Only ten pictures allowed, so no HOM graphic, but this hunt is nominated for HUNTER OF THE MONTH.
Whelp, I normally don’t shoot a buck first because I usually have plenty to wait for. This year has been a little different.
I hunt a narrow (225-250 yards) 13 acre farm site in central Minnesota. It’s a transition area between 2 management areas and a large section of private land that very few get access to.
Last year my cameras on this farm were off the charts. Multiple very large mature deer on camera and my hopes were high. The cams went dead a week before the season. All the deer seemed to disappear.
The first deer was not harvested last year. The second, to my knowledge, is still wandering, and if I had to guess he’s likely in the large private section. There were 2 others of slightly less caliber as well, but monsters all the same.
Cameras at the farm were slow early. In late September I got a photo of a large deer harvested during archery season. It turned out to be the first deer. I had not had him on my cams this year but recognized him immediately.
So, one deer for sure down off my list for the year, with action being slow I was a little deflated. I kept hopes high and kept after my scouting. October 2nd I got 1 photo of a deer that looked promising. I just hoped he’d be back to give me a different look.
6 days later he did. But it still wasn’t a great photo.
Then everything went quiet. I moved 2 of the three cameras off this farm, to my parent’s place down the road, in hopes of seeing some more action and better prospects down there. There were a few decent deer over there. It’s a 240 piece with around 25 total being crp land. We have a long time friend of the family that hunts there along with my dad.
I’d decided to hunt my little slice for opener this year mainly to avoid having 3 hunters in a small area. Cameras had been slow so I was slightly discouraged into opener but had vowed to give it a go and put the time in. Then, the camera chimed, and hope was slightly renewed.
He was back, but still moving at night. Being that is a transition area it’s not much of a surprise. Then I woke up to another pic of him.
Still at night but he’s still there. So, I went for it. I stuck to my plan and went to the farm in the morning. Pulling in the driveway, I saw 3 does coming out of the farm. I drove in, parked my truck, gathered my things, and headed to my blind figuring it would be a quiet morning.
The first 40 minutes passed uneventfully. A few distant shots, then one shot from the neighbor, about 300 yards from my blind. 10 minutes after his shot, I saw movement in the fence line. I grabbed my binoculars and peered through the brush. 3 does had worked their way in from the west and would be coming into an open spot for me barely 50 yards away.
I grabbed my rifle and proceed to bang the shit out of the door trying to stick the barrel out of the window for a shot. Fantastic. They didn’t bolt, but the heard it and started heading south, along another fence line away from me.
I sat down and laughed. Why not? It happens. Ten minutes later another doe had worked her way in to the small grove directly west of me and started heading south to where the other 3 had just been. I watched her nibbling on grass and branches, sniffing down to where the others had been. She however, continued east, the way the others 3 would have like to go.
I ranged her, 52 yards. Deciding whether or not I should or should not shoot her, I started to take a few pictures of her.
I let her pass the tree, then I picked up my binoculars to get a good look at her. When I did, I noticed a set of antlers coming up the fence line behind her. My focus quickly changed from binos and my camera, to getting my rifle out the window without banging the hell out of it again.
Once everything was set, silently this time, he had stepped into a clear area, slowly following the doe. Nose to the ground, broadside, at 50 yards. Crosshairs settled where they needed to, and I slowly squeezed.
He hunched, dropped his head, and tucked his tail. My immediate thought was a gut shot. I’d just shot this rifle 2 days prior, there’s no way in hell. He slowly turned back toward the fence line he’d come from, walked a dozen steps, and fell over.
I was over the moon excited. I left him lay for a few minutes. I called my mom and dad, told them to come over from their farm. I walked over for a first look and to thank him, as I do with all my deer, for the experience and the opportunity to feed my family.
My parents arrived to help me dress, and for an impromptu photo shoot. My 6 ARC, that I had finished a week prior, was impressive. The bullet (103 Precision Hunter) had hit the mark the first time, grenaded his heart, and lodged inside his hide in the opposite side. Just like they should. If you look you can see the bump where the bullet was under his skin.
I hope you all enjoyed the read. He’s no monster but he’s my trophy. I’ve hunted since 1992, and being in Minnesota, this is the first deer I’ve been able to harvest with a rifle, and my largest buck. He’ll be a very welcome addition to the freezer and the wall.
