Send us your best whitetail stuff (and don't forget to attach pictures!)
Russell Graves - Believes whitetails shouldn't be photographed in the back of a truck with their tongue hanging out.
Location - Texas
Brian Strickland - Has 369,518 acres of land that you can hunt on. Call him at (555) 281-HUNT.
Location - Colorado
Tony Hansen - Is pretty confident Michigan will release at least 300,000 archers into the woods this fall.
Location - Michigan
Jake Fagan - He's really just here to hang out, so don't mind him.
Location - Georgia
Will Brantley - Loves hunting in a dorag because it makes him look Ramboish. Some may call it Little Man Syndrome.
Location - Tennessee
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wide Open Whitetails - Hunt Junkies 2.3
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Another Unreal Story
Here’s another cryptic deer story that came across my inbox but this one appears to be true. In suburban north Houston, this huge buck was killed by a motorist close to a golf course.
Unbeliveable!
Just goes to show that the big boys can lurk just about anywhere.
-Russell
Another Young Gun finds success
I know that this is a whitetail forum but I had to brag on my buddy Kace Neskorik because last Saturday, he took his biggest deer to date - this nice desert mule deer from Cee Vee, Texas.
Congratulations, Kace!
-Russell
Labels: Texas
Ryan's Doe
When I hunted this past September in Wyoming at the Solitude Ranch, I met the most enthusiastic young hunter I have ever met. 16 year old Ryan DiGiacomo eats, sleeps and breaths hunting. In fact, his enthusiasm never seemed to change even after he missed a couple of bucks with his bow. If only I could have that type of attitude after a miss.
Since meeting Ryan we've kept in touch, and last week he told me about a doe hunt he had in Ohio with his dad. I asked him to email me some photos and tell me about his hunt so I can get them on the blog. Well here it is:
This is one of the coolest hunts I have been on because I was with my dad. It was opening morning of Ohio's two day youth gun season and I was pumped. Even with only what seemed to be two minutes of sleep the night before (because I was so anxious about the hunt), when the sun came up I was still bright-eyed and ready to go. My dad and I waited until the sun came up before heading to his favorite stand. We wanted to still-hunt our way in just in case we bumped into a doe close enough for a shot with my dad's 16 gauge shotgun. With a slug in the tube we headed to the stand, and on our way in we saw three does, but none presented a good shot.
After getting to our treestand and settling in, we saw numerous deer but they were all 120-plus yards away. I knew my limits and didn't want to take a shot at anything farther than 80 yards. After about eight does filed past, two more came into view that I knew were close enough. In a matter of seconds they were 15 yards in front of me. With my heart pounding, I lowered the shotgun on the closest doe's chest, and as Michael Waddell would say it, "I laid the smack down on her!" The slug found its mark, and after about a 250 yard track job I found my prize. She was a beauty, and her big body seemed to fill the back of my truck. I was so happy that I got to hunt with my dad and fill my last tag of the season!
Ryan DiGiacomo
If enthusiasm could grow horns, this would be a Booner. Good job Ryan, and maybe I'll see you next year in the Cowboy State.
Brian
Since meeting Ryan we've kept in touch, and last week he told me about a doe hunt he had in Ohio with his dad. I asked him to email me some photos and tell me about his hunt so I can get them on the blog. Well here it is:
This is one of the coolest hunts I have been on because I was with my dad. It was opening morning of Ohio's two day youth gun season and I was pumped. Even with only what seemed to be two minutes of sleep the night before (because I was so anxious about the hunt), when the sun came up I was still bright-eyed and ready to go. My dad and I waited until the sun came up before heading to his favorite stand. We wanted to still-hunt our way in just in case we bumped into a doe close enough for a shot with my dad's 16 gauge shotgun. With a slug in the tube we headed to the stand, and on our way in we saw three does, but none presented a good shot.
After getting to our treestand and settling in, we saw numerous deer but they were all 120-plus yards away. I knew my limits and didn't want to take a shot at anything farther than 80 yards. After about eight does filed past, two more came into view that I knew were close enough. In a matter of seconds they were 15 yards in front of me. With my heart pounding, I lowered the shotgun on the closest doe's chest, and as Michael Waddell would say it, "I laid the smack down on her!" The slug found its mark, and after about a 250 yard track job I found my prize. She was a beauty, and her big body seemed to fill the back of my truck. I was so happy that I got to hunt with my dad and fill my last tag of the season!
Ryan DiGiacomo
If enthusiasm could grow horns, this would be a Booner. Good job Ryan, and maybe I'll see you next year in the Cowboy State.
