10/26/07…PCHunter
Awesome! I can not think of any one who deserves such a fine buck other than you, DonT. Your investment and diligence has paid off. Looks like I need to change my thoughts on those scents. Strange thing is, on the other side of the river the guys hunting there did not see any deer moving before dark Thursday evening. Congrats! Now you have motivated me to get back in the woods sooner instead of later. Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!

10/26/07…BigW
I talked to Don on the phone a few minutes ago; man is he excited!!!! He’s already got the meat at the processor and got the taxidermist on the phone. I think he told me that it green scored 141″. Nice deer and a good job Don. Now go get the big one!!!!!!!!!!!!

10/26/07…BowOnly
Congratulations on a fine deer Mr. Don! He should make a nice addition to your trophy room. I’ll bet you’re glad you missed that 7 point. Keep up the fine work.

10/26/07…Cro
Awesome! I’m so excited for you and you deserve him!

10/26/07…Professor T
Man I can tell some stories about this guy. When a plan goes right…it goes right. I actually called it before going hunting yesterday. I started getting pictures of these bucks about a week ago on the T-Plot just off the 3-Trees Stand. I started baiting it with corn and rice bran daily in front of the Cuddeback camera. Then, I hunted this stand. Man that was a great hunt and a very good teacher for me. The bucks came close enough, but only after shooting light. Where was my problem? I put the bait where I could get some pictures of the deer but not a shot. The big change was that I left the rice bran (now second choice for the deer) at the camera and moved the corn and iron clay peas from 20 yards to 10 yards from the stand. Now, when the bucks came out at the last minute, they came directly to the shooting area.

Of course I cannot forget the contribution of the Hyper-P. This “valium for deer,” as I like to call it, gave the bucks the go ahead that it was safe to come out and eat. After missing the 7 point at 30 yards, I was completely blown. The 8 point walked the same path and then came to feed and I let it walk. He was a nice 8 point, but I didn’t want to shoot it. When it was leaving by the same way it entered, I said, “NAA!”  It stopped, but it didn’t stop for me. It had a 205 lb obstacle in his path. They both came back out, and within a minute the big boy was standing broadside at about 18 yards. I wasn’t going to let this one pass. When it hit him, it sounded like I hit a 2 x 4. Anyway, this is one plan that worked.

Thanks for all the encouragement all along guys. I really appreciate it.

10/26/07…Grocerygetter
A hunt and a deer like that are priceless!

10/26/07…Basinboy
I just knew it was going to happen! Great Job Mr. Don! You worked hard for that deer. P&Y Baby! The beast is dead! Long live the Basinhunter!

10/26/07…Cooyonboy
Congrats again on a fine buck Mr. Don.

10/28/07…Rambow
I just got in from my lease today. I’ve been there since last Tuesday and read your story, Don. A big CONGRATULATIONS to you!
 

Conclusion

The encouragement and emotions felt and expressed by friends, many of whom I have never met, helped me stay tuned in to my effort to kill this buck. Just to know that I have friends like this makes me feel special, we all treat each other like brothers. Even when there is a competition going on we root for the members of opposing teams and are truly happy for each other’s successes. We also share in the sorrow of a failure and help to encourage each other to do better next time. We pray for family members and offer assistance whenever able to do so. I’ve had members visit me and help to put up or take down stands or help in other ways around my land. All of this is done because we’re the same; we all have this love of the hunt and everything that goes with it.