Terry

Pre-rut has always been my best time. In my mind that's your best bet to see a mature buck on his feet.

He's a bruiser for sure!

I'll believe that when my crap turns purple and smells like me lucky charms! [emoji12]

Happy B-day!

Congrats to you both!

Congrats!

I have no idea, but I have to say its pretty bad a&& looking!

My humble guess as well

Any news?

I get that and feel it too. I just couldn't imagine that buck not being king where I hunt. I hunt all over, but at the main location I hunt that would be about as big as they get rack wise. That's after 20 years of hunting this area and seeing everyone's kills, trailcam pics, and spotting fields at night. I do agree with your age estimate though. His body isn't overly impressive. I think new hunting grounds are in my future.

That's it in my area. Our neighbors would be inviting all their buddies to drive the property relentlessly. That's if he didn't get shot at night from someone's truck window.

We're lucky to have one buck like that on the private land I hunt. And the state land is pretty much the same. Congrats on having a buck like that inside shooting distance!

Where do you hunt roughly? Is there a good buck population?

I would continue looking for him until you are 100% sure you have done everything you can do.

Thats a beauty, can't believe you would give him the pass.

+1 And you have a paper trail

I have been shooting Muzzy 3 blade 100grains for 20 years. I switched over to their MX3 line a while back. Great heads!

I find out when I can get back to work Tuesday. I might start hunting again later this week. If I get one I will just quarter it up to save myself from dragging.

In my experience that's not liver blood. Anytime I have seen blood from the liver it is almost purple it's so dark.

Cool pic. He has a nice long body on him.

Congrats!

Congrats Joe on a great buck killed in a skilled manner!

I agree 100%. Anyone who judges another law abiding hunter is doing so strictly out of their own arrogance. My grandfather is almost 80, when he shoots a fawn I am happy for him. When the guy who works 60 hours a week and takes care of his family shoots a fawn, I am happy for him. When the hardcore deer hunter with a good number of buck on the wall shoots a fawn, I am happy for him. No one has the right to judge someone else, no one. That mentality is no different than the one shared by anti's. It's judging another person based on your own opinion of what they should be doing. Whatever happened to living free?

Cabelas Wooltimate outerwear. It's mostly fleece with a bit of wool mixed in for warmth. Underneath it's Under Armour cold gear underwear. If it's super cold out I add a 100% polyester fleece shirt. Gloves are wool and hat is fleece. Wool socks and Muck boots top it off. Remember, cotton kills

I hold the knife with my index finger pointing towards the tip of the knife and resting on the spine of the blade. This gives me control and lets me know where the cutting edge is. I make sure it's pointed away from me and out of the way. I then stick my other hand up in and find the esophagus. Bring the knife down to it and cut. It's just another method you can try.