Late Season Buck -Video Added p. 2

[Herdbull]

I had this buck on our land for the last three years. He always had double sticker forked brows. This year he was 5 1/2 years old and he was one of the bigger bucks. Even though I took a nice 9-pointer in late October, I was really wanting a chance at this buck. I missed him in earlier December, but eventually saw photos that confirmed he made it through the three gun seasons.
On Jan 9, snow storms were rolling in and I got out there to hunt in a cedar tree at 8 foot stand height with hopes that bad weather would force deer on their feet to feed. The buck was the first deer I saw at 4:30. He was walking west to east, north of me with a heavy north wind.
Seven inches of snow and blowing, with a poor hit I let him go until morning. With more snow coming, I planned ahead, and requested a tracking dog. The dog did good as I had a TradTracker tracking string as well, but string fell out after 150 yards.  The dog did a good job, but after swinging wide the owner called it back and put back on last blood. This was a bad decision because the dog had it right after a drifted snow across grass roadway. Anyway, we got it going again and found more blood and several beds with blood in them. Then blood stared to flow, and with lots of sign, we found the buck. I tend to preach self-reliance, but when bad weather hits, I think the ethical thing to do is ask for help. I am happy I did.
Between taking my first buck in October and late season, I slipped on a wet garden hose and fell down the steep narrow stairs of my farm-house basement, injuring my shoulder and elbow. Earlier I was using the Homage bow from Brandon Stahl, but after the injuries, I drop a little more bow weight and hunted with my Wessel Archery bow I got from Brian Wessel last summer. Mike
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[Herdbull]

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[chefrvitale]

Great hunt! I love hunting cold fronts, especially when that cold front brings in a fresh snow and a great buck.
Congratulations!

[Pappy 1]

Beautiful buck, way to stay with the track, congrats.
Pappy

[Basinboy]

A Dandy buck! Congratulations Mr Mike 

[Bullchaser1]

Congrats on a great buck Mike. Perseverance gets it done!

[Guss]

Congrats, Mike...! Great deer.!

[kennym]

Sweet! Congrats!

[Mike Manassa]

Congrats Mike. That's a beauty!

[KAZ]

Very nice Mike, congratulations

[Jack Denbow]

 Very nice Mike.

[huckbuck]

Proof that responsibility can't be bought...Congratulations Mike! 

[Herdbull]

huckbuck,   yes my writings are coming back to apply to my own actions! hahaha . Thank you all for the kind words. Mike

[JamesD]

Mike,
      Thank you for sharing the story. Especially the part where you weren't afraid to ask for help. That is an awesome buck! Glad you recovered him. Very impressive that you took him in the late season after all of the hunting pressure has the entire herd on edge.

[Terry Green]

Great job Mike!!!  Great buck as well, and pic!

Thanks for sharing...

Terry

[TIM B]

Attaboy!!

[Wudstix]

Thanks for the story, those post gun season bucks are really on edge, especially with age.  Awesome buck, glad for you.

[Keefer]

Congratulations once again to you Mike he's a nice looking buck.
   Keefers <')))><

[MnFn]

Congratulations Mike! Very nice buck.

[Tony Sanders]

  Wow, what a way to keep after it. Congrats Mike on taking another fine buck. Glad you were able find him.  perseverance certainly pays off.