Brian
Monday, November 24, 2008
E-mail Madness
Ah, November and e-mail--that time of year when inboxes are full because of numerous big deer pictures and rumors. Every morning it seems like I've got a photo and a tale of yet another monster whitetail. Most of these are outside my "designated" reporting area (Good 'ole Dixie), but one I got this morning, supposedly killed in Illinois, needs to be mentioned nonetheless. If you know something about this fantastic typical, we're all ears.
The second buck was bagged by my buddy, David Simmons, up in Western Kentucky on the final day of Kentucky's modern firearm season. Simmons is as enthusiastic and hard-working as any deer hunter I know. If anyone has earned a nice buck, it's him. Below is the story in his words. Congrats, buddy.
"My best deer hunting experience:
Sept 6 - Opening day of bow season, 92 degrees out and I see a bachelor group enter the neighbor's side of the bean field. "Freak Nasty" is there leading the pack and I get a quick glimpse. For the next 3 months, I wish that I took my camera that evening and daydream about that deer. It seems like I'll never see him again.
Nov 22 - my final day of gun season, 3 does enter the south end of the clover plot one by one. 6:45am, a buck finally slides in through the backside thicket. Looks to be a decent shooter anyway, after a front brisket shot at 60 yards and a quick death run, he's down.
As I walk up I realize it's HIM....it really is! After a moment, a prayer, and thanking the landowner, the day is off to a wonderful start.
He's at the taxidermist: 230 lbs. on the hoof; 25" neck. 4.5" base on the left and the freak on the right is sporting a 10.5 inch base with three main beams coming off it and a kicker and a couple stickers! Not sure on age or score yet. Don't really care though.....I'm walking on air."
-Will in Tennessee
Finishing up the Weekend
Huge Buck Purportedly Taken in Wichita Falls, Texas City Limits
Details are a bit sketchy on this but here's a breaking story out of Wichita Falls, Texas from www.texomashomepage.com and the Wichita Falls Fox Television Affiliate:
"Wichita Falls city officials confirm that a city parks department employee is now suspended from work. It's due to an investigation into the shooting of a deer in the city limits. Web postings have surfaced claiming to show pictures of the trophy buck and worker. City officials say the location of the incident has not been confirmed. Some reports on the internet say it was at Lucy Park - but one city worker says he heard it was at another location. A spokesman for Texas Parks and Wildlife confirms that a local game warden *is* investigating - and may be able to release information next week."
For a non embedable video, check out this link:
You'll have to scroll down to see the story. Supposedly, this buck scores a touch over 211 B&C.
I'll try and find out more on this one.
Wichita Falls is in North Central Texas along the Red River.
Dream Come True
Today, for the first time in 16 straight days, I did not sit in the woods. To say I'm having withdrawals is an understatement.
It was a two-week span that I've dreamed about for a long, long time. It all started with a week of hard hunting here in the waning days of Michigan's archery season. On Nov. 13, I tagged a 10-point with a drop tine. Then, I loaded the truck and headed to Iowa with an archery tag in my pocket and visions of mammoth antlers in my head.
The state did not disappoint. No, I didn't tag one of those long-tined rascals but I did get to experience the type of rutting activity I'd only previously read about and watched on DVDs. I saw a number of mature bucks including a couple of absolute giants.
I will be back in Iowa. Maybe sooner rather than later.
Tony Hansen, Michigan Man
It was a two-week span that I've dreamed about for a long, long time. It all started with a week of hard hunting here in the waning days of Michigan's archery season. On Nov. 13, I tagged a 10-point with a drop tine. Then, I loaded the truck and headed to Iowa with an archery tag in my pocket and visions of mammoth antlers in my head.
The state did not disappoint. No, I didn't tag one of those long-tined rascals but I did get to experience the type of rutting activity I'd only previously read about and watched on DVDs. I saw a number of mature bucks including a couple of absolute giants.
I will be back in Iowa. Maybe sooner rather than later.
Tony Hansen, Michigan Man
Michigan Monster
I have a group of neighbors that were fed up with the way the deer herd was looking in their area of Michigan's Eaton County.
So, a few years ago, they decided to do something about it. Tony Smith and Joel Malcuit are neighbors. Joel owns 260 acres and Tony owns five. Together, they started talking with neighboring hunters and landowners and formed a QDM co-operative. Basically, the neighbors agreed to stop shooting immature bucks and more aggressively harvest does. Three years after the program started, Malcuit dropped a Boone and Crockett qaulifier on his farm that topped 180 inches.
