Tales from the Timber: Worthwhile wait

EDITOR’S NOTE: Here in the words of Dunlap bowhunter Jon Karl is the story of his hunt for a big Peoria County 12-point buck.

The moon was bright and the wind was blowing out of the south on the morning of Nov. 7, 2009. I was in my stand early and scanning the cut bean field in front of me. I noticed something not right in the cut bean field and thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. 

I thought I was looking at a tree top but I could not remember a tree being there. I looked away and back again a few times and still saw the same thing. Finally it was getting close to shooting time and I looked again in that direction, but this time the “tree top” moved. I then saw what every hunter was looking for, a trophy buck.

I watched this buck for a few minutes and decided to grunt at him. I pulled out my grunt call and gave a few grunts. The buck looked in my direction but did not what to come in. I had a Bleat Can with me and decided to bleat at him.

Again he looked my way and took a few steps towards my way but decided to stay where he was. Now the sun was coming over the horizon and I could see why he didn’t come into the grunt and bleat calls. 

He was out tending a doe in the cut bean field. I saw this buck run the doe a bit but not to aggressively. Finally the doe worked her way out of the cut bean field and headed into the grass area with the buck close by her side.

I thought to myself, now the cat and mouse game has begun. The doe wanted to head into the timber but this buck keep heading her off and keep her in the grass area. Finally after 2 ½ hours the doe led this 12-pointer within 23 yards of my stand which I waited for a broadside shot. 

I pulled the bow back and put the pin right behind the front leg. It was all over and well worth the 2½-hour wait.

This buck has an inside spread of 23 3/4 inches, an outside spread of 26 inches and a tip-to-tip spread of 19 1/2 inches.