The hunt for this buck actually started on Nov. 4, 2005 when I saw him crossing an alfalfa field. The buck
saw my truck parked, turned and ran, but at least I knew there was a buck of this caliber around. I hunted
hard the rest of 2005 and at the beginning of the season in 2006. On Nov. 5 (my birthday) I was doing
some in season scouting. I was checking the edges of standing corn and overgrow pasture when I saw 4
fresh scrapes with huge fresh tracks all over them and 3 tremendous rubs the size of my thigh. There was
no doubt a giant buck was in the area. I always carry a lone wolf stand in my truck to set up on a moments
notice if need be. I immediately set up the stand on the corner of hard woods, standing corn, and over
grown pasture down wind of the scrapes hoping the buck would come check these and present a shot. In
the pasture I placed a buck decoy and put Hawg’s Limited Rut scent in a film canister on the ground
beneath it. I sat in the stand for about an hour before I did an unaggressive rattling sequence. I
immediately heard a deer coming from the standing corn. He sounded like a train coming and he was
coming fast. I quickly grabbed my bow and drew back. The buck stepped out and immediately saw my
decoy. He did some aggressive posturing and circled downwind of it to give me a 15-yard broadside shot.
The arrow hit perfect and he took off quickly, but he only went about 50 yards before piling up. It was
about 30 seconds from the time I rattled to the time I shot so it was a very quick hunt, but probably the
most intense hunt I've ever experienced. I was surprisingly calm on the shot, but once I saw the buck go
down I started shaking violently and had to get out of the tree. I walked over to the buck and was really
amazed on how much size he put on in the past year. I estimated him around 140 a year ago and my buck
green scored 170. He dressed out at 190 lbs and is believed to be 5.5 years old. I hunt for mature bucks
and have been fortunate enough to take several 140s, 130s, and 120 inch deer over the years, but this
was my biggest buck ever harvested and ever seen for that matter. It was a great hunt!
saw my truck parked, turned and ran, but at least I knew there was a buck of this caliber around. I hunted
hard the rest of 2005 and at the beginning of the season in 2006. On Nov. 5 (my birthday) I was doing
some in season scouting. I was checking the edges of standing corn and overgrow pasture when I saw 4
fresh scrapes with huge fresh tracks all over them and 3 tremendous rubs the size of my thigh. There was
no doubt a giant buck was in the area. I always carry a lone wolf stand in my truck to set up on a moments
notice if need be. I immediately set up the stand on the corner of hard woods, standing corn, and over
grown pasture down wind of the scrapes hoping the buck would come check these and present a shot. In
the pasture I placed a buck decoy and put Hawg’s Limited Rut scent in a film canister on the ground
beneath it. I sat in the stand for about an hour before I did an unaggressive rattling sequence. I
immediately heard a deer coming from the standing corn. He sounded like a train coming and he was
coming fast. I quickly grabbed my bow and drew back. The buck stepped out and immediately saw my
decoy. He did some aggressive posturing and circled downwind of it to give me a 15-yard broadside shot.
The arrow hit perfect and he took off quickly, but he only went about 50 yards before piling up. It was
about 30 seconds from the time I rattled to the time I shot so it was a very quick hunt, but probably the
most intense hunt I've ever experienced. I was surprisingly calm on the shot, but once I saw the buck go
down I started shaking violently and had to get out of the tree. I walked over to the buck and was really
amazed on how much size he put on in the past year. I estimated him around 140 a year ago and my buck
green scored 170. He dressed out at 190 lbs and is believed to be 5.5 years old. I hunt for mature bucks
and have been fortunate enough to take several 140s, 130s, and 120 inch deer over the years, but this
was my biggest buck ever harvested and ever seen for that matter. It was a great hunt!
| Birthday Buck Andy May |
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