2015 Meat Pole
Whitetail Deer
Contributors to this thread:
A few have fallen already, our season starts tomorrow so I thought it would be a good time to put up the Pole, now bring the meat!!!!!!!!
Our season in Manitoba opened on Monday, September 7. I got this nice buck about 2 hours into my first sit, the evening of the 7th.
The weekend had been cool, windy and rainy. Monday was clear and very windy, but the wind calmed down once the sun started to go down. Around 8, I looked across the slough grass and saw a smaller buck coming my way. I recognized him as one from the bachelor group that held two mature bucks that I was after. I snapped some photos of him, then realized that one of my target bucks, Blade, was only 40 yards away, feeding in the alfalfa. I took Blade's photo as best I could through the branches and then noticed my second target buck, The Great Eight, coming as well! I got some photos of him as he entered the field then traded camera for bow as Blade was quickly feeding towards me. The adrenaline rose as I realized that it was going to happen on opening night!
Now, I had a problem. I had one target buck at 40 yards and another target buck at 15 yards. I didn't take long to decide. I have a thing for big, clean 8's and 15 yards is a lot closer than 40. At the shot, Blade took off hard, tail down and belly low. The shot looked like it was about mid-body, straight above the front leg. I thought for sure that I'd see him go down in sight. I shoot shaving sharp VPA's and I'm used to sub-50 yard recoveries. He ran right through the other two bucks and they all headed for the trees on the other side of the slough grass. Thinking I would see him drop any second, and already doubting my shot, I watched them all disappear into the trees 100 yards distant. I waited until the post-shot shakes subsided then climbed down. I found my arrow and FOB immediately. The arrow was covered in pink lung blood, but I couldn't find any blood trail, making me worry more about the shot.
I called my fiancé and hunting buddy and told them I was going to wait before I went after him, just in case. They met me at the house, and after gathering flashlights and my kill kit, we headed back out. I wasn't sure exactly where he'd crossed the slough grass, so we checked the head-high brown grass on the edge of the bush and found where he entered the bush. The blood trail was extremely good and after following it for maybe 30 yards through the thickest cover for miles, we found him laying dead. The shot was perfect, hitting both lungs and a large vessel above the heart. He was dead in less than a minute but he sure had me fooled!
I've never had a hunting season go so perfectly, and I'm almost a little sad that it's over already. Not that sad, though ;)
For anyone interested, he weighed 240 pounds. I haven't rough scored him yet but I would estimate that he'll score in the high 130's or low 140's. I'm guessing him to be 5 years old but I'll be sending his teeth away to get aged.
Nice, great story. I haven't seen a deer yet so I would have rather had your night!!
Killed this one on the ground while sitting a fence line at 42 yards.
Nice bucks congrats guys. Over one month for my start.
I shot this one yesterday evening. Unfortunately the the coyote found him last night before I did this morning.
Yikes! Yotes made quick work of that buck. Shame.
Western Kentucky opening weekend-- decided to sit all day--on my stand 5:30am and shot this buck 6:30pm-- 95 degree day--saw another shooter buck early morning but no shot--saw several does but to far-- arrowhead him at 20yds and went down in 45 yd--scored 152 2/8s--
September 8th southern Delaware
September 15th Central Missouri.
Here is my son opening day Sept 15 CT, we very rarely have velvet .
My 13 year old daughter here in Nebraska.
way to go, cant get my daughter in the woods, any advice
Hunter got his first buck on bow opener last night! Last year I have him my only tag to shoot his first deer with a bow.
Shot on NW Wisconsin public land this morning.
15 yard shot..40 yard recovery..exit hole..great morning..
Buddies first out of state hunt buck. Plus biggest with a bow for him
odd face coloring or mud?
The night he shot him it came a flood about 30 after the shot, had to wait to recover him till morning, no blood left. Found him in a creek. Mud on his face. Looks weird I know
Great bucks everyone...awesome to see the younger kids bowhunting!
still shooting my 2009 bowtech equalizer. maybe time for an upgade after the season :)
Watched him all summer, caught up with him yesterday!
Congrats ksdeerhuntr!!! That's a stud!
