My first buck

So my buddy invited me up to his place to do some doe and cull buck management. Got me a doe one morning and then the next day I went to a separate piece of property where his dad told me shoot whatever I want, but there have been some nice bucks around if you want to shoot one you are welcome. So I said I wasn't going to shoot a doe and I would hunt for a rack for the first time ever.

We had made a dove hunt that afternoon and got our limit on them but due to some poor shooting by me it took me a little longer than I would have liked and i didn't get into the stand until 430. I jumped 2 doe walking in so I was pretty bummed about that.

The stand overlooks a big unplanted foodplot inbetween a Levee and a swampy area with a dense section of woods behind me. About 20 minutes into the hunt I hear and see some fawns right behind and underneath the stand. I just sat watching enjoying nature. I can just watch deer in the woods and be completely happy with my hunt. They eventually make it into the field albeit on high alert because the wind is blowing right into their face with the sweet smell of an afternoon dove hunt. I can hear another doe blowing as much as she can, at this point I stop worrying about behind me thinking it's a lost cause and start scanning the edges of the plot in front of me. That's when I hear the snapping of twigs beneath my stand. Pessimistic me goes straight to assuming it's squirels trying to trick me. Nope it's a huge doe! but I still hear more snapping... then my heart beats with hope. I started to think it might just be possible that the buck I heard about was following her. That's when I see him. The white of his rack just fifteen yards underneath the box, I hadn't seen any pictures of the bucks in the area previously all I knew is I was shooting this buck. Now I'm freaking out trying to remember to do everything like take the safety off and not beat the gun on the box getting it out the window. The next part happened very quickly as he was starting to get a little trot going, all I remember thinking is get it behind the shoulder and don't screw around. The crack of the suppressor reports and he drops in his tracks, I immediately begin nearly hyperventilating. I text my buddies buck down and let them know I'll be a little late showing up back to camp as now I had a 100 yard drag through the tilled muck mud and up a levee to my truck and into it.

It was my first true buck fever experience and it was awesome.



17 1/2" wide 220 lbs

Really good friends shared some really good food and good times these last few days. It was a great trip