We had a great hunt in Texas last week. My good friends Matt and Mitch had never taken any big bucks nor hunted out of state, so I was hoping they would get the true Texas hunting experience I’d told them about over the years. Boy, did they ever 

On the first morn the outfitter dropped me off at a spot I was familiar with as I’d taken a real nice 9pt there the previous year. I eased across the large pasture well before light headed for a ground blind that overlooked the end of a large wheat field. The deer are usually in the field at daybreak and they funnel through the end of the field near the blind on their way to bed for the day. The only problem with the terrain at this particular set-up is you don’t see them coming, you just see them when they finally make it to the end of the field. At first light I started seeing a few deer filter through, mostly does and a few small bucks. Around 745 I caught movement in the brush, so I grabbed the Nikons to reveal a nice wide 9pt making a scrape along the edge of the field. He was probably 18” wide, but had short tines, thin on mass, and needed a couple more years to mature. Shortly after the 9 came out a nice 10 busted onto the scene chasing a doe. I got caught up in the moment and poorly misjudged the buck. We usually take mature bucks in the 180-210lb range in this part of North Texas and this little guy being in the 150-160lb range and over 200yds away made his head gear look quite amazing to say the least. I grabbed my rifle and steadied on the sticks as he hit the open wheat at 260yds. When the buck slowed and turned broadside, I broke the silence of the beautiful morn and down he went. I’d made a poor hit high in the spine, so sent another to seal the deal. As I eased out of the blind and walked to my downed buck, I could tell that I’d misjudged his size in the heat of the moment. To top that off, when I hit the edge of the wheat a beautiful mature 9pt in the 140s was standing at a mere 120yds observing his downed compadre. After taking a good look at my buck, I headed back to the blind to wait for my ride and you would know the big chocolate horned 9pt eases through the brush well in range. Oh well, it was a great experience just as any experience in the great outdoors and the best thing was that I was tagged out and now get to help guide my two good friends to their first trophy bucks.

Here’s a pic of my 10:


Matt and Mitch didn’t have much luck the first morn, they only saw a few does. I decided to go with Matt that evening to see if we could get him on his first big buck. The weather wasn’t ideal in the eves, mid 70s with high wind. We guessed they would move late, which turned out to be exactly what happened. Matt and I set up in a brush blind under a cedar overlooking a large pasture to our right and a small section of brush to our left. Pretty slow eve until light started to fade. 20min before shooting time a 4pt and a couple does came on the scene. While glassing the small buck I caught a glimpse of a nice 8pt in the brush behind him, but it was a mere glance as he disappeared like a ghost. With only 5min of legal shooting time to go a nice 10pt steps out into the field to our right at a mere 60yds. I turn to glass him and say “Matt, he’s a nice 10, bust him!” and Matt is trying his best to get a clear shot through the limbs in front of our blind. I don’t know who was more nervous, my binos were shaking like a leaf in the wind and steadily getting worse with every second. Matt says “I can’t get a shot!” and I’m thinking just stand up and shoot, he’s 60yds!! That would’ve been a bad idea with the nerves rolling around in that little brush blind, but Matt did the right thing and passed on the buck. The buck started walking straight away from us, but angling to our Northeast. I told Matt to shift around as he was heading straight towards an opening around 100yds out, so Matt swings around and gets a steady rest for the shot. Just before the buck hit the opening, two does blew out of the brush to our right and the buck tore out in their direction. It was a very intense and exciting few minutes, we were alittle dulled out that the nice buck got away at such close range, but on cloud 9 at the same time for the wonderful experience. I told Matt to stay positive, it was only day 1 and we still had 3 more days to get a crack at one. Mitch’s luck wasn’t very good that eve as he’d only seen a couple does.

On the morning of day 2 Matt and I headed for the same blind and Mitch went to a box blind where his guide had seen a nice buck a couple evenings prior. Matt and I saw a little 4pt, a couple of does, and a ½ rack 8pt that had evidently been in a little squabble. When we got back to camp Mitch was feeling good and told us the tale of the monster that got away. He said at daybreak he spotted a couple deer in the brush, but couldn’t make out what they were. As daylight came he could finally tell that it was two bucks and one was unbelievably big. He said “Man, he had horns hanging out both sides of his body and unbelievable tines.” He said it was still too early to see them well in his scope and he didn’t want to shoot the smaller buck. As he waited for enough light to get a shot, the two bucks disappeared in the brush. 15 minutes later the two bucks entered a field around 250yds from Mitch’s blind walking straight away. Again he rambled on about how unbelievably large the buck was “Over 20” wide, long tines, and a bunch of em…..” Mitch said he whistled at the two bucks and they stopped to look back at him standing at a strong quarter away. He said he could not hold the cross hairs on the big buck, he was overtaken by the fever and decided to pass on the shot. He just hoped that he would show again that eve.

