As usual, rookies get first stand pick. That morning he picked the stand I would have picked based on WIND FIRST, then morning deer patterns (going to bedding area and not the other way around, etc.). Made me smile…he gets it.
There’s a big nontypical that we have been chasing for a couple years and the rookie knows him well. He had a couple encounters last year but just out of range.
I get a text that he in and settled. Ok let’s get too it. The rookie is about 400 yards away also hunting the edge of the oxbow on the north side with a north wind. No way for them to get behind him downwind.
About 30 minutes later I get a text and he says the nontypical is 60-70s out and pestering some does. They hang around out of range. Just come south 30 yards…please please. I was anxious but kept quiet. Let him do his thing. Then my phone vibrated about 30 minutes later and I couldn’t grab my phone fast enough.
I grab my phone and he texted, “ No dice. Had 6 does and 2 fawns come by at 25 yards. Why couldn’t he have been following this group lol.” Reply 10-4.
We suspected the buck went to a known bedding area nearby with the does. He snuck out of there and we headed back to the house and discussed the next move for the evening hunt.
He called a stand about 200 yards away from where he seen the buck. The evening stand is at a narrow (45 yards) pinch point with a very active scrap line on the edge of a cut beam field. This is a new stand we (me and my son in law…he’s rookie #2) put up this summer and nobody had sat in it yet. Since the rookie had eyes the buck for quite a while in the morning we figured he didn’t check the scape line that morning as he wasn’t on my camera near the pinch point and scrape line the night prior.
We get to the best drop off spot to access the stand and not bump them bedding (if they were in the NW bedding area). I drop him off and he heads to the stand. As he left I said “squeeze the trigger and follow through.” Reply, “will do.” I drive a mile around to my spot. Get my gear together and head to my stand. I walked 20 feet, “damn, I forgot my phone.” Back to the truck. I grab my phone and look at the Lock Screen. It was a really good picture of the rookie and his fiancé. “F#%k, this is his phone and he’s got mine WTF” was said out loud. We work together and have the same phones and external cases. Damn, I’m an idiot. Ok, just go hunt…just freaking go hunt. Head to my tree with no communication with the rookie for the evening. This is going to be a long long 3 hours. Ugggggh!!!!
To be continued tomorrow morning from the stand. I got a doe tag and another rookie is in for the morning hunt.
It’s so much better knowing that the outcome is still TBD
A little background about the rookie. He’s a self man person. I’m not going to give details but he’s earned everything in his life on his own…trust me. And the odds were against him. First one to graduate college in his family. The guy is an eternal optimist. Every hunt, his parting words are “today is the day.” I admire his positivity, kindness, honesty, courage, drive. I mostly admire how he treats people. Who’s mentoring who?
Back to the hunt. I seen a few and had average 8 and fork hanging around my stand eating acorns from 10 yards. My goodness, close your mouth while eating cause I can hear you chewing…I could hear my mother say. Shooting hours are over and they won’t leave. I am dying to get down and hustle to pick up the Rookie. They just keep browsing so I decide to snort wheeze. He gone lol. I did the walk to the truck at double pace.
I come around to the gate and the rookie is unexpectedly already there. I’m thinking he must of got down early. C’mon rookie. You can’t kill’m from the couch.
It’s a gate only without fencing on either side. Brush and trees keep people from driving around the gate. I expected him to walk around the gate but he opens one side. I’m thinking “come on rookie, just walk around the gate.” Then he opens the other gate. Ahhhh…it dawns on me. I ask is there something we have to drive down there and pick up. His reply with a huge smile, “Yep”
Get in the damn truck and fill me in. We drive 300 yards to the closest spot to the deer and he’s telling his story. The buck showed up by himself an hour before dark and was checking the scrape line. Hot damn it worked. Broadside 40 yards and he drilled him. Derek and I practice a lot out to 60 and he’s an excellent shot. We discussed his comfort range and it was 40 if the deer is relaxed and unaware. The deer went down about 100 yards from the truck. Nice shot! I can do that drag as I forgot my cart. Way to go on the drag rookie cause I’m old. The Rookie is about 6’2” and strong as a bull. That will come in handy.