Wow, some great deer so far, I haven't even seen a deer yet.
Congrats to everyone! MD can't you shoot a decent deer? :). Noah ....I know that's no FL deer. You been hooking up with TBM? Hehehe
Thanks Trophy 8! Just a simple Key deer lost in Montana... :)
Last I heard, TBM was down in Key West at the "Purple Porpoise", making new fdweeinds.....
Trophy, LOL I should have let him go I guess!!! Seminole, thats awesome!!!
Just ran out of last year's venison a few days ago, so this doe was timely! I think BB would like the arrow placement. ;-)
Greg: I hope people take note of that shot placement. That is THE definition of perfect placement. Great shot and great deer!
Dakota's Link
Northwest South Dakota Archery Mule Deer A Client Got Yesterday
Dakota's Link
Northwest South Dakota Archery Mule Deer A Client Got
Shot this guy on September 27th Minnesota.
Meat in freezer.. Any deer is a blessing but some of those above are dandies. Congrats to everyone who's found sucess..
Dakota's Link
Ok, here's the low down! Seven point buck taken in Yankee Springs State Game area around 8:45am. Dressed out at 126lbs. Taken with a 66" 55# longbow that I made myself using Zwickey Cliff broadheads on CE camo shafts that I crested and fletched. The shot was about 15 yards, complete passthrough, heart and double lung and one of the best shots I've ever had on a deer. He went down within sight about 70 yards away!! GREAT HUNT!!
I thank Jesus for providing such a great deer and a great hunt and I thank my wife, Nicole Sherree Steward, for talking me into going out that morning!!
Killed this buck on Oct. 17th. Rut is right around the corner!
My first deer with a longbow. I was by myself so I couldn't take a "hero" pic. 45lb @ 26" BamaBows Expedition III, GT Traditional 1535 w/50 grain brass insert and 125 VPA 3 blade non-vented head. Quartering away shot at 10-12 yds, complete pass through. 30 yard recovery distance.
With a bow that looks like that, nobody would have noticed you in the photo anyway, Stink. Gorgeous.
Writer,
That's funny and you are correct. Nobody would want to look at my ugly mug anyway.
In case you are wondering this bow has redheart veneers, maple handle, zebrawood handle and tip overlays and bamboo core. It really zips the arrows and is very quiet. I got the bow this past summer and have practiced with it a lot. My comfortable max range is about 15 yds. This deer came in just as I had hoped. Now, I need that nice 8 pt I got pics of a few weeks ago to show up.
Easy Texas opening weekend
Oct 18th. Public land in Mi.
MI - 10-25-15
1st hunt in Michigan this year. I waited for a nice cold snap close to the rut.
His G2’s are over a foot long. He’s even got 4 or so inches of extra stickers on his bases to give him a little bump. One of my best bucks to date.
I’m a very blessed man!
Congrats to all who scored! I was able to kill this buck on 10/16. I had 5 years of history with him and have a post on the PA forum called 5 years in the making detailing my experience.
Good luck to everyone, the best 3 weeks to hunt are here!
Classic buck, Mitch, Congrats.
Shot this doe last Monday, thought the shot was a little far back so I waited 30 minutes before getting down. Found GOOD blood and my arrow, 10 minute track job and I scared a coyote off of her.
When I got her back to the truck I found this little guy stuck in the fence. I got him out after I took the pic. Foprgot to mention I shot the doe with a BW PSR, Grizzly broadhead and 2315 aluminum arrow.
Bobby Conger. W. Ontario. M/L
October 27th, 2015.
Pine Acres Bear Camp
Mr. Conger of Vermont with guide Brady Mckay. M/L
October 24th,2015. W Ontario.
Pine Acres Bear Camp.
Shot this guy on Oct.14th. Public land-National forest.. 47# Shrew Longbow ,Simmons broadhead.
NIce buck, Launch, love your handle.
Congrats on a great accomplishment.
Good job Scott, made that little fellas day!
Shot this guy oct 18. 28 yds G5 striker, ran 35 yds and piled up.
I shot this guy on the 27th feeding on white oaks. Ran about 100 yds.
