I usually don't start threads like this, but I think this story has some potential, so what the heck. As I mentioned in my doe thread we hunt a property in MD that holds some great potential for bucks. There have been a couple of P&Y bucks taken by a friend there and last year a 151" buck. So, there are good deer there. This year we have not seen the numbers of good bucks on trail camera as we have in the past, but we have gotten some quality bucks. Here is an example of the bucks we've gotten on trail camera this year: The date is wrong in the picture and that was actually back in early to mid July. That buck put on a good number of inches since that picture and is actually more impressive out of velvet. As good as he is, there is a MONSTER running around down there with that buck that we are developing a history with. When I say monster I know there are some guys that will think that I'm just some PA guy and anything 140" or above is a "monster." In most cases you be right if I were talking PA deer, but this buck is at least 170" and could net B&C. I'd say a typical Booner is a monster in just about anyone's book. It started a couple of weeks ago, when my buddy, Damien, was in MD hunting by himself. He hadn't taken his climber and planned on hunting a set that I hunted opening day that catches deer heading to and from their bedding are from a major creek crossing. He got down there in the evening and around 6:30 as he hunted heard what he thought was a loud grunt followed by what he thought were horses running the creek. In this spot that would not be unheard of since there are horse trails in the woods, but we've never seen riders follow the creek. After a few minutes he decided to get down and check it out. He slipped out of the woods and to the field edge and made his way to where the sound was coming from. He slipped back into the woods toward the creek and saw the buck in the photo above fighting, knock down, drag out fighting in the creek. He tried to creep forward and get into position for a shot, but the deer were moving so much he was afraid to attempt one. He said they were fighting so hard he could barely see their bodies through the water they were splashing up. He tried to move to a better position and snapped a twig. Even with all of the splashing and grinding of antlers the bucks snapped to attention at the sound. The wind was in his face and they never made him, but the monster stepped onto the other side of the creek and headed out to the field behind followed by the big 8. He called me to tell me about the episode on his way to the hotel room. He was still hyperventilating and could barely complete a sentence. I've never heard him this excited over a buck. The next day he hunted the same stand all day passing on a 2.5 year old 7 point. Again around 6:30 he heard the tell tale sounds of hooves in the creek. He readied himself perched 47 yards above the near creek bank and saw the big 8 coming with the monster nose to tail with him. All they needed to do was make a right and head up the hill toward the field as all the deer do and the monster was his. Of course, they both made a left and headed out toward the bedding area. He had to head home but returned to hunt the following Saturday making the 2.5 hour drive twice in a day to hunt 4 hours. The bucks did not show. He and I headed down with our climbers this time and he set up right on the creek edge. I wanted to be down near the stand the he had been hunting but the wind prevented that as it would have been blowing right into a known bedding area. I hunted another pinch point to cut them off if they tried going up another finger of woods. The first evening we saw all does and fawns carrying on. The next morning I hunted the same stand with plans to move to a different spot that afternoon. That is when I shot my doe. Damien saw another good buck just inside the woods along the field edge but it caught his scent where he walked in and turned the other way. That evening he was pretty down about everything. The wind was not great and I was not where I wanted to be and his confidence was down. Around 5:46 he texted me saying "we should've just left at lunch." I sent a message back saying it was still early and to hang in there. Sure enough, around 6:20 he heard deer crossing the creek down near the stand I wanted to be in. The crossed over and headed toward him. He had the big 7 in the background of the picture above 8 yards below him on the creek bank. The big 8 was up on the bench. Damien drew on the big 8 and watched him walk straight to him to 22 yards, then swap head to tail and walk straight away. The bucks then all reconvened at the field edge where the monster joined them and they all crossed an open field pretty as you please in broad daylight. Seeing this combined with the adrenaline rush prompted Damien to spill his Wendy's lunch down into the creek below. This buck that we are after is a main frame twelve with 14" height on his G2s and holding good height all the way out. He is definitely over 20" wide and likely in the 22" inside range. He also has kickers coming off of both G2's. This buck has made himself visible in daylight 3 times now without making us so we know he is killable. We believe he is a big wide 10 that we had on trail camera and Damien had seen last year but could not get a shot at. He would be around 4.5 years old, but would have had to put on 30-40 inches since last year. Will this monster be a hero shot or a heartbreak? Stay tuned and find out.
I'm interested to see how this turns out. Keep us up to date and hopefully you'll be taking pics behind this monster!
You and me both. I'll be honest though, with my limited schedule any good buck down there is going to get it. Damien has become pretty obsessed with the monster, so I'd almost feel guilty if I shot him...almost.
It's southwest MD, very close to the VA border. We were staying in Gaithersburg at the hotel. I believe the name of the town where the property is located is Poolesville.
I'm just glad I've started seeing deer down there. I really had some tough luck until this last trip. Now that my luck has turned hopefully I'll get one of those big boys to slip up. To shoot that monster would be something else. I'm hoping the creek washed away all of the Baconator that Damien puked up from his stand. I can't imagine that's good for scent control.
