To all the bucks I’ve loved before………

[redblood]

This buck i had no history with. Named him billy goat. Showed up September 2020. I had just had heart surgery when i he showed up. He was daylighting in one of my food olots every morning but i couldnt yet draw my bow back. A couple weeks later he was gone- he was never killed to my knowledge……

 

[Ski]

I'd have bought a crossbow just for him.

 

[redblood]

I'd have bought a crossbow just for him.

I actually did. But i didnt like it. Soi went to taylors archery 3 weks post surgery and had them turned my bowtech down to 58 pounds and started shooting. But he became nocturnal. Last pic i had of him was nov 6.

 

[backyardtndeer]

There are pockets of TN like this where you can't hardly bust 120", and 30 miles away be in an area that's producing booners. Makes zero sense to me and I'd have never believed it possible had I not lived here to experience it.

I know one here will argue the point, but I still believe it has to do with the distribution influence from them restoration project so many years ago.

 

[Smo]

Just an 8 point… but I sure wanted too kill him.

 

[East TN Bowhunter]

Had alot of history with this mountain buck. My buddy had a clean miss the year before on him and so he went nocturnal. He was not at all afraid of cameras but he certainly was of daylight. I don't know that i ever had more pics of a deer than this guy. I guess you kind of get used to seeing them and miss them when they are gone. He made it through that season but i never saw him again.
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Same with the big 7 I posted. He was in front of my cameras every day or 2 sometimes multiple times a day and once October came in it was like he knew only to come out at night.

 

[killingtime 41]

Whew what a thread and some amazing bucks posted!

Only one really haunts me. Growing up in rural southern Ohio I've had more than a lion's share of opportunities at some superb bucks. But one above all others bothers me, and for many layers of reasons.

Long story short while mushroom hunting my brother found a single shed that measured 87". Understandably he was obsessed and spent all summer learning as much as he could about the buck. He started hunting him on archery opener but never saw the buck so he invited me Thanksgiving week up for a second set of eyes & fresh opinion. My first sit was an evening hunt and sure enough the buck comes straight to my rattling horns. I made what I thought was a great shot and there was lots of blood and a crash site but no dead deer. Next day we bump him up while tracking. The buck stands up, groans, then wanders off straight away from us. I broke off in a dead sprint after him but never did see the buck again. Never in my life have I seen a deer bleed so much without dying.

It was the only time I've ever had a legit 200"+ buck in front of me while hunting, and I screwed it up. Not only did I feel like donkey punch for wounding the animal, but I felt even worse knowing how invested my brother was in hunting him. He's the one who discovered, scouted, and studied the deer. I only hunted him by invite for a couple of hours. I still feel horrible. Best and worst hunting experience of my life all wrapped up in one.

Was the buck ever spotted again or would assume he died somewhere

 

[Ski]

I know one here will argue the point, but I still believe it has to do with the distribution influence from them restoration project so many years ago.

I agree. That's my theory as well and what makes most sense. I'm sure soil conditions factor to some degree but this is a glaringly obvious difference that soil conditions alone can't explain.