Bernie1.....that.is.a.stud.! great pic!
I got this doe a little over a week ago on my property in central Wisconsin. I got her from a stand that I don't think I hunted for about five years. When I got up there I couldn't believe how much things had grown up and wasn't sure that I could a get a shot at all. She stopped in front of the stand almost straight down under a ten inch hole in the foliage. [URL=http://s252.photobucket.com/user/gszalewski/media/Fall%202015%20007.jpg.html] [IMG]http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh38/gszalewski/Fall%202015%20007.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Indiana 10/23/15 trailing a doe
Passed two slick tricks through his liver this morning. Missing Brow tines still my best deer!
6x5 last night on Halloween!! Best buck to date!!
Great buck AK! My SD buck from this morning. Hopefully my daughter can get one next!
Rattled him in at 3:30 p.m. on October 31st
Don't know, AK, looks kind of young. You sure you shouldn't have passed him. He'd have been bigger next year. :-) (great deer)
Butcher - wow .... fantastic 8
Bake and Mark, congrats fellas!
Congrats everyone!!! Brotsky hope to see your girl on here.. I'm wishing her luck.
10/31/15 @ 4:30 12 pt 152" Ohio biggest to date!
10/31/15, 5:00pm, WI, came to rattling
November 1, picture by rattling junkie
This Indiana buck followed a scent trail I put down today. Was in the stand for 5 minutes. 35 yd shot, 50 yard recovery, 150 green score, a great day!
Got this old warrier on Oct 30th tending a doe....
Doe taken in Kentucky. Looking for bone now.
Matt Anderson - how far away was your buck? 60' 6"?
wow hogthief...penny for your thoughts!? lol
Hog thief - he is sitting alongside the rack not sitting 6 feet behind it which makes it even more impressive. I green scored the buck and I can assure you I am within 3" margin of error because I didn't have the best of tools to measure with. I didn't even add in a 2.5" point coming off a pedicle. How about 154 or 155 instead???
My retarded old wounded warrior. Awaiting his age but I have pics since 2011. His right leg was locked at 45 degrees for years.
Jack was that what he was meaning? Those photos are amazing and you can tell a high end coamera with a wide -angle type lens was used, maybe a macro due to the blurred look behind him.
Kentucky nice buck! Are those burrs or ticks all over him?
First buck with a longbow. Lonesome Wind Custom Bows take-down. Complete pass through heart shot at 12yds. 60yd recovery.
Iowa 11/4 Mainframe 8. Grossed exactly 170'' believe it or not! Never would have guessed him that high.
T-ROY - the buck is better than the picture, but not by much or maybe it's a tie... Well done!
t-rot awesome buck and pic,, pm sent
Nice deer T-Roy!!!!!!
I got mine this weekend too, not quite as big as yours but I still like em!
Thanks guys! Here's a buddy of mine's he shot on Friday.
He's going thru chemotherapy for prostrate cancer right now. This was quite the morale booster for him!
172'' gross
Troy, congrats again! Stud 8 pointer! Awesome pic! Bout time we saw your mug on the whitetail meatpole Billy!
Congrats Shiras, great buck for the first longbow kill! My Lonesome Wind is still a virgin, but I plan to get a notch on her next year. Vince makes a great bow.
Nice bucks everyone, love this thread every year!
Last week evening hunt. 198#, 160", 32 yard shot. 65 yard recovery. Rattling grunting sequence on a scrape line. WI
I put a ton of time in the stand for this one! Working on getting one of 3 nice bucks on the farm now. NW IN.
Wow! Great bucks! Here's Matt's See "Matt does it again, Bomber" thread
I have eaten tag soup for 2 years passing small bucks. I decided not to pass this year. :)
Minnesota 4x4 at 28 yards. Tagged out during gun season
Had my elk buddies come and hunt whitetails with me on a couple of my farms. Weather was good for the first several days, a lot of deer sightings, some big bucks, mostly small bucks and does. We did kill two decent bucks from the same stand, exactly 24 hours apart.
Unbelievable bucks killed above! Congratulations to everyone!