This year, Smith tagged a buck that was well-known in the co-op area. In fact, Malcuit has video footage of the buck from each of the last three seasons including some footage that shows Malcuit's gun resting against the side of his blind while the buck walks by in broad daylight, well within range. Why would Malcuit pass on such a deer which was estimated at about 150 inches last season? He simply wanted to see what it would look like this season. Well, now he can get a very close-up look.
Smith tagged this super-wide buck at 8:15 a.m. on the opening morning of Michigan's gun season. The buck tops the 160 mark and is a testament to the power of cooperation.
Tony Hansen, Michigan Man
Manitoba Big Boy
Received this email from Bert. Here's his account of the hunt: -Jake
Hi, my name is Bert, I'm from a little town in Manitoba, Canada. One afternoon I decided to go out and post at my usual spot, it was getting a little late to enter the bush but I did anyway. About five minutes after I got to my blind I heard a big crack about 30yds away, when I turned my head to see I noticed a huge buck slowly coming out. I couldn't believe the size of his rack and got a little to excited. As I got up to grab my bow my chair made noise, I quickly looked towards the monster buck as he was turning around and walking back into the bush. I couldn't believe what had just happened so I put the chair aside and sat on the floor hoping he would return. After about an hour of sitting there watching the trail where he first appeared my legs were falling asleep so I leaned forward to get the blood flowing when I noticed two more bucks 20yds to my left. They were standing there drinking out of the dugout right in front of me. I slowly stood up grabbed my bow and waited for my opportunity.. These two bucks were'nt as big as the monster I had seen an hour earlier but were still bigger than anything else i've ever shot. Just as I decided which one I wanted he turned his head away so I drew my bow and let him have it. He ran about 30yds into the bush and dropped like a bag of rocks. I knew he was done but decided to wait to make sure. As I looked around to see if there was anything else out there I saw that the other buck that was there had not run away. So I stood there in full sight, finally a doe and two fawns showed up and I guess the doe noticed me and ran off. The buck I was watching slowly walked away back into the bush. The two fawns suddenly walked right in front of me and started jumping around in the water, after about five minutes of this I let them know I was there and they ran off. Just as I was getting ready to exit my blind two more bucks come out about 30yds away, right were the buck I shot entered. I couldn't believe the great day I was having, My usual spot is'nt usually packed with deer but for some reason that day I had 5 nice bucks come out within an hour and a half. Here is a pic of the one I got, I wish it would have been the first one I had seen but I guess he'll do.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
West Texas Whitetails
Me and fellow Hunt Junky Bubba Graves team up for rutting whitetails in this exclusive Realtree Rack Report from the Texas Panhandle.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Connor's Deer
It's always great to see someone younger than 40 in the woods with a big smile on their face. Here's the story behind Connor's buck.-Jake
In Nov. 2008 I introduced my 10 yr. old son Connor to whitetail hunting and wanted to share a photo. Info about the hunt:
Hunter: Connor Ritter
Age: 10 yrs. old
Date: Nov. 14, 2008
State: Texas
Location: Hill Country near town of Harper
Caliber: .243 single shot rifle
This deer past by our blind so early we could not make out how many points it had. We were guest on a friends lease and the lease had a eight point or better rule so we could not shoot. After there was better light, a doe passed our blind and this buck was following her. I asked my son if he would like to take the deer and his face lit up with excitement. He picked up his rifle, rested it on the window frame, cocked the hammer back, and with a gentle squeeze of the trigger his prayer was answered with a nice eight point buck (his first deer) lying in the grass. It is this hunt with my son I will remember for the rest of my days on this earth!
A Great Story
This email was in my inbox this morning. Here's the uncut version of a truly great story:-Jake
While hunting in Montana with my two sons my father and brother , We had a wonderful trip with a sad but triumphant ending. First we were caught in the snow storm in south Dakota, great film of pheasant by snowball you have to see!!! Next My dad and brother were antelope and muledeer hunting and my dad took his antelope then later that day while aiming at a large muledeer passed away! We could not leave Montana until all arrangement,s were made. So Ken Greslin with Powder River Outfitters asked us to dedicate the rest of our hunt to my dad. So myself my brother and my two sons did just that!! My son took a large 5x5 on film, I took a very large 5x6 whitetail that scores around 158bc . And my brother a large 4x4 whitetail. This happened because my brother gave me my dads lucky buckeye he always carried!!! Also my two sons got on film a 140-150 whitetail that got caught in a forked tree while rubbing the footage is very good and exciting!!!!!!! The deer then escaped!! I THINK you would love a lot,s of this extremely funny and also great hunting footage.
