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NWOHHUNTER’S 2018 season

NWOHhunter

Junior Member
879
58
NW Ohio
I was lucky enough to fill my tag on opening day on a buck that I got to know a lot through out the summer and pretty sure last year. I called him Blackie because of his very dark forehead that really stuck out during the spring and summer months. He was a buck that was showing up regularly on camera through out the summer. He wasn’t the biggest buck on my list but a buck I was willing to take if presented with an opportunity! I am by no means a deer snob, I just want to be able to consistently take a quality buck year in and year out. At this point in my life, I have tried to make an effort to walk a little slower and take in the opportunities around me.......
 

NWOHhunter

Junior Member
879
58
NW Ohio
blackie.JPG

This was one of the first picture of Blackie, and this was 10 yds from where I shot him.
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,720
248
Ohio
You think he was bedded there when you got into your stand? Or did he slip in and bed down after you were settled in? If you climbed into your stand quiet enough to not alert him. . . You are my super ninja award nominee for the year!
 

NWOHhunter

Junior Member
879
58
NW Ohio
I finally got around to setting down and uploading some pics and vids.......

I had a great first opening day, probably one I will never top again! I had got to the stand around 6 am, decided to sit in the woods with the most activity but probably not the biggest bucks, I had my sites set on taking a doe that morning. I haven't taken a deer on opening day and it has always been a goal of mine. I was able to slip into my stand with 2 deer at the far corner of the woods, I got settled in for a perfect opening morning, wind was in my favor, the temps where amazing. I did how ever over dress! lol I got a text from a friend about 20 mins after legal shooting that he had stuck a doe but she ran off with the arrow in her. He and I were texting back and forth until he finally found her 70 yds away piled up! He had just asked me if I had seen anything yet and I responded no, almost 10 mins after that I turn around and think to myself there has never been a big boulder behind my stand???? Then I see the white tips of tines peeking above a sapling10 yds away!! I start thinking how did he get in here without me hearing him??? And how long has he been bedded down there???? After watching him with only one eye sticking out from behind the tree and trying not to move, I could see the brow tines and knew it was Blackie!!! I knew he was going to tempt me this season, he was always around my cam and was showing up more and more each day leading up to the season. I started going through my pics on my phone, trying to decide if I should shoot him or not, I was texting a couple people asking their opinions, they all agreed with my first thought, let him walk! ......To be continued....
 

NWOHhunter

Junior Member
879
58
NW Ohio
You think he was bedded there when you got into your stand? Or did he slip in and bed down after you were settled in? If you climbed into your stand quiet enough to not alert him. . . You are my super ninja award nominee for the year!


I highly doubt he let me sneak in but I was pretty damn quiet!! IF I did then yes, you can call me Ninja from this day forward !! lol
 

NWOHhunter

Junior Member
879
58
NW Ohio
bedded down.jpeg



After about 2 hrs of him bedded down 10yds behind me and flipping through the pictures, I had to make a decision!?!?

velvet from front.jpeg





velvet from side.jpeg






bare bone from behind.jpeg




bare bone from side.jpeg



I had to be out of the stand in about an hour to make my daughters volleyball game. If I let him go how was I going to get out of the stand with out him pinning me down and knowing my location from here on out??!? If I was going to take him do I take a shot at him in his bed? or do I wait till he gets up? Just then he got up and everything seemed to speed up !!! I thought bout where I am in life at this moment,,... volleyball practice, volleyball games, gymnastics, religion class, my wife's job and her evening requirements, being in charge of picking up the girls very day after school.....I just couldn't justify letting him walk, for multiple reasons! I may never get another opportunity to harvest a decent buck on opening day, let alone a buck I have history with and been watching all summer! I decided that if he walked in front of me that I would take the shot. He works his way towards me and starts to rake a sapling right behind my stand, I tried to film it between my legs with my phone, you can see the leaves move as he rubs it. He then works his way almost directly under my stand and takes the longest piss I have seen a deer take! At that time I decided he could seal his fate! If he walks left I let him go if he walks right and into my lane, he takes an arrow.


Well as you all know he decided to go right, I set up my go pro and put my phone down, and readied for a shot. He walked into my lane and I remember how nice I thought he looked and steadied for my chance. I left the arrow fly and I knew it was a perfect heart shot !! He headed back into the woods but I was very confident that he didn't go far! I called Phil and had to apologize to him for not taking his advice! He was taking time out of his busy day to give me advice and I completely threw it to the side and let my heart tell me what I should do.



Sorry but the dang sun bleached out the grass so you can barely see the deer or shot....sucks I was pissed!!!





I didn't wait the magical 30 mins after the shot. I got down and found bright red blood instantly, I followed his trail into the woods.
frist drop.jpeg



It was only about 20 yds in and I found him.


as he lays.jpeg


I began to text some buddies and tell them I had tagged out 2 hours into the season! My favorite call was when my girls called me to ask if I "got" him! They were super excited about the early success

buck and me.jpeg


He may not be the biggest buck I had on my list or cams this summer but he is one that was too good to pass up for me. I am far from a deer snob, trophies come in all shapes and sizes, if it gets your blood pumping then you take a shot. I have heard never pass up on the first day what you will gladly take on the last day, this was very true for me on opening morning. This was another season that I had a lot of first experiences and ones that I may never get to do again! For that I am thankful and now I hope to sit back and enjoy the rest of the season and see if I can fill my doe tags and take it all in!

Thanks for all the support and kind words! It's been cool watching this site grow and become some thing bigger than just deer hunting!
 
Last edited:

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Outstanding!!! Well done and congratulations again. No shame in that buck at all. And being that it’s taken this long to have the time to write a story, I’d say it was meant to be.
 
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hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,720
248
Ohio
Again: Do NOT apologize. I was honestly trying my best NOT to guide your decision. I was simply restating facts and letting you decide. YOU are the one who has to be happy with your choice. Quite frankly, I think the majority of deer hunters (there are always a few exceptions) would be thrilled with this deer! Happy for you Ryan!

Plus I am a sucker for great brow tines!
 
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