That evening Matt and I headed for the same brush blind and Mitch of course headed back to chase the brush monster. Another eve of wind and warm temps, so again we figured they’d move late. Prior to the sit I walked around in front of our blind and broke several limbs off because we weren’t about to have a repeat of the previous eve if I could help it. We settled in for the sit and sure enough, the deer didn’t move until shooting light faded. Around 20min before shooting time ended the ½ rack buck entered the pasture to our right and a few doe made their way through the brush to our left. As light faded we heard something in the brush behind us and Matt eased his rifle onto the sticks in case something showed. We sat for a few minutes and nothing came into the field, so I whispered to Matt that I was going to tickle the horns and see if we could bring anything out. I grabbed the horns and proceeded to make a little noise when all of the sudden a buck busted out of the brush at a mere 80 yards. The buck ran out into the field to our right and stopped at 100yds looking for the fight. I grabbed the binos and told Matt “He’s a nice 10, BUST HIM!” I didn’t hardly get the words out of my mouth and BOOM..WHACK! Matt let him have it. The buck mule kicked and made it maybe 10yds before tipping over in the deep grass. The high fives and hugs began, we were both shaking like a leaf and couldn’t get over the excitement. It was absolutely amazing to see my good buddy take his first nice buck. I was really glad I’d killed on the 1st morn and got to experience Matt’s hunt, it was far more exciting than taking one myself.
The buck had a fresh break on one of his G2s, so we figured he broke it after the shot as he flopped for several seconds. Matt and I looked around in the grass, but it was about like hunting a needle in a hay stack. Luckily the outfitter had a shed with an identical 2, so Matt’s having his taxidermist put the tine back on. Pic of Matt’s buck:


Mitch didn’t have much luck with the brush monster that eve, he didn’t even see a deer. I told him not to worry, we still had two full days to go and it could turn around in a second. Now, I not only got to experience Matt’s hunt, I get to go with Mitch for the rest of the trip.

The outfitter decided to put Mitch and I in a pop-up looking over a wheat field the next morning. I told Mitch to get ready because we may potentially see a pile of deer hitting the wheat that next morn. Mitch and I headed for the blind well before light. We had a perfect wind and the temps were in the 40s. As light filled the country side we immediately started seeing deer in the wheat. At first there were a few small bucks and several does filtering through. Around 745 a nice 8pt came into the field, but he wasn’t a shooter at 2.5 years of age. We patiently scanned the field and the brush around the edges as the sun rose behind the blind. At 830 I spotted several bucks in the brush to our left about 225yds out. I told Mitch where to glass and as soon as he spotted them, he said “Man, that’s a good one!” I said “where” and Mitch said “Over by the gate” so I scan by the gate and only see a descent 8 standing in the brush. I said “Mitch, he’s nice, but only a descent 8” and Mitch said “No, man, he’s a good 9, that’s him, that’s the one I want!” I’m sitting there thinking ok, it’s up to you man. Then, I see what he’s talking about, there was another buck in the brush to the right of the 8pt I was glassing and he was a nice one for sure. I told Mitch “Yeah man, I see him, that’s a gooden.” Mitch grabbed his rifle and took a rest on my sticks. I told Mitch “Don’t shoot unless you are on him solid, we have plenty of time.” Mitch took aim and said “ Man, I’m nervous, I’m shakin” I said “Don’t shoot until you are solid, he’s not going anywhere.” Mitch aimed for a few more seconds and said “ I’m cool, stop him” he was now in the wheat at 270yds and I hit him with a loud MAAAA! The buck slammed on the brakes and looked back at the blind. As soon as he stopped Mitch let him have it and I heard the thump as the buck crumpled to the ground. Mitch let out a good ole country boy holler and the high fives and hugs began. Ole Mitch had a grin from ear to ear.

We waited around the blind as there were a few deer still in sight. The outfitter heard Mitch shoot, so he came driving in about 20mins later. When we headed to check out Mitch’s buck he grew a little larger. The buck had a 10th point, an 8” dagger sticking straight out from his right base, which gave him a real unique look:



Talk about an amazing hunt. We’ll never forget it and that’s what it’s all about in my book.

Ya’ll have a good one,

Reloader

quote:

Talk about an amazing hunt. We’ll never forget it and that’s what it’s all about in my book.

Yup....that is the bottom line.....

Nice bucks!

Your buck looks pretty big to me.
Congrats.
W.

Great post! Thanks for the pics, and congrats to all.

Congrats all around!!!

Hey Reloader, Great stories, excellent Bucks and fine flicks. Always nice when you can share the Hunt experience with some good buddies.

Those are the kind of hunts memories are made of. Thanks for sharing it with all of us here.

And congrats on some terrific bucks!

Congrats all around! It sounds like y'all had a great time to boot!


Bob

Excellent deer and a good time. Congrats to all!

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
Excellent deer and a good time. Congrats to all!

+1

Thanks guys. It sure was fun and we can't wait for next year.

Have a good one,

Reloader

What region of North Texas are y'all huntin'?

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
What region of North Texas are y'all huntin'?

North central, Wheeler, Grey, and I believe Donley COs. Not far from Oklahoma.

Have a good one,

Reloader