While hunting in Montana with my two sons my father and brother , We had a wonderful trip with a sad but triumphant ending. First we were caught in the snow storm in south Dakota, great film of pheasant by snowball you have to see!!! Next My dad and brother were antelope and muledeer hunting and my dad took his antelope then later that day while aiming at a large muledeer passed away! We could not leave Montana until all arrangement,s were made. So Ken Greslin with Powder River Outfitters asked us to dedicate the rest of our hunt to my dad. So myself my brother and my two sons did just that!! My son took a large 5x5 on film, I took a very large 5x6 whitetail that scores around 158bc . And my brother a large 4x4 whitetail. This happened because my brother gave me my dads lucky buckeye he always carried!!! Also my two sons got on film a 140-150 whitetail that got caught in a forked tree while rubbing the footage is very good and exciting!!!!!!! The deer then escaped!! I THINK you would love a lot,s of this extremely funny and also great hunting footage.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tennessee Gun Season This Weekend
Tennessee's modern firearm season opens Saturday. Hunters may find things pretty busy, as we have a cool, clear forecast for the weekend, and the big boys are on their feet. I got the above photo in an e-mail this week--supposedly, this buck was shot in Middle Tennessee. I'm guessing it's a muzzleloader kill, but a guess is about all I have at this point.
I'm still searching for information on this giant Kentucky buck, supposedly shot in Butler County last week. Rumor has it the deer was taken by a Georgia hunter, and that it could be a new state-record non-typical. I've got some leads, but I'll keep them quiet for now.
This weekend is the final weekend of Kentucky's modern gun season (parts of the state are already closed). It's short and sweet, and restrictive on buck harvest, but judging by the number of big deer taken in the Commonwealth each year, it's a recipe that works.
Be safe out there.
Will in Tennessee
King of Texas
Many people have what they refer to as a Dream Buck in their mind. They'd do anything to kill a typical 12 that scores 175. Others want a drop-tine. While others shoot for something over 200 inches.
This is one deer that would make the dream list of any hunter.-Jake
An Illinois Toad
John Brown, VP of Boss Outdoor Productions, shot this monster this morning in Illinois. Brown said the bruiser came in to chase off a smaller buck that was messing around with some ladies in the area. He obviously got a little to close to Brown's tree stand.
Anyone care to take a guess at what this puppy will score?-Jake
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
An Incredible Video
I just got this via e-mail and don't know anything about where or when the buck was taken and all I know is that a hunter named Dylan Smith shot this giant buck and the video.
So Dylan, if you out there, care to share your story?
-Russell
Texas
So Dylan, if you out there, care to share your story?
-Russell
Texas
Don't Forget the West - Part 2
Here is the conclusion with the big Wyoming buck that came under Mike's stand. I'll give you a hint, an arrow is released!
-Brian
-Brian
Monday, November 17, 2008
The Future
Working with the local QDMA Chapter, Walter Stroman and a group of AMU rifle experts taught 10 kids how to shoot a rifle properly, then took them on a hunt at Bradley Farms in Georgia. During the hunt, these youngsters were able to take 15 deer, and one 11-year-old girl took a mature 10, giving her the bragging rights for the weekend.
This was truly a great event and something that we all should get more involved in. These 10 kids now know what it's like to experience a hunt. And they will want to keep going back to the woods. And that's something to be proud of.
If you have a story about a youth event or the story about your child's first deer hunt, send it in.-Jake
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Butler County Buck?
The picture is poor, but it's rumored this guy was shot in Butler County, Kentucky this weekend. Still searching for details.
Will in Tennessee
Friday, November 14, 2008
Don't Forget the West
Although it's nice seeing all of the Midwest giants falling, let's not forget those of us out West. My buddy Mike Schmid, owner of the Solitude Ranch (http://www.huntsro.com/), was able to spend some time in a tree recently and grabbed some great footage of the bucks in the Black Hills of northeast Wyoming. Even though their horns aren't as heavy, they are impressive none the less, and there are some real bruisers roam the hills there. Below is the first of two videos he got while spending time in a tall pine recently. Enjoy!
