Halloween 10 point

It finally came together for me after a struggle to find bone this year.  Up to today I had seen one buck after about 15 sits this season.  Today I got up early and drove 50 miles to a farm that I have yet to hunt this season.  I had high hopes as I settled into my favorite stand on this farm at 6:30am with plans to sit all day.

It didn't take long for the actions to start as I saw 7 different bucks through the morning.  Only one little buck chasing a doe, the rest of the guys were cruising.  I did pass up a basket rack 8 point twice as he made the rounds.  Saw two shooter 8 points that I could not coax into range.  One liked the horns, but after coming half way in, he resumed his course away from me.

Things were quiet till about 2:30.  I had actually stood up to stretch a bit from sitting all day and when I looked over my right shoulder and saw a buck walking my way at 30 yards.  He kept closing the distance to 20 yards and finally caught some movement from the shuffle going on in the treestand. Quartering slightly to me, big in body and heavy in horn, I decided to send a arrow his way.

I heard the arrow hit and as he ran away I could see the shaft buried to the fletching in a very good spot.  I was expecting him tip over at any moment but as he disapeared over the hill after about 150 yards, the second guessing began.  After studying my landmarks and waiting about 30 minutes, the search was on. 

No sign at all for about 50 yards then a drop or two.  The trail became much easier to follow as I progressed with obvious lung blood leading the way.  Loaded with bubbles.

When I reached the point where I lost sight of him, the trail became heavier and my spirits soared.  As soon as I peaked over the crest of the hill, white belly hair was apparent about 30 yards away. It looked odd the way the deer was laying so I studied it through the binoculars before I proceeded.  This is how I found him piled up with feet in the air.

As I usually do, I sat and reflected for a bit and just enjoyed the moment that we all live for.

My 2010 archery buck makes up for lack of width by lots of character and heavy horn.  Both of his G2s are split.  This guy was rutted up, full of briars and reeked of musk.  Just my kind of buck. :)
Took him with my Parker Cyclone, 100 grain slick tricks and Carbon Express shafts. 

Congrats DPMS, real nice buck. Things really are starting to heat up. Saw more bucks the last 3 days than the first three weeks. Did you get shoulder penetration with that setup or did it miss the heavy bone.

Nice buck congrads.

Thats a great buck! Nice job and good shot. :)

Fanastic d.   He's a hoss !

Nice one! Mass does it for me too. I once had a bull elk end up w/ his legs in the air and antlers stuck in the ground below him. He was going down a steep sage slope and his hind quarters flipped clear over his head at the second shot! Wish i had that all on film.....damdest thing I ever saw!

congrats dpms! i also shot a 10 point saterday evening at 530. 20 yards broadside got pass through tons of blood and found him where i heard him crash about 60 yards away. thought it was only an 8 point but had double brow tines on both sides

Nice Buck,congrats

very very very nice buck!

Congrats. Great character on that rack.

Nice Buck..

very nice buck.