Whelp, I normally don’t shoot a buck first because I usually have plenty to wait for. This year has been a little different.
I hunt a narrow (225-250 yards) 13 acre farm site in central Minnesota. It’s a transition area between 2 management areas and a large section of private land that very few get access to.
Last year my cameras on this farm were off the charts. Multiple very large mature deer on camera and my hopes were high. The cams went dead a week before the season. All the deer seemed to disappear.
The first deer was not harvested last year. The second, to my knowledge, is still wandering, and if I had to guess he’s likely in the large private section. There were 2 others of slightly less caliber as well, but monsters all the same.
Cameras at the farm were slow early. In late September I got a photo of a large deer harvested during archery season. It turned out to be the first deer. I had not had him on my cams this year but recognized him immediately.
So, one deer for sure down off my list for the year, with action being slow I was a little deflated. I kept hopes high and kept after my scouting. October 2nd I got 1 photo of a deer that looked promising. I just hoped he’d be back to give me a different look.
6 days later he did. But it still wasn’t a great photo.
Then everything went quiet. I moved 2 of the three cameras off this farm, to my parent’s place down the road, in hopes of seeing some more action and better prospects down there. There were a few decent deer over there. It’s a 240 piece with around 25 total being crp land. We have a long time friend of the family that hunts there along with my dad.
I’d decided to hunt my little slice for opener this year mainly to avoid having 3 hunters in a small area. Cameras had been slow so I was slightly discouraged into opener but had vowed to give it a go and put the time in. Then, the camera chimed, and hope was slightly renewed.
He was back, but still moving at night. Being that is a transition area it’s not much of a surprise. Then I woke up to another pic of him.
Still at night but he’s still there. So, I went for it. I stuck to my plan and went to the farm in the morning. Pulling in the driveway, I saw 3 does coming out of the farm. I drove in, parked my truck, gathered my things, and headed to my blind figuring it would be a quiet morning.
The first 40 minutes passed uneventfully. A few distant shots, then one shot from the neighbor, about 300 yards from my blind. 10 minutes after his shot, I saw movement in the fence line. I grabbed my binoculars and peered through the brush. 3 does had worked their way in from the west and would be coming into an open spot for me barely 50 yards away.
I grabbed my rifle and proceed to bang the shit out of the door trying to stick the barrel out of the window for a shot. Fantastic. They didn’t bolt, but the heard it and started heading south, along another fence line away from me.
I sat down and laughed. Why not? It happens. Ten minutes later another doe had worked her way in to the small grove directly west of me and started heading south to where the other 3 had just been. I watched her nibbling on grass and branches, sniffing down to where the others had been. She however, continued east, the way the others 3 would have like to go.
I ranged her, 52 yards. Deciding whether or not I should or should not shoot her, I started to take a few pictures of her.
I let her pass the tree, then I picked up my binoculars to get a good look at her. When I did, I noticed a set of antlers coming up the fence line behind her. My focus quickly changed from binos and my camera, to getting my rifle out the window without banging the hell out of it again.
Once everything was set, silently this time, he had stepped into a clear area, slowly following the doe. Nose to the ground, broadside, at 50 yards. Crosshairs settled where they needed to, and I slowly squeezed.
He hunched, dropped his head, and tucked his tail. My immediate thought was a gut shot. I’d just shot this rifle 2 days prior, there’s no way in hell. He slowly turned back toward the fence line he’d come from, walked a dozen steps, and fell over.
I was over the moon excited. I left him lay for a few minutes. I called my mom and dad, told them to come over from their farm. I walked over for a first look and to thank him, as I do with all my deer, for the experience and the opportunity to feed my family.
My parents arrived to help me dress, and for an impromptu photo shoot. My 6 ARC, that I had finished a week prior, was impressive. The bullet (103 Precision Hunter) had hit the mark the first time, grenaded his heart, and lodged inside his hide in the opposite side. Just like they should. If you look you can see the bump where the bullet was under his skin.
I hope you all enjoyed the read. He’s no monster but he’s my trophy. I’ve hunted since 1992, and being in Minnesota, this is the first deer I’ve been able to harvest with a rifle, and my largest buck. He’ll be a very welcome addition to the freezer and the wall.
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