Out West,
Brian
Out West,
Brian
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Traditional Double
As a bowhunter, I've always been intrigued with the hunting skills of traditional shooters. I mean it's hard enough getting close enough with a compound bow, let alone a piece of hand-crafted wood and a string. Little homage is paid to these guys, so I'd though I'd recognize the efforts of Nebraska bowhunter Bryce Lambley who took these two Cornhusker bucks this season. As you can see both are quality bucks that any sane hunter wouldn't pass up. The first one was shot at 10 yards and the second a mere 4 yards--that's close. Great job Bryce!
Brian
Kisky Who?
Man, talk about being trumped. Here I was excited to post about my own drop-tine buck and what do I see? That Kandi Kisky smoked my buck with yet another sloppy-large drop tine. Seriously, though, they earn those deer and she should be as proud of hers as I am.
So here's the deal: For the past week, I've had myself planted in a southern Michigan treestand wondering when, exactly, the rut was going to start to kick. Well, today it did.
As I've mentioned before, I'm hunting heavily-pressured, hard-hunted deer. To kill mature bucks here you must do everything you can to keep them from knowing that you're hunting them. For me, the best way to do that is hunt them when no one else does. And that means mid-day.
After seeing just one small buck for the first five hours of the hunt, I looked up and saw this buck working his to me at about 1 p.m. I immediately grabbed my bow and deemed him a shooter. As he came closer, I was amazed to see that he sported a drop tine. Well, that obviously sealed the deal.
He entered my shooting lane at about 25 yards. Those who hunt with me know that I tend to get a tad bit excited. Well, I'm proud to say up until the point that the shot was imminent I was remarkably in control of my nerves. At full draw, however, that changed. When the buck stopped in the lane, I could have swore a sudden windstorm had kicked up the way my bow was wavering all over the place. But somehow I was able to settle the pin on his chest and let fly. When my Hoyt twanged, the deer bolted and fell about three times before dipping out of sight.
When I walked up to the deer, I was amazed at the size of the animal. The dressed weight was a touch over 200 pounds and I'm planning to send in a tooth for aging.
It may not be the biggest drop tine buck to fall this season -- but, finally, I can say this one has my tag on it.
Tony Hansen
Another Kisky Giant
For the last decade, few people have put more giants on the ground than the Kisky family. Kandi recently shot this monster on one of their farms. Care to guess what it scores? Well, about 180-inches.
I'm sure Don is out there trying to catch up, so stay tuned to how long it takes him to fill his tag.-Jake
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Some Musings on Whitetails
I spent a good chunk of last weekend on "doe patrol" at a coworker's farm in southwest Tennessee. Muzzleloader season was still in, and the Delta woods are certainly pretty this time of year. I saw a ton of squirrels and quite a few deer. I even managed to punch a pair of antlerless tags--one Saturday evening and one Sunday morning. I saw little, if any, rutting activity, however, aside from one tiny scrape and one tiny rub. I'm slowly but surely getting my mind around the fact that deer in this particular part of the world aren't on a Midwestern schedule when it comes to the rut. Now for a few various thoughts from the weekend:
- Text Messaging: I used to write off text messaging as a stupid waste of time, but the phone feature has its place in the deer woods. Since my wife has started hunting by herself the last couple seasons, it's a good way for us to keep in check with one another without having to make a noisy phone call. And, I'll admit, I'm a talker, especially when it comes to hunting. I can check deer reports with buddies in stands in completely different states before leaving the woods myself, if I'm so inclined. I'm still not a texting aficionado (it takes me five minutes to type 'seen anything?') but I'll at least refrain from calling it stupid.
- Kentucky Gun Season: Modern firearm season opened last weekend in my home state. Reports from my buddies at home tell me the deer movement was agonizingly, unusually slow for the opener. Though I've seen a few pictures of some solid 8- and 10-pointers here and there, I haven't heard of any Boone and Crockett beasts yet. Has one been shot? Probably. If you hear about it, let us know.
- PowerBelt Bullets: These things kill deer like lightening when placed in the correct spot, and are the most consistently accurate muzzleloader bullets I've ever used. But, I cannot get an exit wound from them, try as I might. This has never particularly bothered me, since deer I've shot with them in the past have fallen within sight for the most part, but Michelle nearly lost the 9-pointer she shot in Kentucky this season after the bullet fragmented too early. I hit both of my deer last weekend in the 10-spot with Michelle's setup and watched both animals fall, but neither bullet exited, and each of them ran 100 yards before hitting the ground. Blood trails were sparse. That's not a big deal in the wide-open, flat delta woods, but it could be problematic in a cutover (which we sometimes hunt). We're shooting the 295-grain hollowpoint ahead of two 50-grain pellets. Is it time for a change? I'll have to think on that.
