Joe Kauffman Report post Posted January 8, 2014 For some reason this years archery season has been a tough one for me. A couple of missed opportunities at smaller bucks, horrible winds and bad timings plagued me everyday. I guess those all happened for a reason as I was fortunate enough to tag this great buck the last day of 2013. As I made the 2 hour drive that morning, my irritation with the constant wind I had been battling was at a breaking point. I could feel the wind whipping across the road, gently pushing my truck as I made my way to one of my favorite spots. I was pleasantly surprised to find that luck was on my side when I arrived to the spot 45 minutes before daylight to find there was only a gentle breeze; just enough to help me work down wind. Just as the glow of sunrise began to show in the East, I glassed up a doe and this buck about a mile out, skylined at the top of a ridge. Anxiously awaiting enough sun to see them clearly, I patiently waited until I could see well enough to get bearings on which way they would be moving for their morning feed. Knowing this spot very well, I decided to use the darkness to start moving in the direction I thought they would go in hopes of getting in front of their feeding direction. After a long and agonizing 15 minutes I could clearly see them both feeding down the ridge in the exact direction I was hoping they would go. I had already covered quite a bit of ground and had about a mile left to get in position before they were at the bottom of the ridge where I hoped to be able to get a shot. The good news/bad news about this area is that there is plenty of waist high cover to work behind but there is a ton of deadfall and leaves to deal with as well. More luck was with me as the slight breeze was working from the top of the ridge down which not only helped keep my scent in the right direction but also the little bit of noise my feet work making. Even so, I decided to take off my boots and hope the thick wool socks would be suffice in protecting my feet from too much damage. As I reached the bottom of the ridge and with about 100 yards of ground left to cover to place myself at the bottom of a great shooting lane, their speed picked up as the buck started pushing the doe downhill right towards me. I knew there would be little chance of making it to the shooting lane and started picking spots between us where I knew I could get a clear shot should our paths align correctly. All the adrenaline, waiting and stalking came down to the final turn they both made as they changed direction and began moving parallel along the ridge. I ranged an opening above me they were heading to at 71 yards, knocked the release and waited again...praying that he would push the doe through the clearing. Another 45 seconds or so (although it felt like hours!) and I watched the doe walk through the clearing, to the far edge and stop. The buck followed and stopped right in the center of the clearing. She was looking up the ridge at another doe that had just topped over, he had his sights set on her and I quickly was drawn with my sights set on him. Plenty of time, very little wind....almost as peaceful as shooting targets in the backyard. I released and saw my arrow find its mark and watched the buck stumble about 30 yards and expire in the thick. My second favorite hunting month of the year had ended, only a day before my favorite hunting month of the year began! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scooter Report post Posted January 8, 2014 Gnarly Buck!!! Nice job! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heat Report post Posted January 8, 2014 Very nice! Way to stick with it till the last day of the season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couestracker Report post Posted January 8, 2014 Fantastic buck! Congratulations on an awesome hunt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
desertbowhunter Report post Posted January 8, 2014 Great job!! It's awesome when it all comes together seems so easy when it does come together. But oh how difficult it is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted January 8, 2014 Comgrats on a great buck and nice shot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MULEPACKHUNTER Report post Posted January 8, 2014 Very cool tall buck, congrats thanks for sharing Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
az_shooter Report post Posted January 8, 2014 Great job, sweet buck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Meyer Report post Posted January 8, 2014 Great job on a awesome buck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Kauffman Report post Posted January 8, 2014 Thanks guys! It was nice to have everything finally come together. Hunted 11 days before then and just couldn't make it happen. I should have known, I have a habit of making it the last couple days of the year . Last year it was 2 days before when it finally paid off but at least this last one was in the morning....much easier doing clean up in the daylight. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
resolute Report post Posted January 9, 2014 Awesome buck! Congrats Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
randyolson Report post Posted January 26, 2014 Very nice story! Congrats on your excellent Buck!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cmbbulldog Report post Posted January 26, 2014 COngrats, well done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kidso Report post Posted January 26, 2014 That beast looks like an elk! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOHNTR Report post Posted February 17, 2014 That's a great last day buck (2013 tag)......congratulations. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
