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More blood, another IKS!!

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Most of you know the relationship between my dad and I. Heā€™s my dude, my best friend. Most of you also know that the last few months hasnā€™t been fun for us. I decided I was going to make him proud this year with a deer. I set out to kill a mature buck to accomplish this. Because even though he canā€™t stand beside me right now, he can be with me.

I passed on deer that I would normally kill because we are meat hunters. I bitched and complained about it the entire time but I really was enjoying myself. Those of you in the group text knew I was and I was just playing the game. I was enjoying every part of it. Knowing my time was coming, all I had to do was have fun doing it.

Mid day I made a plan and started putting it into action. Did my normal scent control routine and set sail to go hunt. I was planning on going exploring with the wind in my face. I made it about 50 yards into my 600 yard walk and seen white. Put the binoculars up and seen white hard hats... Well, that ruined that idea and I headed back toward the truck.

Got in the truck and drove to the other side of the property and parked. Wind was all wrong and everything. I sat in the truck and started texting @Floki he had me laughing in no time. Telling me how the wind doesnā€™t mean shit when deer are trying to not get rapedšŸ˜‚. How he kills mature bucks with Marlboroā€™s hanging out of his mouth and this and that. Being pretty proud of my scent control, I head out.

I head out to the same spot Iā€™ve been hunting all week and seeing bucks. Just as I knew, the wind was terrible. Shortly after I had two does come blasting towards me with some hikers in tow. Figuring the hunt was wasted I just hung out anyways. Whatever happened, I had nothing else to do. Everyone I knew was busy or out of town. So if anything was to happen, today was the day.

An hour or so later I spot a 2.5 year basket working towards me. I never call because Iā€™m a ground hunter and giving up my location always sacred me. But, who cares, itā€™s abasket rack tat Iā€™m not going to kill anyways. So I get out the grunt tube and get to work. I turn him and he gets down wind. Then works right past me. About this time I catch movement to the left. Grab my binos and take a look...hmmmm. Past his ears so I look at the body. Big barrel chest and his stomach is even with his chest. SHOOTER!

Fuck, Iā€™m standing and my bow is laying on the ground. Basket rack is about 12 yards away and this other deer is closing in fast from about 25 yards. SHiT! Somehow I get my bow without getting busted. Now this deer is about 10 yards and looking right at me. Iā€™m froze like Elsa just got me. He turns and heads towards the basket which is now walking away. He hits an appending at 19 yards and I let out the shakiest ā€œmeahā€ you ever do hear. He locks up and looks back at me. Quartering away at 19 yard I lower my eye to the scope and it fogs up.

I can still see, but itā€™s fogging fast. I settle and the bow goes off. THWACK/THUD KIND OF SOUND AND THIS DEER DOES A MULE KICK! I was sick thinking I shot him in the stomach. I donā€™t wait long because my kids are home alone and I donā€™t have time to mess around. I walk up and see blood. Dark red blood. I think, great, I shot this deer in the ass. Iā€™ll follow it the way to the truck but I ainā€™t going in the CRP and bumping him. Well, he didnā€™t make it into the CRP, he was piled up right in the edge. Didnā€™t make it 30 yards and was dead. Shot was picture perfect!

I broke down and cried like a little girl. I thought of my old man and completely lost my shit. I set out this year to make him proud and I feel I did just that. This deer is the biggest of my career both body and rack. I was able to call him and share some moments over the phone. Something I wasnā€™t sure Iā€™d be able to do some days. Today boys, I am proud. That isnā€™t something that I normally feel as I am hard on myself. Thanks for listening to my bitching and all the congrats. This one is something special.

Sometimes you have to make your own luck and not listen to your gut. Because my gut was telling me to go home to watch football and drink beer. I hope every one of you gets the buck of your life this year. Go and make it happen!
Kids are watching Frozen 2 and this is what I think ofšŸ˜‚