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For several years now I've thought that the week of Thanksgiving is one of the best times in my area to score on a big buck. Even though it's after the orange army onslaught (rifle season), I've had more encounters with big bucks over the week of Thanksgiving than at any other time. I've just never been able to close the deal before. WEll, this year I was able to close the deal.

On November 28, I headed out to the farm. I was planning on just making a short evening hunt, I really just wanted to get a stand hung for the next morning's hunt, because I thought this spot was more of a morning spot. I took a Baby Gorilla hang-on treestand, and Lone Wolf climbing sticks and headed up into the ridges to this area by a pond that I've been to twice all season. No one else has been in there either. I hung the stand and was going to sit for the hour and half before dark.

A little before 5, this guy makes his appearance. I heard him coming long before I saw him. He was like a bull in a china closet, just bulling his way through the woods. When I first saw him I could tell he was legal (has to have at least 4 points on one side of his rack to be legal in Missouri), but it wasn't until he turned his head and I saw tine length that my brain screamed SHOOTER!!! And my heart started trying to free itself from my ribcage.

He worked his way into range and while he was partially covered by brush, and walking, I drew my bow. My bow squeeked, and at 30 yards we had a stareoff for about 3 or 4 minutes while I held my bow at full draw. Finally he turned and started walking again, and at 28 yards I released my arrow. I hit him well back, but got lucky and hit an artery along the spine. He ran about 100 yards onto an opposite ridge and I saw him go down.

My best bow buck to date, and ties for my second biggest buck ever. If my measuriing is right, he grosses right around 141 P&Y. Now I'm trying to decide if I should have him officially measured and entered into the P&Y record book. He is my first "book" buck.

bake

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Shots rang out. . . as shots are wont to do.