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Brock following Mason through the woods.

brock ratcliff

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I finally got to catch up on this thread. WOW! If you deer hunt and don't get nervous with a buck like that standing in front of you, hang up your hunting gear.

About the love/hate relationship with cams…I haven't put batteries in one yet this year and it has bothered me much less than having one going. Sure I might loose a couple points in the contest, but the prize for me is worth it!

A bit nervous, but not falling apart without the ability to think of the next step. Two different things. I've been so shook up I couldn't focus on my pins. I don't think Mason has ever had that issue.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
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A bit nervous, but not falling apart without the ability to think of the next step. Two different things. I've been so shook up I couldn't focus on my pins. I don't think Mason has ever had that issue.

I agree completely, I can also say that he held it together better than I would have. Hats off to that young man and his ability to keep his composure.
 

Dannmann801

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Just think Brock, the day is coming (and soon) that Mason will go out in the woods alone and come back with his limit of tree rats or draggin' a deer by himself. Damn.
 

brock ratcliff

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I know it Danno, and I can't stand the thought of it. He has always been a big kid for his age, I nearly look him eye to eye already. I can't say that I miss having to carry all his gear to the stand/blind, but I sure do miss that little kid. He's still there, thankfully, just a lot bigger version. I told KR just this morning, the time we spend together hunting, fishing, even working on occasion... I just wouldn't trade it for the world. That's one reason we carry our Connor bracelets to the woods with us, you just can't take this stuff for granted.
 

brock ratcliff

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I just did my best guessing, and came up with 166, not that it makes any difference. He's a nice deer, and if on occasion he strolls by me and Mason is not in the tree, he's getting shot! HA
 

brock ratcliff

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I figure 27 to 28 on the beams.
I give him 160 - 164
If ya guys kill him we will know for sure.

I think his beams would measure 28, but gave him 27 in my math trying to keep it on the low side. I figured his bases at 6.5, and I'm fairly confident in that, but I may have given him a little much on mass overall. Who knows, somebody has to kill him to find out. He seemed like a friendly deer, sorta rooting for him. :)
 

finelyshedded

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I figure 27 to 28 on the beams.
I give him 160 - 164
If ya guys kill him we will know for sure.

Sounds about right! I'd also say 22-23" inside spread as well! What say thee y'all? A deer that wide is as rare as a 150+ inch 8 too,IMO!

A once in a lifer in that aspect,IMO.
 

Quantum673

Black Hat Cajun
Supporting Member
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing it.
That is a truly majestic deer. What a great opportunity caught on video.
I cannot wait for the next encounter. Keep it up Mason!
 

brock ratcliff

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I didn't want to waste a perfectly good morning, so I got out of bed at the crack of 730, drank some coffee, looked around a while, and laced up my boots. Did a little still-hunting/scouting, in an area I suspect to hold deer close to where Mason and I spent opening weekend, but not close enough to bugger up the deer that are hanging out around our stands. I snuck along the edge of a standing cornfield, around two little fingers. With the freshly moistened dirt, new tracks were evident and abundant. I can't wait until that corn comes off! While slipping through one of the drainages, I slid right up on a bedded doe. 21 yds. She had no clue I was there. I put my sling on my bow, dug around in my pocket for my rangefinder, ranged her, and then went digging for my phone to video her laying there. That's about the time she turned and looked my way... Oops, busted. We stared at each other for a while, she got up and big-hoped right on out of there. Not a bad way to spend a couple hours before a mid-day nap. Life is grand!
 

rsmith

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I didn't want to waste a perfectly good morning, so I got out of bed at the crack of 730, drank some coffee, looked around a while, and laced up my boots. Did a little still-hunting/scouting, in an area I suspect to hold deer close to where Mason and I spent opening weekend, but not close enough to bugger up the deer that are hanging out around our stands. I snuck along the edge of a standing cornfield, around two little fingers. With the freshly moistened dirt, new tracks were evident and abundant. I can't wait until that corn comes off! While slipping through one of the drainages, I slid right up on a bedded doe. 21 yds. She had no clue I was there. I put my sling on my bow, dug around in my pocket for my rangefinder, ranged her, and then went digging for my phone to video her laying there. That's about the time she turned and looked my way... Oops, busted. We stared at each other for a while, she got up and big-hoped right on out of there. Not a bad way to spend a couple hours before a mid-day nap. Life is grand!
Haha that's awesome! Sounds like a promising spot for sure!