60 yards. He has 5" bases and the longest tine is 11 1/2". His beams were 28 7/8" and 28 2/8". Longest beams I have seen. I had one shed from two years ago and found both sides from last year. This deer seemed to live most of his life in a relatively small area and this was the first time I ever got to see him. I only got trail cam pics once this summer. Amazing how they can do that. What a thrill to get to watch him for so long and then make the shot. He grossed 180 2/8" and will net very low 170's. Now, time to get busy with the bow.
GOODNESS! My lord what my mind/body would do if I ever had a buck like that within range. My whole body would probably turn to jello.
When I finally put in for Iowa and draw a tag, well.....I am inviting myself to hunt with you. Congrats on a GREAT deer hoss. He is a slob no doubt.
Thanks guys. Really appreciate the nice comments. I feel so lucky to have taken him. It had been just a horrible week. I had a poacher kill a deer on my land and then run over the gates to retrieve the deer. I was afraid it was this deer. I had a neighbor trespass and shoot three times within 200 yards of where I was sitting. Another neighbor had 35 head of yearling cows get loose and he spent most of a day chasing them around some of my land. I was in about as low of hopes as I could possibly be. The weather was way too hot to go but there were only 4 days left on the early muzzleloader season. So I went out with little to no hope. Sat in a stand I had never hunted, and got a tremendous reward. I am still in a state of disbelief. I really thought I was shooting a mid 160's deer and was going to be more than happy with that. But 180+ just blew me away. Thanks again, and I hope you can all share a similar thrill this year.
Great deer Fletch! What a beauty of a buck. Man he's impressive. I sure loved hunting out there. I am happy that through such a tough week of intrusions and mishaps with the cattle that you were able get out and have such a rewarding hunt like this one! Congrats again, now kill a bigger one with a bow cause I picked ya too! LOL
Just kidding there Fletch don't get your panites in a wad. What an AWESOME buck man. Holy crappola that thing is a stud. Congrats.
Believe me, I would have loved to! But, I have enjoyed hunting the muzzleloader season since it first started about 25 years ago. For those that like to tinker with equipment, you can have just as much fun messing around with muzzleloaders finding just the right "recipe" of gun, powder, bullet, etc. to shoot the smallest group possible. Guns dont kill deer, people kill deer. lol By the way, it was way too hot out for panties. Thanks!