Will in Tennessee
Big Boy Update
From all the emails I've been getting, it looks as if the big ones are starting to fall. Here's a look at a few giants that have been taken over the past few days. Not too bad. And remember, if you have a story to share with the Whitetail Team, send it in and we'll post it.-Jake
Brad Waddell's son took this giant in Iowa.
Someone named Scott shot this toad somewhere in the Midwest. Grosses over 200 inches!
Tim Herald went to the dark woods of Canada to take this 178-inch monster. Not bad.
Brad Waddell's son took this giant in Iowa.
Someone named Scott shot this toad somewhere in the Midwest. Grosses over 200 inches!
Tim Herald went to the dark woods of Canada to take this 178-inch monster. Not bad.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Catching Whitetails
If you remember a few weeks ago, I posted a video and story about Deer School here in Childress. Well, last week it was time to catch some of the excess deer and with the help of Dusty Whitaker from Whitaker Helicopters, we netted three.
I'll tell you what... Dusty Whitaker is a stud when it comes to flying his helicopter and did some things I thought were impossible.
Check out the video:
Texas Piebald
I got a message via e-mail a couple of weeks ago via fellow Rack Reporter Will Brantley. While I've followed the e-mail trail trying to discover more about the deer all I can come up with is what I heard in the beginning - it comes from around the central Texas town of Corsicana.
Has anyone heard any specifics on this buck?
-Russell
Waiting for the North Texas rut
Monday, November 10, 2008
T-Bone Strikes
Many of you know Travis Turner as the fish stick lovin' character off of Realtree's Monster Bucks DVDs. Travis is an archery expert and a pretty good arrow flinger as well. Here's his latest kill from the great state of Iowa.
This big boy scored 158 inches and change. And yes, he was hunting on the infamous Lakosky property.-Jake
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Bobby Reed's Buck
The rut is heating up across Kentucky. Modern firearm season opened this morning, and it's clear and cool. I expect some big bucks to fall this weekend.
The week prior to gun season can be among the best weeks of the year for Kentucky bowhunters, however. Bobby Reed, a hunter in Northern Garrard County, shows off a great picture to prove this.
"In the area I hunt there is a lot of pressure, and just getting a look at a nice buck in daytime is 99 percent impossible," Reed said. "I use trailcams for scouting, and only got one look at this buck back in August. Then he vanished. I did not get a chance to hunt the ridge at this feeder area up to this point because I had to have an east or southeast wind to do so. So I hunted another ridge about 300 yards to the west."
Reed bowhunted several afternoons in late October without seeing a good buck, and in fact, hadn't seen a deer at all during his last three hunts. "After those three straight afternoon hunts not seeing anything, I decided it was time to hunt the stand near the feeder. The wind was in my favor, so I just prayed that I wouldn't bump any deer on the way to the stand."
Luckily, Reed was able to get settled by 5:40 a.m. without spooking any deer. Almost immediately, deer began filtering through the area. A few does fed around his stand, and a small 4-pointer passed through. "At 8:15, I heard a deer grunting, and I really thought it was behind my stand, but I couldn't see it," Reed said. "So I slowly turned around and saw a doe run by at about 20 yards, followed by this buck. I waited for him to go past me and took a 25-yard shot. It hit him hard, and I saw him go down about 60 yards away. I knew I had my dream buck; the one I've been looking for since I began bowhunting in 1979."
Will in Tennessee
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The King of the King
I got this information on a tip from my buddy David Brimager who heads up the Texas Big Game Awards.
This bad boy was taken on the opening weekend of deer season on the huge King Ranch in deep South Texas.
According to sources, Terry Hall of New Mexico shot him September 27 while this giant 6X7 still sported velvet.
Right now, the buck is gross scoring around 196 which puts him as the largest typical buck ever arrowed in the Lone Star State and one of the top 5 ever taken in Texas.
-RG
Labels: Texas
Not The Big One?
Wayne Smith is a guy that just seems to get it done -- against all odds. Michigan is not known for producing numbers of big deer. But don't tell them to Smith.
He put the hammer down on this mammoth 8-pointer that scores in the 140s and dressed at more than 220 pounds. And it wasn't even the buck he was really hunting.
"I had never seen this deer before. I didn't have any trail camera photos of him, no sign that he was there. I was actually hunting a different, bigger buck. But when he stepped out I saw that his G2s were 12-13 inches long. And I knew he would go at least 130."
Yes, Smith was hunting a bigger buck. A buck that's still running around in his neck of Calhoun County. And it's not the only big one that Smith is after.
