Da
Big Buck - By "Moe"
It all started out on a nice, cool Sunday afternoon
earlier in October. For once the wind was right to
sit in the stand that is in the swamp. (Which I missed a
nice buck out of last year, OOPS!) I knew the deer would
be moving that evening so I decided to try and get there
at about 3:30. I hadn’t realized how many leaves had
already fallen, so it took me 45 minutes to travel just
100 yards through the swamp to my stand so i wouldn’t
make much noise. When I got to my stand I glanced down
at my watch and it read 4:09. I thought dang it, but
hoped i had entered quiet enough that i didn’t scare
any deer.
After tying my bow to the pull rope I started up the
tree. When i was about three-quarters of the way up i
heard something coming through the swamp and froze. I
look over and there, just 20 yards from me were about 15
does and fawns along with a nice sized 8 point! I wished
that I’d gotten to my stand on time! Although I didn’t
get a shot at that nice 8 point I had a feeling that
this was going to be a good hunt.
I sat there until about a half hour before dark
watching the rabbits and birds and a few small does with
fawns wander around. I looked down at my watch and it
read 7:04 and I figured the deer would start moving very
soon. As soon as I look up from my watch there was
an enormous buck wandering toward me at 40 yards!!! I
keep watching him and I just couldn’t take my eyes off
from his huge rack. When he was 15 yards away and
broadside I tried to pull my bow back from a seated
position but couldn’t!! I then tried to stand up but I
couldn’t even stand up all the way!! I just kept
trying to get my bow back but never did while he was
within range.
Before he went broadside I got a really good look at
his antlers. He was a heavy beamed, very wide 12 point
typical with a large drop tine (about 7") which
made him a 13 point. I’ve since went through and
looked at some "book buck" and compared him to
them and I guesstimate that he would score between 170
and 180 Boone and Crockett inches!!!
About a week later I decided to hunt another spot
that I had been seeing a large doe at. With about an
hour of light left I look to my right and standing there
was a magnificent 8 point about 50 yards away, which my
friend and I had saw earlier in the year while we were
out crow hunting. I keep watching him and soon I thought
I had heard the sound of somebody rattling and look out
and there is the large drop tined buck that I had saw
earlier and what looked to be a large 10 point sparring
out 90 yards away!! Now I was wishing that the 8 point
would just go away so that I could try a stalk on these
other big boys that were sparring since I was hunting
from the ground! Needless to say the large 8 point didn’t
leave until after the other two bucks left.
Although I haven’t got a shot at these bucks yet I
feel that I’ve been very successful! I believe it’s
a real accomplishment just to be able to go out and see
just one large buck, let alone 3 Pope and Young bucks in
one night and two of those bucks would probably make the
Boone and Crockett books!! Although it would be nice to
shoot one of these magnificent animals I feel that I’ve
been just as successful as I normally would be, but I
just don’t have as much bragging rights as I would if
I would bag one of these fellows but still have enough
for me!!! I believe this will be a very good hunting
season for me, even if I don’t get anymore deer and I
just hope that one day all of you will have the
privilege to share the woods with one of these
magnificent creatures!
