The Last Buck on my Lease

[BenelliHunter]

I have leased 600 acres for 9 years and intensively managed it for deer. I have killed 5 150-160" deer on the farm over the years. The owner sold it and it closes the first week of January. It will be changed into a landscape with 1000 homes unfortunately.

My kids, 11 and 6 killed their first deer, turkey and squirrels here. They also caught their first bass, rode their first four wheelers and jumped on all kinds of mud puddles here.

I have had the pleasure and misery of hunting a big 8 for two years. Last year we found the matching sheds 6 feet apart.

It all came full circle on Nov 26. I was hunting with my McWhorter 300 PRC on a RRS tripod when The big 8 ran out at 455 yards chasing a doe. They were crossing a 300 yard wide field in a slow lope. I never get buck fever but for some reason I did on this one and somehow pulled the first shot which put him in high gear! The second shot I increased my lead and pressed the trigger. Feeling good about the shot I waited 30 minutes and then went to see him. Time did not disappoint. I have not scored him bet but he is over 160". His matching sheds with a 17" spread put him at 152 last year.

I tried to post pics but I couldn't get them to load.

 

[BenelliHunter]

 

[crashlanding]

Great story, great buck but sorry to hear another beautiful piece of land will be developed.

 

[Rick Richard]

That is a very nice deer. Sad and happy story though. I have a place to hunt like you have described and know the possibility is there for the family to sell the property. I am now 71 and hope I can still hunt it until my hunting years are over. I hope you can find another place to continue hunting….especially with your kids.

 

[BenelliHunter]

Great story, great buck but sorry to hear another beautiful piece of land will be developed.

The price of progress is way to expensive it seems.

 

[BenelliHunter]

That is a very nice deer. Sad and happy story though. I have a place to hunt like you have described and know the possibility is there for the family to sell the property. I am now 71 and hope I can still hunt it until my hunting years are over. I hope you can find another place to continue hunting….especially with your kids.

Yes, I can't blame the owner as he is making almost 5 million profit but it is sad to see.

 

[snox801]

That's a great buck and can't blame a feels for selling. Just the way it goes. The memory will
Last though.

 

[john k]

That is a very nice deer. Sad and happy story though. I have a place to hunt like you have described and know the possibility is there for the family to sell the property. I am now 71 and hope I can still hunt it until my hunting years are over. I hope you can find another place to continue hunting….especially with your kids.

Couldn't have said it better from a lifelong Hunter who is on your heels!

 

[Mark Meredith]

I have leased 600 acres for 9 years and intensively managed it for deer. I have killed 5 150-160" deer on the farm over the years. The owner sold it and it closes the first week of January. It will be changed into a landscape with 1000 homes unfortunately.

My kids, 11 and 6 killed their first deer, turkey and squirrels here. They also caught their first bass, rode their first four wheelers and jumped on all kinds of mud puddles here.

I have had the pleasure and misery of hunting a big 8 for two years. Last year we found the matching sheds 6 feet apart.

It all came full circle on Nov 26. I was hunting with my McWhorter 300 PRC on a RRS tripod when The big 8 ran out at 455 yards chasing a doe. They were crossing a 300 yard wide field in a slow lope. I never get buck fever but for some reason I did on this one and somehow pulled the first shot which put him in high gear! The second shot I increased my lead and pressed the trigger. Feeling good about the shot I waited 30 minutes and then went to see him. Time did not disappoint. I have not scored him bet but he is over 160". His matching sheds with a 17" spread put him at 152 last year.

I tried to post pics but I couldn't get them to load.

Really good buck.

 

[BillLarson]

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Good story.... all too common..... when I was growing up in Wis.all you had to do was ask permission from the farmer and you hunted....

 

[Blandry]

I had some leases like that in South Texas. The wind farm/developer people screwed everything up. It was a good couple of decades and a bunch of nice deer. Now I'm up in CO/WY. That's a beautiful buck.

 

[highfinblue]

Great buck, great story, hopefully this is not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter in an even better place.

 

[Left Hand Dave]

Congrats on an absolutely amazing deer. I to have lost hunting areas and understand missing memories associated with hunting the areas. On the other hand I'm pushing 60 and still get buck fever and stomp in mud puddles.

 

[300WSMGUY]

Congratulations on a once in a lifetime buck! He's absolutely gorgeous. If you look in the B&C RECORD BOOK, the most difficult entry is a 160+ 8 pointer. They are also, in my mind, the most impressive. Just take a look at the 192+" 8. Perfection!!
Again, Congratulations my friend!
MERRY CHRISTMAS