Here's my SE Oklahoma buck from November 10th, killed in the morning at 17 yards. 20.5" inside for reference, 5" bases.
Got this decent little 8 point 2 nights ago.. Even had my GF with me so she could see what hunting is all about.. 4 evening trips into the woods with me and this was the result.... Was the perfect hunt and now she has the bug. Love it!
first year in 15, cant hunt midwest. Wife medical... but have taken 2 nice bucks in heart of Atlanta in subdivision..
here is pic of him after harvest.
here is second buck before and after.
this buck was 6 yrs old.. was bug 6pt last few years. &pt this year.
Eastern shore of Maryland. Some great bucks in this years thread! Good luck everyone else!
Kansas.... filled both my tags. Ed F
Congrats everyone.... Including Santa! ;-)
15 yds, down in 50, 3:15pm
So on Sunday Nov.. 8 I shot my best buck to date in SD.
And on tues. the 11th I did it again in Nebraska! Unreal season!
Wow, so many nice bow killed bucks, jabarrow good luck topping that, 2 huge bow killed bucks in 3 days!
Nov. 6th, field dressed 220 lbs. Illinois.
11/14/15 snort wheezed this guy in from 200 yards. 24 yard shot, 20 yard recovery. Field dressed 185lbs. Ohio.
Once again, smallest deer on the thread :)
My NE hunt with Mike "Fulldraw1972"
My doe (fawn) from 11/8
Last day of the hunt (11/12)I killed this fork for meat after passing a few bucks earlier in the week holding out for something bigger than last year's.
A fantastic morning for me. First fox, first double, and close enough the kids could "help" me find them! All taken in 12 yards or less on 11/14.
SD 11/4 best buck to date
Brother in laws Kansas giant 195" 11-7
Great bucks on this thread. Congrats to all those who filled tags.
Ike,
Bowhunting to me is about having fun. Many times that means eating a tag to wait on a big one and many times it means filling a tag for meat or just because you want to shoot. I am all over the map and never know when I am going to shoot. Ha Ha. Good job on the deer and congrats.
My "special buck". Shot the morning of the 14th
After 13 days and 52 hours of hunting
this 5x5 Colorado buck, with three broken tines came by at 1:38pm and walked directly under my tree stand.
I had been hunting with my recurve bow but elected to switch to my wheels this day. Mistake. He was only 25 feet away.
Nov 12, 1:38 PM,, Public land along the South Platte River. At least 12 inch of lines broken off but will still be a great eater.
Congrats to all. Great deer guys and gals.
My best, Paul
PS. I am officially done big game hunting this year in Colorado. The best ever year.
2 turkeys, one pronghorn buck, one cow elk, and one wt buck.
Shot the morning of 11/6/15 in WV.
Twelve yard shot, 30 feet recovery. Mathews ZXT bemans and 175 grain VPA broadhead. Kansas Nov. 12th Shawn
One more to show the whole rack. He has a couple broken off, we figure at least 8 more inches and his ear was split as well. He dressed 233#s. Shawn
November 10 10 point 180 lbs dressed Monroe county WV
November 6th Iowa 10 point, 11 if you count the little 3/4 inch point on the left side base.
Cheesehead Mike, nice buck dude but I couldn't help notice you and the deer have the same smile, LOL
Thanks Eric, great buck for you too!
It's rare that I smile and I really don't know how so I just copied the buck... LOL!
Mattanderson - saw your Mets hat. Thor reference from a Royals fan. Great buck! Congrats!
Public land 4 yards from the ground
Oh ok lol thanks buddy! I am a Mets fan and I've worn that hat while taking all of my big bucks! I guess a lucky hat! Would've been great if the Mets could have won too!
Stafford Virginia. 11-18-15 /. 9 point with a broken G2.
And one with my ugly mug.
November 9th 7a.m. skinniest deer I have ever killed with a bow. Looked fine on his feet, but on the ground you could see his hip bones.
