Same as a Ozarks tree rat but from the Northlands.
[Reply]

About 4 months now,& I'm 115 + on Yankee tree rats. Dam proud of it to.
[Reply]

We call those Boone & Crocketts around here during archery season. Generally get a few every year. Helps pass the time when the deer aren't moving.
[Reply]

Had several small bucks come into rattling this weekend. Had a descent 8pt come by behind my stand about 40 yards. Grunted to try and get him closer, he took off like a bat out of heck looking back over his shoulder a couple times. I'm guessing he already got whipped. Multiple people said they had bucks come by chasing does. The Rut is on in southern Mo.
[Reply]

I have a friend in South Carolina who is equally dedicated. He hit #125 this weekend. High tech air rifle is what he uses. Amazing quiet and very effective but cost him a bunch
[Reply]

Went for turkey over the weekend. If I'm out in the woods with my mountain bike, 4 wheeling or hiking I see those bastards all the time, ok, often. Hunting season, not so much as a track (we had snow this weekend).

I'm convinced they've grown so accustomed to the regularly scheduled hunting season that they just know it's the time of year to hunker down.
[Reply]

You would think those kind of numbers would put a dent in the local squirrel population. Nope.
[Reply]

I've often wondered about that too. It's like once turkey season is here, their collective IQ goes up 100 points. Throughout the rest of the year, you practically have to kick the damn things out of your way you see them so often.
[Reply]

I think animals just have some awareness of danger.

You can drive a tractor and mower through a crp field or a combine through a corn field. The deer will move out of the way or trot to the edge, but eat dropped corn 100' away, but if they see a human walking along a field edge to a tree stand, they'll bolt from 1/4 mile away if they see you. the same deer might stand 75 yards away and watch a farmer build fence.
[Reply]

Ok.

Here he is....this is the beast we've been after for what was the 3rd season.
It's the same deer in the above pic, but I think a foot injury caused the rack to change on the G2.

I'll be removing the pic later.
[Reply]

Very nice buck. I hope to kill one like it one day. What did it score?
[Reply]

It's going to be around 185 gross I think.

The disgusting part is, this isn't the biggest deer he's taken with his bow.
[Reply]

Does he have a lot of land? I've realized where I hunt, it will be very hard to ever kill one like that because people around us wont manage the deer. They shoot whatever moves which sucks. My best chance is when I head north to a buddies house in Galatin Mo. They do a great job at managing theirs and I've seen some good bucks there. Killed a 160 2 yrs ago, which is the biggest I've ever killed. Wish I could make it up there to bow hunt.
[Reply]

Not really. My brothers and I all hunt the same ground, I'd guess totals around 400-500 acres, counting ag fields.

We can't really manage deer either, most of these farms are shotgun hunted, muzzle loader hunted...and then there are the trespassers. We let bucks walk for next year, but there is no guarantee they'll make it.

I've told the story in this thread but about 3 years ago, I had a guy shoot a 12 point I'd let go, 1/2 mile off of any road, out of a pickup that he pulled within 30-40 yards of the tree I'd just gotten out of, and the deer was dropped 50 yards from where I was walking(dark).

160 is a great deer in any state in the union. TV gives some pretty unreasonable expectations. not many people kill 170+ every year. I never have and I hunt the same ground he does. It's just preparation and luck. I'd have hunted the stand this deer was killed from the next morning if he hadn't been there that day, but that's just how it works.
[Reply]

Beauty!
[Reply]