First let me say I have only been hunting about 5 years now this is my 1st buck and only 2nd deer I have ever taken. Shot my first doe 2 years ago with my bow. I have learned the hard way not having much hunting experience and worked hard year after year placing minerals, trail cameras, small food plot this year. This sure makes a man feel like hard work and determination pays off for his efforts!

Things were really moving for my neck of the woods in northwest Wayne county on Sat. for the gun opener. Saw several small bucks chasing does like crazy no bigger bucks were in site tho. Saw 3 different shooter bucks a few weeks before that had me more than excited one might make an appearance but didn’t see any on Sat. My step-dad saw this buck Sat. from his stand where he was in another tract of woods on the property but didn’t have a clear shot at him. No deer down for us on Sat. Sunday was a different story…

Sunday morning I decide to hunt out of my blind that I have set up in a waterway at the end of a cut bean field that would offer me many shots from all directions plus this buck was seen in the same area the day before so I had my hopes up. Things started out really slow at first light and hardly any gun shots were heard which was surprising for the area during gun season. First thing I saw was a small 4 pointer chasing a doe all over the place kept popping out of this woods but never came close for a crack at the doe. Some time went on I only had 3 of the 4 windows open on my blind keeping the back window closed so I didn’t spook anything that might come from behind. I would check behind me every few minutes just to make sure tho. About 8:35am or so I decided to check behind me I pull the window flap down…oh wow this buck is standing there 20 yards behind me looking right at me and he gets spooked I let go of the flap at the same time. I grab my gun get it out the window he somewhat takes off towards the woods and fence I’m beyond nervous and adrenaline is really flowing at this point. He stops and looks back I get the cross hairs on him he is slightly quartering away perfect 60-65 yard shot…BOOM I let the ole smokepole rip. In the next few seconds the smoke clears I see him jump the fence he vanishes into the woods slightly over a hill. I’m so nervous, excited, and have completely lost my mind because I really had no idea if I made a direct hit this all happened in a few seconds from first seeing him. My step-dad can see from his stand where I shot but he was on his phone texting me when right before I shot so he wasn’t sure what the bucks reaction was. I’m staying put for 30 minutes or so to regain my mind I was texting and on the phone trying to stay calm and hope I made a fatal shot. Time to go check for blood…

My step-dad meets me at my blind we go check for blood or any signs of a hit. We are looking everywhere in the bean field and trying to replay how it all unfolded…we can’t find anything. I’m starting to get sick at my stomach and get that terrible feeling I didn’t place a good shot or just completely missed I was more than confident in the shot or I wouldn’t have taken it. I’m a firm believer in one shot one kill…don’t take a shot unless your confident. I felt so bad like my step-dad was beginning to doubt me and I let him down. He wasn’t angry or making any negative comments but I just felt like I let him down. We decide to hop the fence and look around some more maybe where he jumped there would be blood…nothing anywhere. We keep looking around and the woods starts about 10 yards across the fence just to make sure we cover everywhere. We just keep looking my step-dad goes on in further I come back out to the fence trying to replay where the buck went and at this point feeling more and more like crap I walk back into the woods. I get in about 10 yards or so….oh my gosh there is the buck I just shot at laying there expired about 10 more yards away right before going down a hill. It felt like I had to take a double take ten times I couldn’t believe what I saw. I yelled for my step dad found him and slowly walked up to the buck to make sure he was down for the count as he was. The feeling of happiness and excitement was like no other I was so pumped up. I just took a moment to share the excitement with my step-dad before checking the fatal shot. It’s what I would call a well placed shot entered the vitals bullet went right thru the heart and other shoulder bullet was just shy of breaking thru the skin just felt like a knot. Talk about being on cloud 9 this is a moment I will never forget. What I am so surprised about it there was hardly any blood on the ground anywhere except where he laid down just couldn’t get over this that there wasn’t more blood.

8 pointer, 184lbs field dressed


My 2 year old was pretty excited also...can't wait to share my passion with him!

Awesome!

Way to go! Congrats on a fine buck! Great story!

Very nice buck........Your hooked now!!

Very nice... Congrats!!!!

Good going

Beauty!!

congrats nice buck!

Very nice buck.

Very nice!

Nice Buck Brandon!!!!!!! Proud of ya buddy!!!!

Great buck!

Sweet..Congrats!!

Nice even rack with good mass, nice buck

Got my buck back from Hoosier Trapper Supply...that was a long 10 months but well worth it.
My first buck ever I couldn't be more proud and it hangs in the living room so I can look at him everyday.

Very nice deer!

Charlie Masheck at Hoosier Trapper does great work.

Looks great man!

Looks great! Welcome to the fever it will keep you driven every year. Congrats!