When it all comes together......

[Coach]

Finished up at school at 3:30 on Tuesday the 20th of November.  Hurried home and changed into my gear.  I grabbed a couple of field tips on the way out and stopped by the target butt for a couple of practice shots.  The first one went right were it should so I didn't take the second.  Instead I hurried to my stand.  It has been so warm for so long but about 10:0 this morning a cold front went thru and I was bundled up and ready to see if it would change my luck.  I pulled up to where I would approach my stand and a buck was already down by it and I saw another a quarter of a mile north running toward me on the creek.  I thought a short bit if I should try to get to my stand anyway or not bother it with deer coming in.  I was out in a flash.  I ran 200 yards down wind, got into the woods, and then into the creekbed out of sight.  I hustled into the wind from down in the  mostly dry creekbed until I reached my tree.  Keeping it between me and where I spotted the deer I  started up the tree...

[TexMex]

I'm with you              

Hey I work for the government and got coffee  :D

[Coach]

Mickey, this was such a fun hunt I wanted to relive it one more time!   Soooo I clmbed up the tree and had just got settled in and here came the first buck.  It was an eight point that was probably in the 125"-130" range.  I had been hunting pretty long hours like most of you and with basketball season here I knew my time was going to be limited drastically.  The buck appeared about 75 yards away and started walking toward me.  He stopped and worked two scrapes and licking branches.  I decided if offered the shot I would take it.  He kept coming and was directly in front of me at 10-12 yards.  This voice in my head said now but another voice said I could do better.  I knew I might regret it but I just watched him walk by.  Feeling a little disgusted with myself I looked to my right and there where the first buck appeared was a real shooter.  He came the same way the first buck did.  He worked both scrapes and came almost in range and stopped.  I could count 10 points on his big rack and was sure he would continue on.  I waited several minutes and he turned around and started back to where he came from!     I quickly got my grunt call out but he paid it no heed.....

[Killdeer]

HEY!!!!      :mad:      

Killdeer  

[TexMex]

And and and....  

[Coach]

It's been busy at school this a.m. and I am just getting back to the computer and will finish this up.   I knew I had my can call but fumbling for it when the stakes are high is unnerving. I finally got it out and mewed at the buck.  He stopped dead in his tracks and looked at me.  I mewed again and he was coming toward me.  He was about  50 yards away and coming.  He came under my tree approx. 10 to 12 yards away and stopped.  The next thing I knew he was bounding away with a cedar arrow protruding about 12" on the far side.  I knew immediately it was a good shot.  Tracking was pretty easy.  Found both pieces of the arrow in a hedgerow covered with bubbly blood.  The buck went about 100 yds. and piled up.  I am so grateful for this hunt.  I also must thank Dan Willems an accomplished traditional archer who has helped me.  He again helped on the short tracking job and took the pictures.  And a very special thanks to my mentor Ralph Renfro.  Ralph got me building bows and kindled my interest in traditional archery.  He always told me it would be the best when I shot a buck with a bow of my own making.  Well, this is my first one with a bow I made myself.  It was a 60# bamboo backed osage bow.  I shot a cedar arrow also made by myself with Dan Willems help.  The broadhead was a Zwickey.  The buck was a 10 point scoring 155" and live weight was 280#.  Just had to tell this story one more time Mickey!  Coach   P.S.  Picture will be coming!

[Gatekeeper]

Congratulation! Great story.  

[Coach]

[TexMex]

Congratulations!!

[bbassi]

Man those KS deer are BIG! Congrats!

What makes them so big anyway? They look like northern Canada deer (read: small moose)

[the Ferret]

Good gawd that's a bruiser. Holy cow. What did he weigh? Congrats Coach that's a beautiful animal and a great picture.      

[Coach]

Mickey--He weighed 280# live weight.  Weighed him that night.  He almost weighs as much as I do!  Coach

[GingivitisKahn]

Yow - nice pig-deer!

[the Ferret]

That is an awesome mature whitetail. Just beautiful.

[Gatekeeper]

Wow What a deer! Great picture also.

[Tom]

The story may have been dragged out but that picture is worth a thousand loooong words. Great buck and good job with your bow!

[Talondale]

Beautiful buck.  Congrats.

[Gatekeeper]

Originally posted by bbassi:
Man those KS deer are BIG! Congrats!

What makes them so big anyway? They look like northern Canada deer (read: small moose)

A town of 500 people.  

[drewsbow]

Very nice , congrats :0)

[deertraks]

Man, thats a good one!