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| The U.B.C. ... working to protect YOUR bowhunting rights! |
| Joe Tucker |
There are not a lot of giant whitetails in CT, but every year one of us gets a crack at a beauty. Still, the only Pope and Young
Buck harvested by us was a shot by my good buddy Dan a beautiful 129 7/8, 8 pointer. I just missed the book the previous two
years with a 119 11 pointer and in 2001 and a 117 8 pointer in 2002. Maybe 2003 would be my year, but after twenty years of
bow hunting CT. I know the chances are slim.
Well the season arrived and weve been hunting various pieces of private land around the state. Since we all work and live
relatively close together we been hunting a 70 acre parcel in a town named Oxford. It was close to home and we could hunt just
about every afternoon after work, besides we knew there were some big bucks around. Our 70 acres was surrounded by 800
acres of open space land.
Dan and I had setup our tree stands in the back of the property, just outside these really thick laurels next to a brook. Sign was
abundant with acorns all over. We setup about 200 yards apart. Our other buddies bob and Craig setup some 500 yards across
the property.
We would hunt the afternoons then meet back at our trucks and share stories. We were seeing plenty of deer and a couple of
decent bucks, but no shots but I told the guys stick to it out pre-rut is coming and someone will get a crack at a nice one. Well
while leaving the property just after an afternoon hunt, sure enough two walked out across the dirt road just in front of Bob and
Craig one a big 8 pointer the other a MONSTER 10 pointer and we do not use that term monster lightly in our circle. Bob said he
was all of 300 lbs. on the hoof. 300 pounds now is a MONSTER whitetail in our part of the country.
Well we kept at it. Fall was here rubs and scrapes were appearing all over the place. Bob shot a doe and Dan had seen the 8
pointer, but no shot. Then came October 28th.
We keep in touch during the day by cell phone and I was working further from home than usual when I got the call from Dan
around noon and I told him that I wasn't sure if Id be back in time. By 2:30 I knew I wasn't going to make it in time for our 3:30
hunt, so Dan asked Bob could hunt my stand since Craig wasn't going to make it either. I told him sure and if I were there by 4,
I would just run in the woods and find a place to sit.
I arrived just about 4 to find Dans truck there. I didn't want to disturb their hunt so decided to hunt beside the old farm house
outside some thick cedar trees. I threw on my scent proof coveralls, grabbed by bow and hurried into the woods. Looking for a
spot to sit I saw an old blow down walked over and cleaned away some leaves broke a few branches for a twenty yard shot and
got comfortable.
Now it was 4:20. At 4:30 I rattled a little then grunted followed by some doe bleats. While scoping the terrain around me I
noticed a huge tree rub about twenty yards to my left. I was then happy with my set-up except for the fact that I was sitting on
the ground. But I only had an hour of daylight.
I have great equipment. I shoot a Mathews bow with carbon arrows. But 90 of my bow hunting is from 20 feet up a tree. But I
had practiced from the ground, 20 to 30 yards with my Savage Pendulum sight and was confident.
About 10 minutes had gone by and I decided to grunt a few more times followed by some doe bleats. This time I got pretty loud
Thats when I heard this horse like gallop coming up the ridge and then there he was. Quick as lightening he was standing
broadside 15 yards in front of me. Standing behind a big oak I could see his rack and his neck and he was staring right at me!
I sat there motionless my bow up right between my legs I closed my eyes a couple of times just so he couldn't see them He was
that close! All I could think of was what a Beauty and he is going to bolt!
Well he didn't. After a couple of minutes of stare down and heart palpitations. He turned to his right and headed away from me.
Now was time to ACT. I got to my knees, readied my bow and at 20 yards out he turned and headed back to the cedars. I
prayed he would stop and he did at twenty or so yards out. I was at full draw when he did to give me one last look when I
released. He bolts, but I hit him perfect. Mid body directly behind the shoulder. I know I double lunged him. I was so excited. I
just couldn't believe it. Its 4:45 and I know he is down!
I got up from the ground blind and walk 20 yards to where he last stood and my arrow is fully coated with blood. I start on his
trail, which I knew I shouldn't do only 3 minutes after the shot, then I realize my bow is back at the ground blind! I get my bow
and slowly start back on the trail and then I see him down..curled around a tree. WOW he is the MONSTER! Not 10 but 12
thick points and he looks all of 300 pounds.
I admire this beautiful creature for a few moments and thank God for a great hunt! Then I head to my truck, so excited but
nobody is around. Dan and Bob will be another 30 minutes or so. Well I got the cell phone to call first my two sons Joe and
Tyler, then my brother Chris an avid bow hunter, then my dad, then my girlfriend and everyone else I could think of.
When Dan and Bob get to the truck, I tell them that the 10 pointer is really a 12 pointer and I need a hand getting him out
because he looks to be over 300 pounds. At first they didn't believe me, but I was wearing the biggest Cheshire Cat grin only a
hunter or a 6 year old at Christmas would wear.
