The Ones that got away. 2020

[S.Clancy]

I drew a special tag in MT this year, ended up shooting the bull in my avatar (~330-340") with my bow in October. I shot a bull 3 weeks early that was much, much larger, my best guess was 370-380". I hit him tight to the shoulder but a touch high @ 70 yards, arrow passed through. I watched him walk 600 yds over the ridge. Found my arrow, not much blood, never saw blood on the bull. Looked for him for 3 days, nothing. Came back the next weekend, 10 days after the shot, he was pushing cows around like nothing happened. That will haunt me for a while because he was a giant.

 

[timberland]

Called him in by cutting branches from my stand (while my bow was on the ground), had him at 30 yds trailing a doe right toward me when a herd of deer that spooked off a field ran by them and spooked them off, had him walk right up to me in the dark while blood trailing my mom's deer, and had him stand on a ridge and watch me try to walk to my stand one afternoon. All in all, five or so encounters within 30 yds over a three week period, and only once did I have a bow in hand.

 

[GoatBoat218]

Called him in by cutting branches from my stand (while my bow was on the ground), had him at 30 yds trailing a doe right toward me when a herd of deer that spooked off a field ran by them and spooked them off, had him walk right up to me in the dark while blood trailing my mom's deer, and had him stand on a ridge and watch me try to walk to my stand one afternoon. All in all, five or so encounters within 30 yds over a three week period, and only once did I have a bow in hand.

One stab to the heart after another.

 

[stonewall]

Ugh. I’ve lost sleep over a buck here. Never have I wanted want one so bad. Even had a dream about it the other day, woke up only to be disappointed. I’m guessing now that rifle season has been open a month he’s in someone else’s freezer. I’m not giving up yet and I’m looking to buy a muzzleloader in hopes he may still be with us. But nevertheless the goal was to get him during archery and I’ve been quite upset about it

Update for everyone:
Last pic I got of this buck was 12-17-20
One day after christmas in the treestand I heard a rifle shot towards neighbors place. Idk if that was what did it? But that’s what I suspect. My brother in law found the buck dead on his place. He’d never seen it before. I’m pretty bummed, but silver lining I did at least get hands on it I guess. For reference, I measured him at 137-2/8. Biggest buck I’ve ever had a chance at. 29” of mass. Main beams were both 21 and change
Last year he had a split brow on his right. This year he had a small kicker on his left g2 (broke off)

 

[Jaker_cc]

I’m glad I’m not alone in this thread

 

[Marble]

Finally came in the last day at last light. 35 yards away. Went to go sick my rifle out the blind and a small fork 10 yards to my side busted me.

I also made a 3 to 4 mile loop to get the wind on a bull. Got there, took a break and set up. Prefect wind for over an hour. Right when I started to make my first call the wind shifted. He blew out of his bed 80 yards from me..

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[def90]

5x4

 

[stonewall]

View attachment 242106
I watched a small band with at least two legal rams for two days leading up to the season opener. Night before the opener I counted no less than 11 other guys come up into the drainage! LOL, that was the last I saw of "my" sheep.

That the unlimited units?

 

[mtnkid85]

That the unlimited units?

yep

 

[stonewall]

yep

Man that must have been a rollercoaster. To find legal rams and then not. Ouch. That hurts