First Buck...Its about Damn Time!

[Lou.D]

Long winded but happy! ****

Late post, but I finally connected on my first buck after 7 years of bowhunting! Many, many, many hours in the stand and just as many encounters with small bucks and missed opportunities with shooters finally culminated into this right here.

A little background, I dont come from a hunting family, so in 2011 when I decided to make the plunge into harvesting my own meat, I knew I had my work cut out for me. It took 4 hard seasons on public land learning to hunt alone and A TON of help from you guys on the forum for me to take a doe with my bow. Since then, I have learned to read sign and become a better hunter, but never sealed the deal on a good buck. I have been on a somewhat doe warpath since,  killing between 2 and 4 in the past 3 seasons. Every year however my buck scrutiny has grown... I would always pass on small bucks in hopes of a shooter. I would always say I've waited this long. I cant take a spike now haha. This is no way a bash on shooting small bucks, it was mearly me tryingto persevere and be patient for one I would be proud to punch my tag on after so many seasons of tag soup. I am incredibly happy and proud to call this buck my own and he will be remembered forever with me and my family. 

The setup: I went into a spot that I gained access to blind. Look on Google maps to zero in on a desirable spot to set up. Found a nice funnel to a creek crossing that i positioned my climber on. Saw a ton of doe and small bucks in the 6 hour sit. In the final minutes of shooting light, I began to prep myself to climb down and spotted the buck at about 40 yards making his way to me. It happened so fast I didn't even have time to think. He walked the trail on a sting leaving me with a 20 yard quartering away shot. Double lunged and down in 50 yards. He didn't make it easy making a be-line into a swampy thicket.  Thanks the help of my buddy we had a long drag ahead of us but it was well worth it!

 

Thank you to all on this sight for the great content and help for us young guys learning and keeping this tradition alive!

-Lou

[hammer4reel]

Nice congrats 

[ratherbhunting]

nice buck, congrats

[rackemup]

Awesome 1st Buck!! Congratulations!!

[muzzy1]

Keep Hammering!!

[Stewey]

Congratulations brother 

[Blend No 27]

Congrats very nice first buck

[M&M]

Congrats man.  Great Buck and patience.  I’m with you. Got my first nice one this year after years of learning.  I had a similar  situation to yours. Last light, just before I was ready to call it. I’ll never call it until the last minute again.  Great job!!   

[Lou.D]

Stoked thanks guys 👍🏻👍🏻

[Buck154]

Congrats on fine buck. 

Long time but well worth it. Very nice buck

Edited December 19, 2018 by Buck154

[megavites]

Excellent buck Lou! You have made a tremendous progression and  your doing it the right way. Congrats to you!

[KBfishing]

Nice buck. Way to hold out for what makes you happy. 

[Live to Hunt]

Very nice congrats 

[birdshotnj]

Hell yeah! Way to get it done

[nmc02]

Good for you, nice buck, & nice story