For my first season bowhunting and only third season deer hunting I couldn't be more happy with my 2011 season. In addition to my two doe bow kills in September ( a155# and a big 168#) I harvested this awesome buck on Sunday November 20th at 5:00 pm. It was the 2nd afternoon of a 3 day cold front that brought temperatures in the 30's, light precipitation, cloudy skies, and north winds at 10-15 mph. Due to church that morning I was unable to hunt, but hit the woods at 1:30 pm planning to sit until dark. The area I hunted was an oak timber line that bridges a cedar thicket bedding area (loaded with does) to the south and our creek bottom timber to the north. Deer movement was awesome all afternoon! starting at 3:00 pm I was covered up in small bucks milling around my food plot. At 4:00 pm a hot doe came out with a nice 8 point on her tail! He was tall and had good spread just outside his ears, but wasn't the buck I was after. I watched the small bucks, 8 point, and Doe for nearly an hour when they all worked their way back to the bedding area headed south. At this time I spun in my treestand to face my northwest and check for any activity in the clearing behind me. To my suprise a decent 6 point buck was working his way south to the food plot. While watching this buck make his way towards me, I heard that familiar sound of a stick crack and leaves crunching close by and to my south east. I slowly slowly slowly turned with anticipation and laid eyes on this bruiser standing in a clearing in the timber at 40 yards. I saw spread, I saw a huge neck, huge body, and 10 points and knew instantly he was a shooter! To my dismay, my movement in the stand spooked him and he jumped off into some thick stuff towards my food plot, but heading away. I thought I'd blown it!!! I held perfectly still and waited for movement. Eventually the giant started making his way downwind of the food plot And must have caught the scent of that hot doe who recently visited because he turned and came on a string to 20 yards. Thank the Lord for estrus in the air! As his head turned back to the south I came to full draw, and as I put pressure on the trigger of my release the buck got squirrely and jumped off the food plot to where I had no shot! After a few moments He slowly came back in, and thankfully I was able to hold full draw because once his vitals cleared the branch obstructing the shot I let my Easton fly! I hit the buck perfect, both lungs and heart, I got to watch him pile up in 30 yards! My 100 gr spitfire edge was devastating! This monster weighed 260 lbs on the hoof, he is a 10 point with 2 small stickers one on his left G2 and one on his left G3. The taxidermist looked at his teeth and put him at 4.5-5.5 years old and scoring in the mid 140's low 150's. His inside spread is a crazy 24 inches! Obviously im getting a shoulder mount done! Natures art taxidermy in Arma, KS will be doing the work. His website and shop were impressive and I should get my shoulder mount in 8-10 months. I hope yall enjoyed my account. What do y'all put him at as far as age and score?
Congrats on your buck !! The pictures are small. Would love to see a bigger picture to really get a good look at him. Congrats on the does too !! Tim
Yes the pictures are small and really doesn't give us a feel for the size. Congrats though on the season your having. The one picture of the rack from the side looks like he's a good one. Rocky
Loved the story, felt like I was right there with you. Congrats on a great buck. Blessings......Pastorjim
Dude, you should be jumping for Joy! Awesome Buck! and we call them Donkey Does, GOOD JOB! Sometimes the curioristy of deer, esp unpressured, is what get's them whacked. First year bowhunting, your addicted for life, now you'll have to attend BHA. Ha. And going to Church passing on a hunt, they very well could have been your reward of sorts. I have had many a hunter tell me a story of knowing they would only have 2 hrs to sit before they had to get to church, and slammed monsters. I don't believe in coincidencidances. Judging only from the small pics, in kansas he could be 3 1/2, but I would say he's 4 1/2. You can have the lower jawbone removed to find out for sure. Post some bigger pics on the QDMA website (you dont have to be a member), or I can have a P&Y judge judge it, if you send me the pics ([email protected]). God Bless, Happy as could be for you! Keep it up, your in the land of monsters!
Much Better! Congats Jeff ... That is a HAWG! And thanks for posting better pictures! Also for your information: Eruption Wear method of aging deer teeth is NO better that 49% accurate. The accuracy drops to 43% for deer over 3 years old. Unless you know exactly how old a deer is (by witnessing his growth from a fawn) You will be much better served by sending all the deer teeth off to have them forensic tested. That method is called: Cementum Annuli. Here's some more info http://deerage.com/
Well, thats a bummer. I've been hunting this property for the last 3 years and only using trail cams on it this past year, so aging my bucks from fawns to maturity won't be an option for a few years down the road. I'm not sure if I can get the teeth back now that he's at the taxidermist. That might turn into a big hassle. For those of you that are far more experienced at aging/scoring deer than I am, any guesses on how old and how much horn is there?
It's definitely an amazing state to be an outdoorsman in. Monster whitetail, muleys, antelope, elk, upland birds, waterfowling, killer fishing; what more could a guy ask for.
I'd like to see your statistics. Aging deer from a lower jawbone, includes not only teeth, but the physical references on the jawbone, and replacement method. The 49% accuracy is incorrect, IMHO. QDMA biologists have been refining the system for decades, and you can within reason judge the age almost always. However, in consulting others, a kansas deer of that size, assuming he access to good feed (which he must) should be 4 1/2. No need to send off the jawbone. See http://www.theshed-qdma.com/store.php?seller=QDMATheShed&navt1=39797&sort=&pd=393807 , and the info on aging on the site is immense. www.qdma.com This is assuming you care about the age. I'd call him 4 1/2 and hang em on the wall Hope this helps, God Bless.
Without running a tape on the antlers, it'd just be an educated guess, He's over 140, prob just under 150 green. Regardless, he is a monster, and I'm overjoyed for you. Your taxidermist should be able to tape him for you, and even if he's not good at measuring (which most are good), he can give you a close idea. I'd bet he's 4 1/2, but he could be 5 1/2. If he's 3 1/2, doubtful, you have some other serious monsters on your property. Awesome job. Taxidermists, unless their seriousally busy and fleshed the cape early, may still have your buck in full. You may be able to get the lower jawbone from him if your serious about aging the deer. It is almost impossible, unless your Lee and cuddeback sends you a 100 cameras, to age deer from fawn to maturity. (assuming you have more than one doe on the property ) IMHO. God Bless.
