Just got to share this one!

[slimjim]

I had a great morning hunting yesterday. It was 17 to 19 degrees with a very light wind. I was dressed like the Michelin man in long underwear, down vest, and down jacket under my leaf suit. I was in position in on the side of the hill overlooking 3 fields well before sunrise. At 745a, two does and their fawns came into view at 450 yards. While I was watching them, another doe went by me within 50 yards. She did not spot me. I was sitting next to a bush. 5 minutes later, this buck came out of the woods running down her scent (the rut has been on since 4 Nov). He was so big, I didn't spend any time counting points or judging his rack. When he slowed to a trot, I anchored him with my .270 Win (129 LRX) at about 100 yards. It was a challenge getting him up on the ATV.

When I pulled into the processor, all the workers came out to see the buck. They said he was 1 in a 1,000 they get to process. He has 10 main points with at least 3 secondary points. I cannot touch my finger tips when I wrap my hand around the base of his antlers. I will have this buck scored to see just how special he is. I am very fortunate.

Just had to share with my HuntingNut brothers and sister.

Happy Slim :-))))

[slimjim]

A picture before I field dressed him.

[slimjim]

and when I got him in the back of my truck. You can see the entrance wound. The bullet passed all the way through and exited at the top of the hind quarters.

[Grey_Wolf]

Wow nice buck Slim! Yeah, I wouldn't think there'd be a need to count points on that one before dropping him

[slimjim]

I called one of my hunting buddies when I first stood over him and realized how big he was. Told him I got one that he would be proud to put on his wall next to all his trophies. He said that is great but calm down take a deep breath and fill out your tag correctly and fix it to the deer before you do anything else. You don't want a warden taking this away from you.

[hunterjoe21]

Nice Buck!

I don't usually care about scores, but am curious on this one.

Did the processor weigh him? I hear that the deer in TX don't grow very big (body wise), but the genetics and nutrition allow for great antler growth.

[DallanC]

Wow thats a dandy!


-DallanC

[Aloysius]

I think it's about time for a new avatar...

When you get such a trophee-buck, it usualy also means that you've earned it. Think about all the preparations and then it's hunter's luck: sometimes it takes 5 years (or more), sometimes it takes 5 minutes, but a well-prepared hunter can take decisions in seconds.

Congrats!

[slimjim]

hunterjoe21 wrote:

Did the processor weigh him?

No weight on this one. I had to field dress him just to make him light enough so I could get him up on the ATV.

[slimjim]

hunterjoe21 wrote:

I hear that the deer in TX don't grow very big (body wise), but the genetics and nutrition allow for great antler growth.

Correct, Texas deer are not as big bodied as Northern deer. Go to Florida and the deer are even smaller. Bigger bodies take cold better and smaller bodies take heat better. This buck was pretty old. He had no teeth on the top jaw and only 5 incisors in the front of the lower jaw. It was his time. I did checked on-line. Because he had no molars, he is at least 10 1/2 years old if not older. I hope his genes are well spread in the local area.

[Pumpkinslinger]

Beautiful deer! Well done!

[English Mike]

That's a truly magnificent animal matey.
At that age, he'd have sired a goodly number of offspring & by what you say about his teeth, he was on the top of the slope towards decline, so you saved him from a less pleasant demise too.

[Vince]

WOW Slim...you done goodly mate. At his age, his genes will be well spread amongst the herd. He has a magnificent set of antlers for sure...well worth mounting.

Well done mate.

[Elvis]

perfect timing Slim,perfect in every way concievable.
well done Mate,well done indeed.

[Grant]

That is a great Buck!!!

Congratulations!!!