We walk to the buck and there he is. I turn to Derek and give him a big bear huge. The deer is 100 yards from the truck great but 15 foot down the bank of the oxbow. Oh boy, that won’t be fun. I asked Derek, “why did you let him go down there?” And we both bust out laughing.
So the rookie has gutted a few deer with me so I try to keep quiet while he’s doing his thing. Trying not to be overbearing. He gutted it like he’s done it 100 times. Up the bank in about 3 tries as it’s about a 40 degree angle. STEEP!. I’ll confess I had about 30% of the weight up the hill…sandbagged. We get him back to the truck and we are both out of breath. Much so me more than him lol.
While trying to catch my breath I say to Derek, “Hey Derek.” Reply, “yeah.” My reply, “I don’t know how the hell you’re ever going to pay me back for this.” We both start busting out laughing and still out of breath.
So we get him loaded. He’s a beast!!! Derek asks what do you want to do hang him at your house (he lives 2 hours south of me)? I said, “you’ve processed several deer with me, are you comfortable doing it yourself.” Reply, “ Yes.” I said, you can take him home so you don’t have to drive back here. This is your buck and you’re ready. If you’re comfortable, let’s throw him in your truck. Derek replied that he didn’t want to just cut me out and just go home. That is quintessential Derek. You’re not a rookie anymore. I’ve had plenty of practice processing…you’re good, go home and celebrate with your family.
Congrats to Derek! Great buck. You’re an even greater person. Thanks for mentoring me on how to be more positive and better person.
It was the best day.
Now you guys just need to get rid of those damn training, wheels, right? Because he’s never going to do better than that. You have left him really nowhere to go on the modern side….. LOL
He was a big pro/am bass fisherman and a fisheries biologist by education. He’s also a bat biologist, wetland bio. He’s been coast to coast chasing endangered species. Derek knows his flora and fauna. I ask if catching a 7lb bass compares gives him an adrenaline rush like killing that buck. He said not even close. He said he’s a bowhunter for life. Another one in the ranks.
I also ask only 1 thing from the rookies that hunt with me. I ask that they help someone else get into bowhunting. Get a rookie and take them bowhunting. You might be surprised what they teach you. That’s my only verbal contract with rookies.
Pass it on.
I always tried to keep in mind that my deer mounts won’t be giving the eulogy at my funeral. But maybe there will be some people who do if I listen to my mom and dad and “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” in life…and hunting. I fully understand my reputation here and some of you know I haven’t lived up to it but as Derek always says, “today is the day.”
Congratulations to that young man on a dandy buck.
Kudos to you for helping him along.
Good stuff all the way around.
Any idea on what he scores? Gotta be 180-190. If scoring isn't your thing that's cool too, just curious.
Bernie
Just kidding. Again - what a hammer of a deer for any, much less, a relatively new, hunter.
t-roy- I’ll admit when they get that big it is hard for me to tell very accurately. Seriously, I deal with two scores, pass or shoot that SOB. Once I see them then one of those two scores pop in my mind lol.
He will score it officially and I’ll try to check back in and post.
I’ll see if I can get the Rookie to come on here. Hell, it’s his thread and he’s not a rookie anymore. Damn it, the rookie did it to me again. Who is mentoring who? Now I’m his public relations rep.
How many encounters with this buck over the years. What was the closest you got to him excluding the day you drilled him?
I had 3 encounters with this buck last year. The closest I got was 60 yards, and was on a super foggy morning where I hadn’t seen any deer and got down from the stand around 10AM. As I was heading back to the truck, I came out of the timber and he was standing about 300 yards away on the field edge. I stalked in to 60 yards but reached a point where I couldn’t get closer without risking blowing him out. Decided not to push it and never saw him again in 2023. Had 2 encounters this year on the same day, the second resulting in the kill.
I attached a few more photos of what he looked like last year if anyone is interested.
This is his first whitetail buck. He’s shot several does.
Being a dad will a couple young kids, work, and moonlighting as a car mechanic, he’s a busy person and didn’t have time to hunt much this year.
This morning lightning struck twice for the Rookies. I’m the most blessed bowhunter this year. Hellava year.
Congrats on a great shot and 10 ringed his heart.
Congrats to you both KS, great story!
