Steve's 8 Point Buck

November 11th, 2005

Friday morning I decided to switch things up and hunt the river bottom. As the sun rose in front of me, reflecting off the river, a layer of frost covered the woods and winter wheat field to my left. I ne w it was going to be a good morning.

6:25 A.M. The sweet sound of deer walking through frosted leaves came from my left. I looked to see, and at about 50 yds, a good buck was working his way through the thicket. As if I was on camera, I said to myself, "that's a shooter!"

6:27 A.M. The deer worked away from my set up. Without hesitation, I gave a series of soft short grunts. The buck immediately turned and made a b-line towards me. He was now at about 30+ yds. He stepped behind a couple of good size trees and I drew back on the ol' Hoyt. Of course the buck stopped behind the tree and all I can see is his breath venting in the frosted air from behind the tree’s trunk.

Proce eding to step out; Now at 25 yds, he quartered to me and approached closer. Just as I was ready to fling my Razorback broad head for his vitals, the buck spooked. I assumed he got a wind of me as he jumped up and moved behind some brush at 30 yds.

6:29 A.M. Just as I thought it was over, he moved directly across from me at 30 yds or so. I had one chance with a small opening in the thicket. I locked my 30 yds pin on his shoulder and let loose. The buck flinched and ran 15 yds directly away form me, stopped, looked back to see what happened, an d proceeded to run off. Several seconds later, I heard a crash in the woods.

I wasn't sure if I hit him at all. The way he ran off I had doubts, but the crash I heard gave me hope.

7:21 A.M. I couldn't wait any longer , after a fork buck kept be entertained for several minutes, I head out of the stand to investigate. As I stood in the spot where I saw him run, I didn't see anything, then I noticed a small speck of blood on a leaf near my feet. "Holy #@&$, I did hit him" I said to myself. I then noticed more blood. I looked behind me and saw my arrow covered from fletch to blade in blood. At this point, I knew the crash I heard was a good thing and proceeded to track.

7:35 A.M. 60 yds into tracking, I notice a deer coming my way at about 70 yds. I got down o n my knees and watched. Turns out, a young buck was dogging a doe, and they were coming right towards me! As the doe approached at 30 yds away now, she spooked and hurried my way at in a hurry. The doe and I both got a good scare as she ran straight for me and hit the beaks at 7 yds!

7:40 A.M. I got a bit nervous. For some reason the blood trail was running thin. I was almost ready to back out. I thought about how the doe spooked and thought maybe she ran up on the buck I shot. I strained to look through the dead grass and managed to see a white piece of debris up against a tree ahead. Then I noticed the debris had tan fur. I ran over with my bow raised high to find a grat 8 pt buck expired 90 yds from where he was shot.

Hunting Stats

Weapon: Hoyt Havoc Tec
NAP Razorback broad head
Super Carbon Magnum Arrows

Gear: Scent blocker Realtree Hardwoods Xtra Green and Mossy Oak insulated bib
Knight and Hale Hands Free Soft Grunter
Rocky Boots
White Lightening Sent Eliminator from Scent Shield

Location: East Central Missouri River Bottom

Weather: 35 degrees/Sunny

Deer: 8 point Whitetail
Gross score 91 5/8"
Net score 91 3/8"