Yes, and only 2nd time in my life. I've had this buck on my mind since last Nov 21! And knowing these type bucks in these big mountains, what it'll take to get him? Feels like a long shot in a heavy crosswind! The 1st one was in 2017, sheds from previous year, trail camera pics leading up to it, and how perfectly easy it turned out, Praise Lord, but that was a rifle plan and harvest! This buck, a very personal yearning like I've never experienced! I hunted this treestand from early Sept opener thru late Oct, and never saw a deer, even tho I had 000's pics from last April into the season, of 5 bucks, any I would've taken, 2 nice 8pts, but no special buck. I only had occasional pics of couple does, one with a yearling. I knew I wouldn't see many deer in this stand, but after I'm sure 175hrs plus, by early Nov, I was frustrated. So on opening morning of rifle season, I hunted an entirely different place, that I'd not been in since the year before. But I knew an ancient logging road, that crossed a creek, merging logging roads there, very heavy cover just below, steep inclines all above. Perfect Mountain Funnel. Set up at daylight according to what I'd learned previous year, and 30 minutes later, at 50yds I killed a small 6pt with my 30-30, because the bird in the hand theory here is iron clad, you better take opportunity! Was glad I did, good 2.5yr meat deer. That was Nov 11, spent a week at home, deer hanging in perfect weather under my carport 4 days, quartered out then and aged 2 more days in coolers on ice. Well I completed the butchering, wrapping, stowed in freezer in next couple days, and celebrated several days of deer liver, my favorite part anymore. Well, Nov 21st up at daylight, and it's still rifle season, my only buck tag filled, a doe tag remains, and I can only take it by bow or crossbow. I live rifle hunting but I wouldn't pack a 3ft stepladder in woods to hunt for nothing(my analysis of a crossbiw). And all fall I'd seen several squirrels in my treestand, so I took a 22 rifle to my stand on a perfect hunting day, just cool occasional drizzle, calm almost dead still. I hot into my treestand at aprix 9am. Hadn't seen nothing until just 30 minutes later, again, angling up the hill, this 6pt. He moved so slow, obviously worn out, and stayed the entire time of at least 4 minutes within 25yds, mist that time within 10- 15yds, and entire time I saw no less than 29 opportunities of the ultimate trad shot I could dream of. The best while he worked a yearly scrape at 11yds for about 2 min. Then he slowly walked up side the little ridge crossing over a saddle outta sight, these reasons why my stand is there! But I've wanted to spill my guts about this ever since, and the anticipation is killing me of what's possible this season. I'd never even got a pic of this buck, never seen or heard of him from other hunters in area! He's only a 6pt, but so unique, a heavy and wide main beam, heavy but short brow tines, and only a short but heavy g2 on each side! But the mass of the main beam and spread us impressive for here! In Dec I talked to a local buddy here who's a long time serious hunter, taken several nice bucks, way more than me. I described the buck to him, details, but like anyone else, he didn't get excited! Until few months later, he came to me, eyes aflame, "man, I saw that buck other day, ut crossed the road right in front me, him cutting grass for the city, not 1/2 mile above my house. He stopped in road looked at me up close. Now I see what you mean! He's a brute of a deer, old, probably on decline, but that 6pt rack is something!" So I spilled my guts on this boring story, but it's most exciting thing yet in my deer hunting career! It don't get very exciting here often! This us only pic I took and it's at about 25yds, but I got almost 4 minutes video, some great looks! I can't wait!???
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