Now that's the kind of problem I'd like to have.
Tony Hansen, Michigan Man
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Perseverance
Eric White of Amarillo killed this 11 point on opening day. Eric had
been scouting this buck for two months and had made several stalk
attempts with a bow. Opening day of rifle season was a different story.
This buck came in early to feed and a successful shot was made. What
even makes this story more sweet is that this is Eric's first buck.
Congratulations!
Labels: Texas
The Beast Is Dead
Let the scoring begin.A couple of weeks ago, I posted video of a "walking world record" from Wisconsin. Speculation over whether the buck would top Milo Hanson's world record typical score of 213 inches was rampant. Well, now we'll have the answer.
Eau Claire, Wisconsin hunter Bob Decker shot what he believed to be a good 10-pointer on Nov. 1. When he walked up to the animal, however, his first words were: "It's the Field and Stream buck!"
Indeed it is. The buck became famous when Field and Stream magazine featured a story about video footage of the buck in velvet during the summer. The story and internet video fueled a flurry of speculation over whether the buck would top Hanson's all-time typical mark.
For the full story on this incredible whitetail, click here.
Tony Hansen
Monday, November 3, 2008
What's Your Favorite Venison Recipe?
It's been a pretty good, albeit brief, deer season for me thus far. Michelle and I both have bucks in the freezer, and as I type this, I have some backstrap steak marinating. Most "suthun" hunters take pride in game cooking, particularly if it involves hot grease, a hot grill screen, or bacon. To me, it's tough to beat a thin piece of backstrap lightly fried in olive or vegetable oil with seasoned flour and served with gravy and biscuits, sort of in a breakfast-food fashion.
Michelle likes a little more "fanciness" in her deer meat, and so she goes out of her way to try different recipes. Recently, we've had venison stir-fry, Italian deer sandwiches, and of course, bacon-wrapped backstrap. I have to say, however, one of the best new recipes we've tried is venison scallopine, which is a recipe I learned from the cooking column of Ducks Unlimited Magazine. The recipe is one belonging to game chef and DU cooking columnist Scott Leysath, and is actually intended for duck breast. It works well with venison, too. Cooking this dish isn't difficult, but it goes quickly. Have all your ingredients ready to go before lighting any burners. When you try it, let me know what you think. And, let me know about your favorite deer recipes as well. Sometimes it's important to think beyond a whitetail's antlers and focus instead on what the animal can contribute to the dinner table.
This fall has brought a whirlwind of travel and deadlines for me, so I haven't been able to post much lately. Hopefully that's going to change soon, especially now that November is here and southern deer seasons are cranking up across the region. Other than a few early bow kills, the South has been pretty quiet so far. Expect that to change soon. The rut varies widely in timing across this region. While things are going full-swing right now in Kentucky, most of the southern Tennessee/Mississippi folks are telling me that things won't heat up around here for a couple weeks yet. In fact, I got one report from a Tennessee muzzleloader hunter this morning of seeing a bachelor group of bucks this past weekend. That'll change soon.
Will in Tennessee
Michelle likes a little more "fanciness" in her deer meat, and so she goes out of her way to try different recipes. Recently, we've had venison stir-fry, Italian deer sandwiches, and of course, bacon-wrapped backstrap. I have to say, however, one of the best new recipes we've tried is venison scallopine, which is a recipe I learned from the cooking column of Ducks Unlimited Magazine. The recipe is one belonging to game chef and DU cooking columnist Scott Leysath, and is actually intended for duck breast. It works well with venison, too. Cooking this dish isn't difficult, but it goes quickly. Have all your ingredients ready to go before lighting any burners. When you try it, let me know what you think. And, let me know about your favorite deer recipes as well. Sometimes it's important to think beyond a whitetail's antlers and focus instead on what the animal can contribute to the dinner table.
This fall has brought a whirlwind of travel and deadlines for me, so I haven't been able to post much lately. Hopefully that's going to change soon, especially now that November is here and southern deer seasons are cranking up across the region. Other than a few early bow kills, the South has been pretty quiet so far. Expect that to change soon. The rut varies widely in timing across this region. While things are going full-swing right now in Kentucky, most of the southern Tennessee/Mississippi folks are telling me that things won't heat up around here for a couple weeks yet. In fact, I got one report from a Tennessee muzzleloader hunter this morning of seeing a bachelor group of bucks this past weekend. That'll change soon.
Will in Tennessee
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Land of AAAAAAHZ!
