The first 2015 BIG DEER field report is in, and it comes with a fabulous picture of a fabulous buck:
Hi Mike: Have followed your show and blog reports for years and am finally happy to say that I harvested a deer of a lifetime. My buck was shot in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, and scores 181 gross, with 23 5/8” mains, 15 points, inside spread of 20 5/8”, and only 2.5” inches of side to side difference as a main frame 12!
Truly blessed to harvest an animal of such beauty, which I shot on the 3rd day. Passed a 140” 10-point two hours into my hunt, and then shot the big buck. Thought you would like to see it.–Ed C.
Ed, congrats, this is a truly gorgeous buck, with a nice wide flair and picket-fence tines. Love that look! Great restraint and mental toughness on your part, passing on the 140” 10, most hunters could not have done that (I might not have done that). But then you can’t shoot a 181” dream buck if you burn your tag and don’t show such restraint. Very happy for you and thanks for sharing.
Remember to send me the story and picture of the big buck you shoot, or one that a friend shoots, or one that you hear about or see on another site. Let’s make the 2015 BIG DEER field reports the best ever. Good luck!
Awesome buck! Congrats!
What a Buck! Congrats Ed
A couple of things:
1. Beautiful buck & the picture is about as good as you will ever see.
2. For the love of God, can we please quit saying “harvest” when we kill an animal. We kill it! We eat it! It is what we do. We need to quit bowing down to PC Bull$h!t! You harvest deer in a high fence. If you shoot one there, and are stupid enough to brag about it, feel free to boast about your “harvest”!
Hi Curt,
#1. Thanks for the comment about my deer. Pic was done by Shane Indrebo, one of the best in the world at photographing deer. If you are ever in Buffalo County and shoot a good one, look him up.
#2. I personally would never hunt in a high fence, and I guess I don’t really think about “harvesting” vs “shooting”. At the end of the day, I know I put my time in, passed quality deer, SHOT my bow perfectly, and put a tag on a beauty! I can only hope you have the same come true for you this hunting season.
Ed,
There is no doubt that you did everything necessary to put your tag on a monster buck. I can only hope to hunt in a place like Buffalo County. Very few people luck into a deer of that caliber. You have to put your time in & pass on the smaller “big bucks” in order to have the opportunity to get one like that. If you felt I insinuated this was a pen deer, I never felt that at all. I just feel the term harvest should only be used for something grown in a pen, like a cow or a garden. You killed a wild, free-ranging animal. I think that is something, especially the caliber you just killed, that should be boasted about & shared with the world. I just feel the term “harvest” has been adopted to make us hunters look more likable, or less savage, to the mainstream world. Everyone is so worried about offending someone these days. I just feel that term is part of the “wussification” of America. Just a little pet peeve of mine. But, that said. congrats on an amazing buck!
Hi Curt,
I completely agree with you in regards to all the nonsense walking on egg shells type of BS that hunters have to deal with on a daily basis. I am extremely proud of my deer, and more than happy to tell every non hunter in the world exactly how I killed him and the effort behind it and how good he will taste for my family and friends! To me, “harvest” is just a word, but I do get your point. And no I did not feel like you thought I shot it in a pen. Definitely not, private 800 acre farm with very minimal hunters. Have hunted there 3 years now and will continue going. Great opportunity every year at a 140 or better.
Ed,
If you ever need any help thinning the herd let me know. Have gun, will travel :-)
Lol they do offer very few hunts, and they do have a few openings. Farmer does hunts just to pay his taxes, realizes how special low pressure is, and the food is amazing. I have gone there for opener and during rut, and have shot every year. Trying to develop more of a 10 person hunt club then a rotating door. Everyone on the same page equals bigger deer! And food plots are killer over there! Draws them in like crazy.