November 19th, southeast Ohio. Passed on him last November as a 3 1/2 year old, hoping he'd grow a little more antler. His rack didn't change much from last year to this year, but he did put on some more body weight. Got a few pics of him the last few weeks and decided I'd take him if the opportunity presented since he's a mature 4 1/2 year old. Long story short, I saw him walking through a field of tall weeds/brush, and called him in 3 times over 5 minutes, but he wouldn't commit until the 3rd time. First time I saw him "in the flesh" this year. Came in from 100+ yards away, made 2 scrapes, was grunting, and I ended up shooting him at 18 yards. He ran about 50 yards and I watched him crash. Very happy with him, always special to get a buck you have history with.
Caught up with this brute on Public Land near Kansas City, Mo on October 21. A 10 yard shot resulted in a 40 yard recovery.
Harvested my best deer this season on 11/13. 164 1/8 gross as a mainframe 8 with 5 extra points. Kansas.
Steve, what did that massive brute score? What state. Great buck.
My Kansas buck killed November 8. Five yard shot, ran thirty yards and fell over.
November 11 in South Dakota. 11 yard shot, ran about 35 yards and fell. VPA 150 in front of an FMJ300.
So since my Ohio kill on opening day I have been hunting back in my home state of MD and it has not been easy. I have no real private land to hunt and the few small parcels I do have are not good this year. I have trying to figure out a 600 acre public land piece and it has been hard. I found a funnel that I liked late last year but I did not have much success with it because it was just to late season. So on 21 Nov my second attempt at it this year I made a small adjustment to where I was gonna place my climber as I saw a few does the other time I was in this area on 10 Nov. I got loaded up and was slowly on my way in the woods from the parking area. I got about 75 yds in and thought about entering the area a little different and I found about 5 scrapes and some rubs that were so new the tracks around them were still sharp and no leaves around the trees. First thought was to get up close to all this good sign. I really wanted to get to my spot I had planned out so while I am staying there thinking at 130 PM I hear footsteps and look to my left and a buck is coming. A 6 pt comes within 10 ft and stares at me. After about 10 mins he moves off about 30 yds so I snort wheeze at him and he flees the area. I think ok I should have stayed but now I will go. I move on towards stand sight and 40 yds from where I saw the 6 pt a large narrow framed buck jumps up and runs across the hollow, I grunt at him and he slams on the breaks and stops. I watch him for awhile and he looks nice. he moves off in some hollies and I am thinking I am screwed but I move on I have 100 yds to get to my new tree. I get 90 yds to my tree and cross a creek as I am picking the best out of 3 trees and I take a step and another buck blows at me and moves off like a mac truck, he was little but I feel screwed by now. I pick my tree and get up and settled and its 220 I nock an arrow have my bow in holder and I thought none of the deer seemed to really know what I was and none could have winded me so I though what the hell, I took out my can call and did 5 calls in a row and then tending grunts about 10 and waited. I saw a dink come over the hill and it was the buck that just blew and ran. He started making a scrape and ruling a tree, I thought your dumb. Then another buck came over the hill a bit bigger but they were in some thick garbage and I was getting excited by all the movement. The young buck starts coming and the bigger buck is making scrapes I just could not tell how big. I did however not think he was more than 80-100" buck but I was unsure. I watched and grabbed my bow as they were 100 yds and moving closer then I heard noise coming of the hill where I came in and looked and the buck I jumped was coming right where I had walked I ranged him at 47 yds and he came closer but the wind was not my friend at any second he could get me I knew he was a good deer. I drew back and he turned as he was maneuvering a tree and as he stopped my hoyt carbon spyder turbo slung a Magnus black hornet that direction. I could see my arrow and it hit a bit low he ran at me and I nocked another arrow but he was behind a holly tree at 8 yds pouring blood I thought I heart shot him the exit looked good (in picture hole). He walked of about 20 yds and I heard him fall into a creek and I was like oh boy!!!! I am sitting there thinking this was awesome but this was just the beginning. I still gave him an hour as it was 230. I start to come down the tree and as I am 10 ft from the bottom another bigger buck comes in down the same trail and stares at me for 