Ryan McCoy’s 11 pointer

What a season. If it wasn’t the windy days we dealt with i never had the time on good days to hunt. Had a great season though. Harvested a 130’s 9 pointer early November on one of these windy days still hunting.  probably should have passed him up, but still hunting and it all coming together it was awesome!

December 3, third day of the second firearm season around 11 am, a buddy and I went to grab lunch and discussed why we hadn’t seen a deer. One in particular was a 180 class 10 that we and the neighbor bordering the property had been hunting the last two months with our bows. We finished up lunch and headed back. Just like other hunting buddies we were really giving each other a hard time. Before we parted ways he stated we were gonna see some deer tonight. I looked at him and said ” Yep, I’m gonna shoot a monster tonight.

Two hours in the stand and nothing. By this time I’m getting discouraged. Then it hit me. Be patient and stick it out he’ll come. My dad who loved the outdoors and deer hunting always told me that when I was younger. He passed away 4 years ago. And then it happened. Sittin’ there thinking of his words I look up across a field and seen a deer. It was 4:40 and I’m guessing 300 yards plus. I grab my binoculars and start glassing. It was a buck, but I couldn’t tell how big in the tall grass. He closes in and i glass some more. He walks right past an elevated stand we call the can.

Boy, am I glad the neighbor wasn’t sitting there. Oh my, he’s big. Look at my watch again: it’s 4:50. I slowly grab my gun and put my scope on him and wait. The last 150 yards seemed like a mile. He steps out 35 yards broadside. I shoot. Not sure where I hit him but I new I did by his reaction. He runs quartering way I get one more shot at him before he enters the thickets. I call the neighbor and my buddy that I’m gonna need some help. We track him 50 yards and there he lay, my biggest buck to date. While tracking him and seeing the blood trail I realized that it was the second shot that seized the deal.  I wished my dad was here to enjoy the moment with me. Actually I think he was there the whole time.