Iowa Buck - "Toro, the charging buck"

[muddy]

Found the 2010 archery buck

Well, I am quite happy to be making this post this year. After some bad luck last year and a surprise pregnancy I knew that I wouldn't have much time in the tree but as luck would have it I got just enough time in Gods creation. Again this year I lost some good ground and had to rely a lot on public ground and then as luck would have it a new neighbor happened to have 23 acres of ground that I could hunt. What was awesome is that it's the RIGHT 23 acres situated in that perfect location between two giant chunks of timber. What's that saying I'd rather have the right 25 acres than the wrong 500?

Anyway, I've had a slow but fun season. Lots of deer sightings but no hawgs, until this morning. I've found out that with kids everything takes on a whole new light. I never knew that the girls would become 5 pm monsters and that hunting in the afternoon would NEVER happen if I wanted to stay married, so, I was stuck hunting mornings. Last night I couldn't decide where to go because none of the weather sites could agree on a wind. In the end I just averaged them all together and hoped for the best.

I got up early and made my way to the stand, getting set up around 0530, which is PLENTY early. I guess I'd rather be early than late, eh? I caught up on some emails and still had time to say a quick prayer, count stars, and just enjoy some peace and quiet. As it got gray I stood up and just sat tight until about 0725 when I decided to rattle. The morning was so stinking quiet and peacefull that I actually startled myself with the horn banging. As the echoes faded away I grabbed my bow and stayed vigilant. With the lack of wind there was swirling so I kept my eyes peeled in the upwind direction while I ground my teeth as I looked downwind. About 3 minutes eeeked by when I suddenly saw tines running up out of a ditch and onto my little point. I had about 20 seconds to glass, decide whether or not to shoot, and then actually draw while the buck charged like a bull and went right under me at 9 yards. As he passed behind a decent tree I got drawn and aimed while he was running passed me. I managed a few "merps" and he slowed to a trot, I aimed, followed along, and released one of my new Grim Reaper Whitetail Specials into the boiler room! I hit him high but the arrow angled into him from the 6th rib back and came out his right leg joint, right in the "pocket" of his arm pit.

I honestly couldn't believe it had happened that quick this early. I replayed the scenario and that's when the shakes took hold of me, I mean, REALLY took hold of me. I knew it was serious because when I looked up into the sky to say "Thank You" I couldn't help but laugh at how badly the tree was shaking, not even kidding here! A few texts, phone calls, and a quick climb down and I was on the track. With the high hit there wasn't much blood but what was there was frothy and pink, just the way I like it. After about 100 yards I started to get nervous but knew he was done for. About another 30 yards and I spotted the big white belly in a ditch. That's when I hit euphoria!

I thought he sorta shrunk after I found him, but as I kept looking at him through the photo shoot and while down at stuffy's place he started to grow again, a GOOD problem to have! Anyway, thanks for reading, here's some pics.

Seconds after the shot I was pretty overcome, especially when I turned around and saw this. My prayer was answered.

How do you make a buck look big? Stick him next to a 2 year old!

Olivia actually pointed to the goo in the bottom of the truck and proclaimed it a "Mess Daddy, Deer, Mess"

Entire turn out

And the photoshoot, I am seriously pumped up over this Iowa giant.

[bonecollector]

Another great write up and another nice buck. Awesome pics with the kids. I'm now having that problem where the girls want me home now and not stay out hunting as long.

[CouesWhitetail]

Wow, nice buck and fun story!! Nice photos too! Nice that you can share you kills with your kids!