I visited Missouri last week and saw a couple decent 8 pointers that I passed on and then this big boy walked out. He slowly crested a ridge about 150 yards out and all I saw was his rack for awhile. I knew he was a shooter before I saw all his head gear. Then he turned right towards me. All I thought was...FINALLY.

I took him as he walked at no more than 75 yards. My 300Win with hand rolled 180TSX took in the near shoulder as he was quartering towards. He ran or rather he plowed about 30 yards towards a wooded fence line and I shot him again before he disappeared into the brush. I waited around 20 minutes before tracking him about 40 yards. When I walked up to him I couldn't believe the size of him. What a toad! I dragged him back a ways on pure adrenaline before gutting him. Then it took me and my friend about all we had to get him through the brush.

Wish I would have weighed him. I caped him out and took him to a local taxidermist. The inside spread is about 20 inches. The longest tines are pushing 11 inches. I wish his right brow tine was still intact it would have been a beauty. His rack was beat all to hell. An outfitter that happened to be at the taxidermy shop thought he would go 170-plus but I doubt it. I think he was saying it to impress his customer. Probably a 150 or better though. Great hunt!!



Adding a few more pics.

This is how he was when I found him. The body size caught my attention first.



Backside view of his rack...


Another...


Double throat patch...



Headgear...

Nice buck, he will make a beautiful mount.

Nice Trophy Buck. I wouldn't have waited for one with a non-broken tine either.

quote:

Originally posted by kudu56:
Nice buck, he will make a beautiful mount.

I have three whitetails on the wall.....none of them as nice as that....not even close!

Damn nice whitetail,

His neck is swelled as hell to, he was just starting to rut and wasnt totally stupid yet.


Cal30

quote:

Originally posted by cal30 1906:
Damn nice whitetail,

His neck is swelled as hell to, he was just starting to rut and wasnt totally stupid yet.


Cal30

Based upon reports, the rut started a couple of weeks before I took him. He was in full blown rut, but he wasn't showing any stupidity when I shot him. He was just walking absentmindedly across a bean field when I spotted him. Sometimes it's good to be lucky.

Like you said, he probably won't go 170", but based on the photos I would bet he goes better than 160". Great buck, Congrats!