20 mins before moving off, that was crazy. As he moves off I hear movement from where the deer I shot was and I see him walking down the creek and I am in disbelief. I get down and hang out and I hear a loud crash and I was thinking okay he has to be dead. I go to arrow, blood everywhere slowly take up trail and get to where he fell into creek lots of blood. I follow 45 yds later he gets up and goes. He cannot run for more than 50 yds and he starts walking so I slowly follow for another 50 yds and he goes over a hill and crosses a roadway into another part of the park. I mark where he crossed and back out. tracked so far 175 yds. I am baffled but I know now that I hit him lower than I thought and all I could do was think about Pats KS experience. I go home and make plans to go out at 10 PM thats almost 8 hours. My buddy that I talked to tells me no don't do it so I wait until morning. Take up trail at 7 AM, hardest frost of the year and makes it challenging. The buck after crossing the road into thick stuff i thought he would bed and would be found but he had other ideas, blood was really good and then it would get spotty for 50 yds and then really good. he went through 2 bean fields into a thicket and kept going. He had lost a lot of blood and we were 675 yds in and I just kept thinking about Pat. At this point he had entered a no hunting part of the park unless you were disabled so I left my bow at the edge. He started to zig a bit and I thought the end was near but it kept going. We were tired by now and we had been at it for 3 plus hours. blood was getting sparse again. I called my buddy whom I had helped train to find sheds and he started training his dog on tracking he came and met us and I told him to let his dog work and he was reluctant because he had never been on a live track and we had blood and he didn't want to mess up but I told him I had faith in him and to let his dog work. His dog made a circle and boom went 75 yds and he found my deer not more than 10 yds from where I had walked trying to cut the trail. in the end I hit one lung and nicked up the liver but it was enough. My buck although nothing like my Ohio deer was the hardest fought recovery of my life and he was a great deer for public land that gets a lot of pressure and I was ecstatic. We found him at 1030 AM.
Nebraska 11/8/2015 15-18 yards shot while he was moving thru checking a scrape line.
Man there are some beauties killed on this forum!! Good work! I shot this 8pt November 17th. He came in with his nose to the ground looking for love!
Good job on all the fine White Tails taken this fall. Killed this bush buck on Nov.21/15
Great job, all of you! I have yet to even hunt for whitetails...
My son Zach was home on break from college and connected his first morning back.
I was fortunate enough to harvest my biggest buck to date here in central Illinois . 171 3/8 on November 14 at 3:45 in the afternoon. Had pictures of this deer in the early season but disappeared October 1. Then when the rut hit he shows back up! To top it all off my little brother was sitting with me when i shot him! Good luck and safe hunting!
A danged-sure Booner if you can add 75-80 points for appreciation and anticipation.
Jake has been working towards this bow-kill since we met more than two years ago.
The kid got some great lessons in "well, that's bowhunting." Sunday morning we had a trophy-class eight-pointer in and the kid couldn't get his bow drawn.
Right off the bat Monday afternoon a passing trespasser/jogger spooked a neat eight-pointer that carried several stickers.
After I grunted this buck away from harassing some fawns Jake made a heart shot at about 13 yards. The Magnus Black Hornet left a heck of a blood trail.
Ohio November 14...came to the horns and some aggressive grunting.
Nov. 10 in Missouri. Had been pretty tough season up until that week. Then I shot a nice doe on Sunday and this guy on Tuesday.
First of 2 bucks in MA. This one shot on 11/23 (partially caught on film) . Inside spread of 21" and dressed at 192 lbs
Second one shot on Nov 17th. Old warrior that had broken points and main beam. Dressed at 184 lbs.
Finally have one to add. 7 pt. 19.5" inside spread. CT Buck.
Lots of great deer!! Congrats guys!!
Took this huge doe after putting a ton of time in the stand. I was thankful for sure! NW Indiana
I second what Matt said... Great deer everyone! Love it!
Some fantastic deer taken this year. I ended up taking two nice bucks in NE, this first one on Sept. 11 with my 'Green Machine' Pronghorn longbow, Ace Express head, at 16 yards.
I took this buck on Nov. 7 in NE at 14 yards with a Pronghorn longbow and Ace Express 2-blade head.
Great job Bryce good to see your still at it!
One day to spare. Didn't see a big one this year with the bow. This girl was big however.