Yesterday I was lamenting a lack of mature deer movement in front of my eyes. Seeing some does, some younger bucks but none of the big guys. Not even on camera this summer. Compound that with a couple of trips and I'm down to a handful of days left in the tree unless I quit my job.

...well last night I may have seen the deer that makes me quit. About 10 minutes before dark I had a BIG mainframe 6x6 step out at a little over 200 yards. He was the kind of deer that makes you s**t your pants before you even put the binos up. ...and then when I put the glasses up I learned that he has double drop tines. I hate to guess what he might score but he's a once in a lifetime deer.

I'll likely never see this deer again but I may not sleep well for awhile stressing over him. Wondering where he is, whether someone else is chasing him, whether I should go slow or push in on him before the first doe comes into heat... my nerves are frayed already and I haven't even really started hunting him yet.

Been nice knowing you. Next time you see me I'll probably be in a loonie bin.

It's quite obvious that you have no choice but to quit your job and hunt this brute every day for the rest of the season.

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It's quite obvious that you have no choice but to quit your job and hunt this brute every day for the rest of the season.

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This.

Quit immediately and spend the next waking hours sitting in the woods! Do not come out empty handed!!!!!

You can always get a new job, this deer won't be around forever

Yeah, dude...you are done. Good luck. I had a similar experience with a big ten point about 5 years ago. I hunted him like an obsessed idiot for 2 years after the first (and only) time I saw him in the flesh. He showed up on my camera one time in the middle of the night the second year. I think he did it on purpose just to further screw with my head. He wasn't even as big as what you are describing, but he still haunts my dreams on occasion.

Don't sweat it. You'll see him during the rut....

Sean,
It is close to magic time where you are......

Keep watching for him and rattle that Big SOB into range and stick him

I am sure the neighbor who put in zero work this year will kill him on their first sit later in the season Seems like that always happens with the big deer.

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It's quite obvious that you have no choice but to quit your job and hunt this brute every day for the rest of the season.

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Go ahead and plan for the divorce as well

No divorce, but if I miss bird hunting trips the dogs may start peeing on my stuff while I am gone.

I'm not really complaining, but as most of you can imagine my general life productivity has gone WAY down the past 17 hours or so. Hell, in fact yesterday was a GREAT DAY!

Step 1: found my Aggie Ring which had been missing for about 6 weeks (hung on a spring coil under my couch)

Step 2: see biggest deer of my life

Step 3: Royals World Series title! Rejoice!

Now if you'll excuse me I must go back to fretting over which of my plans will be the first to fail as I attempt to maneuver closer to the big deer. I think I'm going to try a doe decoy tonight if I can fake a cough enough to make people believe that I'm sick (not really, I'm just going to tell them I'm leaving).

Behold the power of the Rambler.


Just sayin.

Easy fix... Take a rifle with you and make sure you get a shot off.

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Behold the power of the Rambler.


Just sayin.

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If I buy a 65 quart will it draw him to within 50 yards?

Only if it has a texags decal.

I am not a deer hunter but my Dad is. He is in a very similar situation. It makes it easy to torment him.

I'm sure your deer, just like his, probably didn't break off those drop tines today. But then again maybe he did. Oh well, you'll probably never find out anyway.

The yeti will only bring it within ultra powerful crossbow range, which obviously leaves you still troubled. It probably would take a Jalepeno and Cheese Whataburger and a cheap styrofoam cup to get him into typical compound bow range, which obviously still leaves you with nothing.

You need an evil black rifle

Don't let this stupid deer screw up pheasant hunting

Focus!

I think you need to come down with a case of the "flu" for 3 or 4 days

need two things. 1. ample amount of available sick days. 2. doctor buddy to write note.

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Easy fix... Take a rifle with you and make sure you get a shot off.

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I'm sure a deer like that will be a ghost during our very short gun season in December

Cuz I'm a jealous azzhole....

It'll probably be a vehicle that gets him.

Hahaha, that would be funny. Sean leaves for work and the school bus driver is pulling that busted up rack out from underneath a big ol' yellow Carpenter bus while horrified little pony tailed girls look on.

Call him, Ishmael.....

Is this off the same stand/photo you put up last week? May have to take a road trip.

Kidding, been too busy to try and cyber stalk your spot.

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I am not a deer hunter but my Dad is. He is in a very similar situation. It makes it easy to torment him.

I'm sure your deer, just like his, probably didn't break off those drop tines today. But then again maybe he did. Oh well, you'll probably never find out anyway.

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pretty sure there's a special place in hell for folks like you. no offense.

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Behold the power of the Rambler.


Just sayin.

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If I buy a 65 quart will it draw him to within 50 yards?

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If you leave a few whataburgers scattered around, that will probably draw him in.


Oh, wait...

Quick update. Wind won't let me hunt exactly where I want to be but I'm trying not to be so stupid as to hunt the right stand on the wrong wind and lose him forever.

So I decided maybe a decoy would get him to jaunt over to the other side of the field...

Last night he came out right where the sun is... just right of the limb in this picture. Decoy is 30 yards out, wind blowing from the SSE (towards me and to the right in that photo).



About 4:35 I had two young does come in. One was just happy to OmNomNom on some radishes. But the little one was all about raising hell about the decoy. Running around like her tail was on fire, snorting, stomping, but never left. They started out due west of me...



They started out due west of me in the corner but worked their way all around the field doing some head bobbing, foot stomping, occasional snorting... But never left the field. Finally they had circled all the way around, got above her and gave the deke one last look.



And then headed to the top of the field to keep eating. I was hoping they would be living, breathing decoys, but sadly it was not to be.

My kidneys literally hurt from 3 hours of adrenaline thinking any second might be THE second. This is seriously not healthy or normal. Perhaps I need a life.

I need to get into hunting.

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I need to get into hunting.

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Yes. You do. Your pocketbook, gf/wife, liver, lungs, body in general, truck, etc will all hate you for it. Mainly your pocketbook. But it's so worth it.

if you really s**t your pants at first sight ... don't change them, they'll be good luck. and possibly a very valid excuse to keep getting you out of work to head to the woods ...

In

In.

I did the same thing for a buck for the last 2 years. A great buck with split G2's, hunted him every chance I got the first year only to see him once hang up about 60 yards in some brush and never come in. Fast forward to last year, he was coming in on camera every time I wasn't there. Then he finally one morning he comes in.....with his entire left side broken off and his left eye gouged out. From then on, I saw him EVERY time I went out. I know he made it through the winter and can't wait to see what he's like this year! Good luck Sean...he's out there and he will slip up, I hope you're there when he does!