2012 archery harvest

[Mike]

I was thrilled to harvest this guy on Saturday evening. I rattled him into a bean field at noon that day, but couldn't get him to come in close enough to seal the deal. Fortunately, he made another appearance that night and walked up for a SIX YARD SHOT. That's right in my wheel house!

I've never really paid much attention to the record books, but it dawned on me that this buck might qualify for Pope & Young. After doing some research, I think he meets all of the criteria except one. I used a Lumenok on my arrow. Oh well. He certainly makes my record book.

[RAMOS]

Way to go there, Mike!!! Nice, nice buck.

[Song Dog]

VERY NICE!!!!!

[Rick in Oregon]

Sa-weeeet Mike! Way to go, very nice whitetail there, bud.

(Six yards? Hope ya didn't get any on ya! )

[Captqc]

I would have nailed him too for sticking his tounge out at me like that!

[Castlerockscott]

. Oh well. He certainly makes my record book.

That's ALL that matters! That is a great buck by the way

[Gube]

Very nice Whitey. Don't ya just love using the Lumenocks
Well done sir.

[Mike]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. I'll snap some better pictures when I get him back from the taxidermist.

Gube - Yes, I do love the Lumenoks. I wish Pope & Young didn't hold that against people, but it's their rules and their club.

[GTOHunter]

Congratulations on a Very Nice Buck....lots of mass and a wide spread!

[Mike]

Thanks! I got a call from the taxidermist that he's ready and I should have him home late next week. I'll get some better pictures at that time and post them up.

[Mike]

As promised, here is the finished result. I can't take credit for the scarf, though. That is 100% my wife's "contribution".

[GTOHunter]

At least Your Buck will stay warm.....and He's full/stuffed! LOL

[Trent]

That thing is amazing! Great looking mount. You must have been pretty excited!

[Mike]

That thing is amazing! Great looking mount. You must have been pretty excited!

Thanks, Trent. I was more in awe at the time of the hunt because everything came together absolutely perfectly (and that never happens). I saw the deer cross the neck of a field about 100 yards ahead of me and then heard him walking through the woods in my direction. That allowed me time to get up and position myself for a shot in the direction he was coming. The buck walked into view and then stopped about 30 yards from me. I contemplated the shot, but knew that he was walking a trail that my stand was positioned right on top of. After a few moments, the buck started walking up the trail again toward me. As he passed behind a large tree, I came to full draw. The buck walked a few more yards and then stopped, directly in front of me at six yards. He was so close that I couldn't really use my sight pins, so I just took an instinctual shot that ended up taking out his heart and one lung. The buck only went about 75 yards before expiring.

I still get excited every time I walk past the mount now, though. It was a great hunt that I'll savor for a very long time.

[Trent]

That would have made for some great TV!

I just bought a Hoyt Vector 32 a couple of weeks ago and I am learning the ropes. Been shooting 30-40 arrows a day in the back yard building up my muscles and getting a feel for my anchor points. Can't wait for next season!