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The Unkillable Buck; "THE STUD"
Topic Started: Dec 13 2011, 10:42 PM (239 Views)
bigr
Trophy Hunter
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I didn't know what to make of the attraction to Horns ? I like horns but to spend the time and effort that some hunters spent in chase of the biggest rack in the woods was confusing to me. I hunt for meat and the enjoyment of getting out with some great friends and hunting.

" What did you see ? "
" I could hear a buck dogging a doe all morning but they didn't come out to me "

That's what I like ! Getting out with great people and enjoying the hunt. But the allure of shooting a big deer captivates all hunters I think.
So in 2008 I decided that I would give it a go. Pick the biggest deer we had in our bush and hunt him as hard as I could.

Introducing "THE STUD " 08

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Never saw him that first year but it was on.
You can scout all you want but up here it is big bush and by big bush compared to areas like southern Ontario , Picture all your bush down there as your cash crop fields and your crop fields all bush now. Tens of thousands of acres of bush and they own it all and your an unwelcome guest.
Trail Cameras tell all for the most part and without them I would have shot other deer thinking that these were the biggest deer around but with them I started capturing images of the deer I wanted to shoot.

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It was this year in , 08 , That I had my first encounter with him. As you will notice , This deer dose not like the daylight. Nocturnal to say the least ! I planned on hunting as long into the season as I could because maybe , He might make a mistake ?
It was also in 2008 that I got talked into joining the QDMA by Keith Beasley. At first I was dead set against any organization involved in the hunting community as in my opinion, I could see a lot of negative things that revolved around horns and I felt that this was just another organization that was there to fuel the "HORN CRAZE" that in my opinion, took away for what hunting meant to me .
Wrong again !
There are issues with horn addiction but this organization has done more for my outdoor experience and put me in touch with so many great people , who know alot about deer as well as given me great tools to manage what we are doing.
Anyway ,, Back to 08 , It was late season , The last day for archery in our area and I was throwing cation to the wind and hunting my spot located on the top of an oak ridge over looking a clover/hay field in the morning . I didn't like doing moring hunts there but it was the last day. Not much food remaining as it was December 15th, -15C, and a foot of snow already BUT a storm front moving in,,,, I was also late getting to my stand by about 15 minutes after legal shooting light. The deer were usually at some corn and apples I had out at day break so I decided to walk and grunt on my way in so, if there were deer close,,, It might calm them down.
Not expecting to see much , I got into my stand , put on my mask , knocked my arrow and hung the bow up,,, but on the release........... Was that something walking ??????
Naw, Pulled my glove on over my release ,,,What was that ! Something is coming down the ridge. At 30 yards I see a big body snaking through the small spruce and oaks as this spot was an edge or transition from the hard wood to the soft wood.

" It's Him !"

All I have time to do was grab my bow and then he was in front of me at 20 yards ! What do I do ? I got to draw on him at some point soon.

Lesson of the day was to put hockey tape on the drop away rest. All I could hear was the hiss of the carbon arrow as it drew across the metal rest.
Busted ,,, He bounced back the way he came in but stopped 30 yards away behind a spruce sapling . Now I was standing at full draw with the 30 yard pin on his head , on his neck ,,,, " Come On, Take one step , all I need is one step". The stare down lasted too long and the thought crossed my mind to launch one for his shoulder that I could see behind the sapling but. Well you know , That would be worse !
He turned and walked away and I hung my head !

I decided to go back for the last sit of the year and and shoot a deer for the freezer and not hold out anymore that year and I was rewarded with a great deer that night ! Here is a trail cam photo of the deer !

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One thing I learned that year was how unreliable my cameras were. Some didn't even work after one season and the company was not good on the warranty so , I need to find a camera that would do the job I need.
After some research I bought 3 HCO Scout Guards.
If there is one thing that gets under my skin is us outdoors people "us" getting the short end of the stick when it comes to industry selling us stuff !
That being said , When a company honestly and truly dose good by us , EVERYONE should know !

Chase at Uway Canada is one of those people
My HCO Scout Guard Cameras and Uway cameras helped me find out more about this deer then any scouting in the big bush could have ! Deer up here don't have runways per say , They have areas they travel in as well as bed in. One day here , One day there. I'll take the long way today to get to that ridge V.S. the direct route today .
Deer in this bush can frustrate you to unbelievable proportions.
As Ontario Gobbler calls it. No real bedding area. They just decide to lay down "here" today. Big Bush.

2009 He is back again !
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Hunted all season and where did he go ? He normally disappeared just before gun week only to reappear in the late season but ? Did he get shot ? Is this now over ? Didn't see him again till 2010.
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The cat and mouse game was on again and he once again toyed with me.
Only once showing up in daylight hours on camera.
I had my chance , It was December again and the second rut was on. There were does and fawns crossing in front of me with one 2.5 year old buck and one of the does acting all in love with her tail sideways acting like a dog in heat.
Then off down the trail. Berrrrp , Berrrrp. That young buck didn't even think twice about leaving as deer scattered in front of me .
There he was , 20 yards away, in shooting light , 10 minutes to spare !!!!!!!!
DRAW !

I can see my pins ,, but that's all I can see ,,, Can't really see my peep. This sucks ! Let the draw down and watch the big deer walk away "Again"

2011 The year The Unlikable Buck,, "THE STUD" is killed.

We have been putting in food plots for a few years now and this year we decided to go big on some plots near the studs bush.

