Every year, there are bucks that you saw or had pictures of from the previous year that you hope made it, and then hope they show back up. This year there were a few bucks like that. Ranger topped the list, but then other bucks that we had been following. Gummy. Inside 10. Drop Tine buck. Then there are bucks that are so rare, so elusive or maybe just don’t spend much time on or around your property that you never really know much about them. Last year, this rare buck was a wide and massive 10 point I got one picture of on the neighbor’s farm. That’s it. One picture and never saw him. He was a target buck for me, even though the odds of seeing him were slim.

Then this year, that same big frame 10 shows back up in the form of one early season picture…and then nothing. “So he’s still around” I thought when I got that single picture. Maybe I’ll run into him. Regardless of antler size (and he’s by no means small), a mature buck that spends very little time in and around our hunting grounds is always a target. A home boy might get a pass…simply to let the story and chase play out another year. But not a straggler.

So last night, after letting the home farm food sources sit and soak for what seemed like weeks, we finally got that perfect SW wind I was waiting for to hunt a stand the takes advantage of a ditch crossing and inside corner. The travel pattern at this spot is mostly a bed to feed pattern…and this year we have some standing beans and standing corn just to the east of this stand. The plot is about an acre and a half and was intended to be a destination plot mostly for late muzzy. I had been hunting mostly evening sits and activity in and around food had been phenomenal. Morning and mid-day had been phenomenal too but that was mostly in tight to bedding. Tonight, the play was food. My target buck was Gummy, but this time of year I always, ALWAYS, say that it seems like one buck shows up that wasn’t there all year. It’s the post peak breeding excursion. (I made that up, but that very well could be what is going on.)

(Below is the one and only picture we ever got in 2021 of the buck we are now calling No Name. We never saw this buck all last year)

Access to the north ditch crossing stand on the home farm is about the best it can be. You cross a cow pasture down-wind of the stand following a draw that keeps you low and hidden. The stand is located just across the cattle fence allowing you to cross the fence and enter the stand almost immediately. In theory, deer are always in front of you and always up wind. This year, it’s even better as the standing corn blocks any movement you might make while getting in. It’s about as good as it gets. But, deer weren’t using the area too much early on. The standing corn all over in the neighborhood had deer spread out, and then when the corn got combined more activity with raking and bailing of the stalks near this stand just had things too stirred up. That’s why it was soaking, the stand that is.

Last night was perfect. Entry was good. Nice SW winds about 15 mph. Deer kind of sort of returning to a bed to feed pattern with peak breeding just over. Any last remaining hot doe would be gold right now. And, would Gummy show up? At this point, he was the target.

As I settle in early, I start seeing deer almost immediately. First a glimpse of a big buck…nuzzling a doe around in the switchgrass. Only a glimpse…then another better look. It’s a really nice buck I passed once this year. He’s a home boy…he gonna get another pass. Then more does and fawns later in the sit. A little buck, then another making their way from bed to feed on the corn.

The sun was up and bright. At one point, around 3, I had to layer down taking off my down thin layer beneath my coat. Then back to no movement as I watch to see what shows up. The rest of the afternoon went with a glimpse here and there of deer walking around in the bedding area of switch grass, young willow, and wild plum. As the sun finally sets in the west, the wind starts to lay down. It’s the phenomenon I hate as no wind can make your scent disperse and go overwhere. But tonight , the wind stayed, at least a little. Two more bucks are now working their way out from the bedding. It’s a big 10 point and another mature 9 point. The bucks are together almost like they are bachelored back up, but after only a bit they lock antlers. The fight lasts only seconds and then they both turn and walk the other way separate this time. I don’t get a great look at the 10…was it Gummy? “It might have been” is my thinking.

To my right, which is south east, I see movement in the distance. It’s from the bedding area only now it’s closer as this deer is more in the open. I pick up my binoculars to take a look and immediately recognize this buck. It’s “that buck” I say to myself. Not expecting this big framed 10 to be here tonight, to be anywhere for that matter. I spend some precious seconds glassing to make sure my eyes aren’t lying to me as he walks toward me with pretty good determination. He’s closing the distance pretty quick…now the only question is what side of the tree is he coming on?

As he walks right at me the trail forks. He goes right (which is my left) and he leaves me a 20 yard chip shot off my left side. No need to even stand which is always my goal. He goes left, and I’ll have to stand as my only shot is over a large branch coming from my tree. “I’ll stand” I say to myself hedging my bets and making sure I can take a shot either side. As I do, I notice another buck that got in on me while I must have been glassing No Name. It’s the Drop Tine buck. He’s right underneath my stand already but moving past…”please keep going” I’m thinking. He does. Next up…No Name.

As he reaches the fork in the trail, he turns left putting him on my right side. I shift my body in preparation for the shot. The trail he’s taking puts him at 10 yards, but before I get a chance to draw he’s already in the open and coming in fast. Not running, but just chewing up yards faster than I can adjust. I start to pull back and he sees movement and locks up. We are now in that standoff any archery hunter knows about. The tree I’m in is big, and I have it brushed in too with cedars. After only a few seconds, he decides it’s ok. I think Drop Tine moving past convinces him the coast is clear.

As he starts to move again I pull straight back and come to full draw. This time he sees clear movement and spooks just a little bit taking a couple quick steps away. Again, we are in a standoff…only this time I’m already at full draw and he’s broadside. The massive antlers staring right at me, snot running from his nose as he tries desperately to smell me. I settle in behind the front shoulder…low…lower…just at the heart…thwack. I hear it, what sounds like a perfect shot. No Name runs off headed back for cover. As he gets to about 80 yards or so from the stand he goes down. Only, this wasn’t the classic wobble then fall over go down. Instead to me it looks like he bedded down?

I was sure, at least almost sure, the shot was perfect. But I never did see the arrow and by the time he laid down I never got a chance to see where I had hit. My confidence was high, but I had no reason to charge in to get him. I would wait for dark…then wait for the morning to go back!

One last thought on No Name. I think it’s more than just a coincidence now, that all three deer that I have a history with that were shot this year (Ranger, Inside 10, and now No Name) all got smaller this year over last. By smaller, I mean their rack was smaller this year. Now, I’m not antler shaming my own deer or that of Zach’s. No, truly these are great bucks. But either a tough winter, or maybe the severe drought pushed antler growth down this year? I’ll let you be the judge of that.

Ok, one last thought. You’ll hear a lot about hunting the “Lock Down” phase of the rut. I can say this…hunting closer and closer to doe bedding will dispel any notion that deer are in the lock down. I”ve been seeing mature bucks almost daily all through the “lock down” That’s been my experience. And, keeping your hunting areas fresh as much as you can help it will also help in making sure you have season long good hunting.

Thank you for following along!