field Staff

Al O'Brien

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A Hunter's Tale - My Largest Whitetail Buck

2009 hunting season was a year of less activity compared to previous years. We did see a few does with fawns, smaller bucks, heard a few elk and the odd moose when sitting in the treestands. As the season went on we started getting a few more pictures on our trail cameras, giving us some hope that we could get a chance at one of them. One problem was the deer were coming through in the early morning or just after the legal hunting in the evening, but the rut was getting near.

As we got to the second week in November we started seeing more deer during legal hunting time, but nothing I was waiting for. Our cameras starting getting activity more during the mid-day as the bucks were searching for the does.

On November 14th we decided to stay longer hoping get a chance at one of these roaming Whitetail. It paid off, we had a few nice bucks coming through around 11:00 am but no clear shots. Our spirits were getting high as we felt we would get a shot soon. So at noon we snuck out and met at the fence crossing, went to my trailer (hunting camp), had our lunch and warmed up with a coffee.
We headed back out at 2:00 pm, snuck back in to the stands and I wasn’t there for more than 45 minutes when a average buck with his nose to the ground trying to get scent of a doe. I just grabbed my camera and videoed him as he went about his search, no clue I was there. Every sound I heard I would look and hope it was one of the nice bucks in the pictures.

I had a couple does and does with fawns come through the area, but no bucks. About 45 minutes left for the days hunt, I heard a hoof hit a log. I slowly looked over my shoulder and couldn’t believe what was coming in. A big Whitetail buck that we never new was in the area. He was about 50 yards behind me, nose to the ground and at times sniffing the air. I slowly turned, grabbed my bow, started to turn to get set up for the shot. As I started to think he’s mine, now at 28 yards heading on the trail giving me a 15 yard shot. Then just as I was lifting my bow to get ready, I heard that awful sound of a pebble in the tread of my boot on the platform of the treestand.

I froze in disbelief that this just happened. The buck froze as well looking forward, not sure what he heard. He stood there for what felt like about 4 minutes, looking around. He then turned to the north, not giving me a shot, circling about 35 yards, turned back on the trail he was originally on, and still no good shot. All I could do was watch him walk away.

During the work week all I was thinking about was that buck, I wanted to get out and try for him, so I worked extra hours so I could leave early on Friday knowing I had to be there no later than 2 pm. I borrowed a decoy and put out some scent, got set up in my stand by 1:55 pm. At about 2:20 I heard something walking on the crunchy leaves behind me. I got my 10x42 Talon Vortex binos out and quickly noticed that same buck was working his way right to me.

This time I got set up sooner, as he was 70 yards and coming in at a steady pace sniffing the air. My heart started going knowing he was smelling the scent I put out. When he got to about 30 yds he paused, looked past my stand, seeing the doe decoy. That was all he needed as he started grunting at her and on a mission. He walked past a tree at 18 yads, I drew my bow back slowly, and put my 20 yard pin on his chest waiting for that shot after he cleared the more trees. He stopped perfectly, looking at the doe and gave a couple grunts, but my arrow was passing through his chest. He turned around and ran back the way he came only to expire about 55 yards away. I couldn’t believe I just shot the largest Whitetail Buck in my life.

I looked at my watch and it was 2:31 pm, I was only in my stand for about 35 minutes, thinking it all came together perfectly.

The buck is in my profile pictures.  

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