November has finally arrived and it's on! You never know what might walk down the garden path when November hits. This Kansas brute fell the morning of November 1st and he came into the horns. Don't know much about this 190 inch stud yet, but maybe something will leak out in the coming days.
Remember, anything can show up once November arrives.
Shoot Straight and good luck!
Brian
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Sooner State Giant
A video of this buck was posted a few days ago here on the Rack Report, and little did I know it was killed by one of my good friend's brother, Ronny Lambeth. Seeing that I had a "inside source," I was able to get a couple of pics. He truly is a monster! Below is the story of how and where he took this top Sooner State buck.
Archer kills giant buck at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant
When it comes to the Wildlife Department's Controlled Hunts program, few places are revered and esteemed so highly as the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (McAAP) in southeast Oklahoma, and one hunter added to the mystique Oct. 17 when he harvested one of the area's most sought after "nicknamed" bucks, known as the "Ace of Spades."
Ronny Lambeth of Edmond said he was not very familiar with the ammunition plant's "10 Most Wanted" bucks when he drew into the McAAP hunts' but after bringing the big non-typical buck into the McAAP's check station, it was immediately recognized as one of the deer on the list.
Over the years, McAAP's wildlife managers have given nicknames to various deer with exceptionally large or unusual antlers. Many of the bucks are given their names during the summertime when McAAP managers conduct population surveys and have viewed or photographed the bucks while their antlers are still "in velvet," as was the case with the "Ace of Spades."
Although unofficial until scored by a certified Boone and Crockett Club (B&C) big game measurer after a mandatory 60-day drying period, Lambeth's buck has been green scored at a gross measurement of 201 4/8, with a net score of 197 2/8 after deductions. Although far from surpassing Oklahoma's state record 248 6/8ths non-typical buck taken by Michael Crossland in Tillman county during the 2004 rifle season, Lambeth's deer will likely meet the Boone and Crockett Awards minimum of 185 points and may meet B&C's minimum of 195 points for inclusion into the all-time records for non-typical whitetail deer. It will certainly meet the minimum for recognition in both the Wildlife Department’s Cy Curtis Awards Program (minimum for non-typical whitetails - 150 points) and the minimum for the Pope and Young Awards Program (minimum for non-typical whitetails taken with bow and arrow-155 pts.)
The "Ace of Spades" buck has 23 scorable points, and the rack has an inside spread of 26 3/4 inches. He was aged at eight-and-a-half years old and tipped the scales at 186 lbs. whole weight. Hog-dressed, the buck went 139 lbs.
Lambeth said he first spotted the buck at about 40 yards away and watched the deer for about 30 minutes before getting an awkward but successful eight-yyard shot with his primitive archery equipment. "I think I probably shook all the leaves off the tree I was in," Lambeth said about his wait for just the right shot opportunity.
Lambeth's success at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant and in other controlled hunts attests to the value of the Wildlife Department's Controlled Hunts program in providing unique opportunities to hunters. He drew out for this year's hunt at the "Ammunition Depot" with three friends who had never been on this type of hunt. Though they did not harvest deer, they had the chance through the Controlled Hunts program to get a rare glimpse of one of the military's most important installations (especially for wartime explosives production), as well as hunt in a deer hunter's paradise. "It's a privilege to get to hunt in that area," Lambeth said.
According to Lambeth, "there's not a better place in the world" in terms of successfully managing deer for age structure, buck to doe ratio and quality of genetics, but he said it’s "not in any way an easy hunt."
Although successfully drawn hunters are given some time to scout their hunting area and hang their treestands, it's only a few hours after the mandatory pre-hunt briefing held on Thursdays. Hunters must interpret such deer sign as tracks, rubs, scrapes, and then consider other factors such as wind direction and topography to determine where they should set up for the best shot opportunity.
Although none have been quite like his latest bucb, Lambeth has harvested three or four other quality bucks through the Department's controlled hunts program. Each year an average of 25 to 35 thousand hunters apply for at least one or often multiple controlled hunt categories. Controlled hunts are conducted on Department and/or other government owned lands where unrestricted hunting would pose safety concerns or where overharvest might occur.
Congrats Ronny
Brian
Update on Iowa Brute
Tony posted this pic a couple of weeks ago and from what I've been told it's the real deal--no high fence operation here. It was killed by new bowhunter Kyle Simmons of Spragueville, Iowa. It has 28 scorable points and was taken in mid October. Although everyone seems to be tight-lipped about it, word is it might topple the current state record.
This is why I'll be heading to southern Iowa next week; what a buck.!
Brian
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]