Unfortunately i was unable to put my tag on a mature buck this year but had many great encounters so i thought i would tell the story of my most memorable encounter this year and figured you could share yours aswell! It was a week before the season and i had finally gotten permission to hunt a new property. Due to the upcoming season closing so quickly, i was unable to put up any cameras but scouted it two days and found a good crossing coming from a bedding area where the deer would walk a powerline down to a small oak flat. After already knowing where there were a few giant shooter bucks these stands were already a priority and i quickly forgot about the stand i had hung on my new property after seeing a few monsters on foot. As the season drug on i was not seeing the numbers on my other stands that i had hoped for, so i decided to go and hunt my new property on merely a whim one morning. I climbed up into my stand with little to no hope of seeing anything and shortly after 7:45 i heard movement. I looked behind me and a good buck was already at 15 yards and closing the distance. He kept coming at my back as i fumbled to get my release onto my loop and during the fuss he picked up movement of my elbow from around the tree. He hung up at about 11 yards and eventually turned away leaving me with no shot. Even though it only was a 120" 8 pointer i would have been more than happy to take him due to constricting hunting hours because of college classes. Not even 10 minuets later i saw movement to my right to my astonishment he was a BRUTE. i didnt get a good look at him but i knew instantly he would put my around the 140 mark but all i caught was a glimmer of antler as he moved through the brush. Enthusiastic about running into some luck on a brand new stand i figured i would try it again the next morning. At first light i saw 3 deer moving along the power line probably 40 yards away. I grunted twice and one turned to come right at me, i stood up and was perfectly set only to watch a small 6 point walk past. though i was bummed he wasnt a shooter, i had a great feeling about seeing the deer move so early. A half hour passed and suddenly i saw another small buck scurrying up the powerline and behind him was the giant. I grunted and bleated but he kept walking the powerline so i let him get passed me and i hit the snort wheeze. I saw him lift his head, 180 and take off into a dead sprint through the brush. At this point i thought i had him. He barreled in to about 30 yards which i began to draw. I vividly remember feeling my own pulse in my hands on the bow and even in my face. He mozied his across a small quad trail which i had hopped he would walk on giving me a 15 yard broadside shot which would have ended my season. In stead, he crossed over into the thick brush and all i could do is watch as he walked merely 18 yards broadside through the thickest brush imaginable. all i could see was his head and magnificent rack. I never encountered this buck again and im still heart broken over that morning. But next year is another year, and i hope he knows im coming for redemption!
I feel your pain dude. The first week of rifle season in wva my wife had surgery on the tuesday. Had to work on wedensday. So thanksgiving morning i was just going to go out for a few hours in the morning while my wife was still sleeping. I get in my stand about a half hour before light. Shooting time come's, i hear a shot off to my right about 1000yds away. 5 minutes later 8 does go behind my stand at about 75 yds, no bucks in the group. About 15 minutes later another shot from my right about the same distance. 5 or so minutes later 4 does pass behind me on the same trail as the other 8 did. I am figured that they shot the bucks with these groups of does. By this time its about 7:50, and I have to get a move on and get home to take care of my wife and start thanksgiving dinner. I get all my stuff together, get down from my stand and start walking to my car. I get about 600 yds away from my stand and decide to glass where the does passed behind my stand, and suprisingly there were 6 does with a buck that would score over 160" i couldnt beleive it. I drop all my gear so i can be as quiet as can be to get closer to take the shot. I got about 350 yards away and got in perfect position to take a shot at a fence row, i rest my gun on the fence post. I push my safety forward and BOOM. the curse of the remington 700 hits, thankfully my gun was point in a safe directon and i shot a tree. I couldnt freaking believe it. I've hunted with this gun 8years and never once had this happen. Needless to say the group of does and the buck of my life time take off running. Later that day i told my buddy what had happened with my encounter of the big buck. He hunts on the same farm during bow season, he and his son seen the same buck at about 200 yards and said he would gross over 165"-170". They named im Goliath. 25"+ spread main frame 10. I'm still depressed over this. This deer was never reported at any game checking station. We believe he made it. Nothing showing up on trail cams though.
