I’ve been hunting this particular property for 8 years now and have taken some nice deer but none as smart and slick as this olé boy. Hours and hours of preparation studying trail cam footage of him with his herd of does from one year to the next. We played the ultimate cat and mouse game to the point of me not wanting to hunt any other buck until the deal was seal on him. He had my total focus. I had to be absolutely correct and detailed when stepping foot out of the truck or my hunt would be over before it started. The notification from the trail cameras would hit my phone and I’d watch him leave the area.
Watching this Buck a couple years before actually tryin to take him taught me just how wise he was, keeping himself in position to escape at all times. Bedding areas where he could see the roads and sneak out or catch wind and blow at me as I entered the woods.
Last year I had my chance and blew it. After getting to the stand about 4:45 am, lighting the heater to warm up a little. Sun finally peeks out “Hunt is on.” I catch a glimpse of movement, it’s a doe and she’s on the move. Then I see this guy pop out of the tree line nose down running behind her. After what seems to be hours watching him chase this doe in and out of sight he stops broadside 85yards. I’m thinking nothing more than a chip shot and this olé boy is done. “NO” I ease the 7mag up and out the window, put the crosshairs in place, shoot and he trots off untouched. A Clean & Clear Miss!!! Sick to my stomach I shut down my hunt and went home. A week went by before going back after him and was lucky enough to get another chance to see him but he never gave the opportunity for a shot and just like that, it was over for the season. That day haunted me all off season. Every time I thought about hunting he would be front and centered in my head.
This year’s season started and yes he was all that was stamped in my brain. Trail cams were giving great footage of the herd all over the property but ol boy never came back to the spot that I missed him. He kept himself well clear of that location. Unseasonably warm weather this season had the deer movement very unusual but the pre rut activity started kicking in. I knew by him being one of the dominant bucks in the area my chance back at him this year would be coming. I got to the stand at my normal 4:45am, got settled in and waited for sunrise. The deer started moving around a bit but not a buck in sight. I heard shots from the neighboring property that made me kind of go stir crazy because without high fences in our area that ol boy could’ve been anywhere or taking by anyone. Three and a half hours go by and now it’s warm. Ladybugs and Wasps going nuts in the stand flying ,crawling all over everything. I’m watching a big doe and two yearlings eating in the plot, all of a sudden they bolt like crazy. Minutes later those three come back with an another big doe a young basket rack buck tailing them.
They run around a few minutes and like a switch turned on, all tails shoot up and they bolt off again. From past experience I knew it had to be a big buck making them nervous but he would not show himself. The hunger pains were beginning to kick in and my stomach was really mad at me for not bringing anything with me but like I said, I could not make any mistakes with this dude. So taking food or anything that would smell was out of the picture. I had to be laser focused. I remember looking down at my phone, checking time and getting trail camera pics from different cameras. I raise my head and he steps out. Instantly I get myself ready for the shot, crosshairs on him, boom I shoot! He never moves. He looks around, turns his ears and for a second repositioned himself against the tree line. Oh lord I had miss again! I think the difference this time is he stays because at 303yrds he is unaware that he is the target. I steady up and the second shot finds his front shoulder. I watch his chest hit the ground and he jumps back inside the trees. I called my hunting buddy and gave him the news then leave for a couple hours. After giving him enough time to expire we returned and there he was. The Deal had been Sealed