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I didn't expect to kill him on a food plot but to attract more does and keep more does around the area so he would not have to travel so far during the rut. Bring him more dates kind of a thing.
Well , He didn't seem to mind showing up during the daylight on the plots. Garbage man in the area was the first to see him standing in the forage peas,,, Daylight,,,, Landowner saw him , In the daylight. Hummmmmmmm.
Edited by bigr, Dec 13 2011, 10:45 PM.
 
bigr
Trophy Hunter
[ * ]
Part II

I had more photos of him this year in daylight
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then ever before !
But with hunting pressure and maybe coming out of velvet ? he went back to his nightly habits but the one thing that did happen. He stuck around during the rut.
During the gun hunt Ontario Gobbler came out for a sit one morning and had a quick encounter with this deer.
" Well Ray , The stud should be dead "
My answer was , " Why isn't he" LOL
Seems the stud was hot after some tail again and payed no attention to Steve's medium bleet ,,,,, louder ( Hay Stop ) bleet then the moose call.
He was on the move and wanted nothing to do with the crow in the tree . LOL ( All in fun Steve )
Gun season ended and I had a week in late November booked off work for archery and I was going back in, Fronts were supposed to be moving in so my spirits were up and I was all in once again but ,,, I made another mistake. I decided to hunt a stand near where I suspected most of the deer bedded and I had seen alot of deer all season AND where Steve had seen the stud during gun season. Bad idea when you don't have the right wind. My deer sightings were way down and I knew I had made the wrong move. I cut it short as the winds were supposed to stay out of south all week. Season is over.
Moped around the house with a tag and I decided to cut a deal with the wife. Shannon puts up with alot from me and its really nice to have a wife who understands a passion for chasing Whitetails !
She gave me 2 more days ! More then what I deserved !

Back in ! First afternoon sit a spike buck, This is him in Velvet.
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I had seen him many times this season , spent time in front of me . " "There really long spikes" . I was trying to talk myself into shooting him , but I watched him walk away with only one more sit for the season. I passed on the morning hunt , again not to bust them walking in in the morning and at 2pm I was in stand.
Quiet. Little wind ,,, I like a little wind. Still not a sound. 4:20 Crack , Snap,
Now what was that . I can hear a deer walking. Walking fast ?
Berrrrp. O that's a buck behind it , but the deer in front ( doe ? ) is passing by. Grunt tube , Gotta try and get her to come this way ! Now !

One Grunt only ! Berrrp.

I put the tube away and listened. Quiet Nothing .
Then I her the footsteps of the deer that was in front. Walking my way ,, but she is directly down wind now . This sucks ! I hope she doesn't bust me.
I finally see her. A mature lone doe walking in my foot prints in the snow. She walks off and I hear him again . Berrrrp berrrrrp.
She continues on but I have the trail pegged that he is on and if he walks out past that big spruce he will be at 20 yards !

What deer is he ?
If it is the spike , will I shoot him ?
No, I didn't hang this stand here to shoot a spike, I want to kill a mature deer !
Here he comes Berrrp, Draw.
It's Him !
Front shoulder , Thawwwwwack !
Mule kick, a spray of blood on the snow and after watching the luminock find his front shoulder told me it was a good shot. I could hear him crashing around and it sounded really good !
I backed out , called in some hunting buddies before looking for him. Everything pointed to him being down but I didn't want to take any chances. Whats a couple hours after 5 years of chasin him ?
Ontgobbler showed up with his two outstanding girls and back we went .
After we started on the blood trail , it became clear the he wasn't going to be far and I handed the flashlight to the two girls and asked them to track it for us. The girls followed the blood and there was the deer.

I asked Steve to go confirm which deer it was as I new it was him , but had to be told for some reason , and he said .

" My man, Your quest is over !" "You have killed THE STUD !"

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I do understand some of you horn heads better now , I just hope we all keep it into prospective. We don't want to loose what we have . People want to find any excuse for us to loose the privilege and right to hunt. We need to keep that in mind no matter if we are hunting big or little deer. They all deserve our respect and admiration .
Thanks. Hope you enjoyed this .






Edited by bigr, Dec 13 2011, 10:48 PM.
 
Perchdrifter
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Enjoyed??? No kidding,,what a great story and hunt. Years in the making, congratulations!!! Very well done!!! TFS! Enjoyed is an understatement Bud! LOL
Live every day like it's your last
 
newham
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Great story with a ''FAIRY TALE'' ending Gongratulations on a great buck.
 
Redneck Plumber
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Awesome Ray Congrats

Ryan
 
Hobby Farmer
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Wow, big deer, great story, like the shiny antlers.
 
deermagnet
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High On The Horn
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Congrats!!!!! Great read
High on the horn
WHEN YOUR OLD ALL YOU HAVE ARE YOUR MEMORIES SO MAKE THEM
 
Swamp Buck
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Another Bowhunter
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Nicely done!!!!!!!!!! Great read and pics!
 
Walleye Willson
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Great Buck
Sweet Story!!!
The smile says it all. Im glad you hard work and dedication payed off.
 
duckslayer
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Trophy Hunter
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Great story and what a way to end it!!!! Congrats on putting the stud on the ground!!
 
chris4570
Trophy Hunter
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Now there's a trophy buck for many reasons!!! Great story, great buck!! Congrats.

Awesome job!!
Bloodtrail Ale(tm); celebrate your harvest with a Bloodtrail Ale.
"It Can Be Done" (c)
 
Goose smasher
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What a quest! Congrats on taking your target buck! He is a Stud!!

Goose smasher
Edited by Goose smasher, Dec 14 2011, 07:08 PM.
Shoot em in the face!! If it flies,it dies!! But if it just sits there it still dies!!!!!
 
coon
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Wow! The saga is over. Awesome post cograts
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Bird Brain
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Congratulations! Great story and what a trophy to go along with it!
 
shedherder
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Administrator
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Good job !!! Congratulations !!! drdr
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Tracer
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Great quest, awesome buck, congrats.
Whitetails Crossing Trail Cameras

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Rutman
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Great story and hunt. cograts cheers11 cheers11 cheers11 Nice buck!
 
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