Well we got him out and showed him off. He was 310 pounds on the hoof, 245 pounds dressed, 10 regular points with a split
brow tine on the right and a 4 irregular tine on the left. Gross scored 163 7/8 Pope and young.
Buck harvested by us was a shot by my good buddy Dan a beautiful 129 7/8, 8 pointer. I just missed the book the previous two
years with a 119 11 pointer and in 2001 and a 117 8 pointer in 2002. Maybe 2003 would be my year, but after twenty years of
bow hunting CT. I know the chances are slim.
Well the season arrived and weve been hunting various pieces of private land around the state. Since we all work and live
relatively close together we been hunting a 70 acre parcel in a town named Oxford. It was close to home and we could hunt just
about every afternoon after work, besides we knew there were some big bucks around. Our 70 acres was surrounded by 800
acres of open space land.
Dan and I had setup our tree stands in the back of the property, just outside these really thick laurels next to a brook. Sign was
abundant with acorns all over. We setup about 200 yards apart. Our other buddies bob and Craig setup some 500 yards across
the property.
We would hunt the afternoons then meet back at our trucks and share stories. We were seeing plenty of deer and a couple of
decent bucks, but no shots but I told the guys stick to it out pre-rut is coming and someone will get a crack at a nice one. Well
while leaving the property just after an afternoon hunt, sure enough two walked out across the dirt road just in front of Bob and
Craig one a big 8 pointer the other a MONSTER 10 pointer and we do not use that term monster lightly in our circle. Bob said he
was all of 300 lbs. on the hoof. 300 pounds now is a MONSTER whitetail in our part of the country.
Well we kept at it. Fall was here rubs and scrapes were appearing all over the place. Bob shot a doe and Dan had seen the 8
pointer, but no shot. Then came October 28th.
We keep in touch during the day by cell phone and I was working further from home than usual when I got the call from Dan
around noon and I told him that I wasn't sure if Id be back in time. By 2:30 I knew I wasn't going to make it in time for our 3:30
hunt, so Dan asked Bob could hunt my stand since Craig wasn't going to make it either. I told him sure and if I were there by 4,
I would just run in the woods and find a place to sit.
I arrived just about 4 to find Dans truck there. I didn't want to disturb their hunt so decided to hunt beside the old farm house
outside some thick cedar trees. I threw on my scent proof coveralls, grabbed by bow and hurried into the woods. Looking for a
spot to sit I saw an old blow down walked over and cleaned away some leaves broke a few branches for a twenty yard shot and
got comfortable.
Now it was 4:20. At 4:30 I rattled a little then grunted followed by some doe bleats. While scoping the terrain around me I
noticed a huge tree rub about twenty yards to my left. I was then happy with my set-up except for the fact that I was sitting on
the ground. But I only had an hour of daylight.
I have great equipment. I shoot a Mathews bow with carbon arrows. But 90 of my bow hunting is from 20 feet up a tree. But I
had practiced from the ground, 20 to 30 yards with my Savage Pendulum sight and was confident.
About 10 minutes had gone by and I decided to grunt a few more times followed by some doe bleats. This time I got pretty loud
Thats when I heard this horse like gallop coming up the ridge and then there he was. Quick as lightening he was standing
broadside 15 yards in front of me. Standing behind a big oak I could see his rack and his neck and he was staring right at me!
I sat there motionless my bow up right between my legs I closed my eyes a couple of times just so he couldn't see them He was
that close! All I could think of was what a Beauty and he is going to bolt!
Well he didn't. After a couple of minutes of stare down and heart palpitations. He turned to his right and headed away from me.
Now was time to ACT. I got to my knees, readied my bow and at 20 yards out he turned and headed back to the cedars. I
prayed he would stop and he did at twenty or so yards out. I was at full draw when he did to give me one last look when I
released. He bolts, but I hit him perfect. Mid body directly behind the shoulder. I know I double lunged him. I was so excited. I
just couldn't believe it. Its 4:45 and I know he is down!
I got up from the ground blind and walk 20 yards to where he last stood and my arrow is fully coated with blood. I start on his
trail, which I knew I shouldn't do only 3 minutes after the shot, then I realize my bow is back at the ground blind! I get my bow
and slowly start back on the trail and then I see him down..curled around a tree. WOW he is the MONSTER! Not 10 but 12
thick points and he looks all of 300 pounds.
I admire this beautiful creature for a few moments and thank God for a great hunt! Then I head to my truck, so excited but
nobody is around. Dan and Bob will be another 30 minutes or so. Well I got the cell phone to call first my two sons Joe and
Tyler, then my brother Chris an avid bow hunter, then my dad, then my girlfriend and everyone else I could think of.
When Dan and Bob get to the truck, I tell them that the 10 pointer is really a 12 pointer and I need a hand getting him out
because he looks to be over 300 pounds. At first they didn't believe me, but I was wearing the biggest Cheshire Cat grin only a
hunter or a 6 year old at Christmas would wear.
Well we got him out and showed him off. He was 310 pounds on the hoof, 245 pounds dressed, 10 regular points with a split
brow tine on the right and a 4 irregular tine on the left. Gross scored 163 7/8 Pope and young.