Well guys and gals today was a great day and a great hunt. It was about 3 o clock and i have a night class at 6 30 and i was about to leave for campus until the rain stopped. It has been raining here for the last 2 days hard and when i saw a break in the rain i turned my truck around and went straight for the woods. I started off with my climber and Truth II into the woods and decided to try a new tree where i have been seeing some does working by. It was an awkward shaped trunk but i decided since it has great cover in it i had to climb it. I got up to about 15 feet and there was one big branch in my way. I did not have my saw with me and i wanted to climb up about 6-8 more feet, so i was trying to shift my stand around to the other side of the tree. The branch swung towards me and knocked my bottom part of the stand down and i spent the next 20 min using all arms and my feet to retrieve my bottom. (luckily i had it tied to the top) finally i get to where i want to be and im a little stressed bc it took my awhile to get settled in, and it was drizzling on and off.
Well its getting dark and about every 20 minutes i would grunt and i had nothing all day. Well about 10 minutes till dark i look behind me and here comes a doe coming straight to me. I decided i would practice drawing on her just for fun and she literally walks right under my stand and i draw and aim at her then i bring the bow back up and look behind me and all i see is horns baby!!! here comes this big 8pt on hot pursuit grunting. At this point i am still at full draw and the buck stops behind the tree next to me. About 4 minutes have passed while i am at full draw and im starting to shake and couldnt hold it much longer. I had to let my draw down bc i couldnt hold it anymore and i was so worried that he would spook but he only had women on his mind. After i let my draw down he walks around in front of my stand, and i mean right under me. I could have jumped on it, so i try to draw and bam...... my arm is so fatigued i couldnt pull my bow back. Im freaking out bc i cant let this guy go, so i catch my breath and i pull with all my might and i got it back..... with all my focus i bend at the waste and send my arrow straight through this bucks spine. Booom he hits the ground instantly. This was probably one of my most exciting hunts and a great bow buck. I literally was shaking in my stand for ten minutes. I have been hunting this property for 3 years and i have had many close encounters and i finally got me a bruiser. This deer dressed 169 lbs which is huge for east Tennessee and he is a grandpa. I am thinking about 5 years old. You just cant beat bowhunting!!!!

Outstanding...way to go!

What a Bruiser! Beautiful Buck. I love his high rack and wide ears. Is he going to be mounted, what style?

Good story too.

You bet your butt hes going to be mounted. I havent decided which style i want. My other buck is a semi sneak that i have on the wall so ill have to think about it some. Any suggestions?

Congrats, Orbuck and way to hang tough through all the adversity. Being prepared at the moment of truth paid off for you brother.

Congratulations!

Now THAT'S what dreams are made of, well done ORbuck! Beautiful whitetail you killvested!

WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great story and a awesome buck! If he came in on hot pursuit with his head down what about mounting him in full sneak. Those tall racked bucks look awesome in full sneak with there ears pinned back.

AWESOME BUCK!!! Congrats, the rut really never happened in Southwest Missouri for me, no chasing whatsoever. You did good holding out, beautiful animal.

Congrats! That's a goood story and a great buck!

Well done. I can only imagine the adrenalin rush and the desperation after being so fatigued. Long held draws sometimes cost us. Glad it did not cost you.

Awesome buck! Congrats! On your next trophy, try tucking in the deers tongue. It makes it look that much more professional. Other than that, great photo!

Nice buck Orbuck, nice trophy. I enjoyed your story too.

Thanks everyone . And yeah i was still pumped when i was taking pictures i didnt realize the tongue was hanging out until i loaded them on my computer.

Wow!!! Congratulations that is a dandy old buck.

Wow...congrats, that is a beautiful buck.

Very nice. You had me worried with the title. I thought that you might be talking about some of us more mature hunters.

Nice buck! Congrats!

Congrats OR, that's a beaut.

Man what a bruiser! Looks like he has some great mass. Congrats man.