Boone&Crocket Buck

[EatDeer]

You don't get a chance at a buck like that everyday. Best day of hunting I will probley ever have. I shot this 10 point buck last year...same huge body size maybe even a little bigger,but his rack wasn't more than 130'' inches. I'm guessing this buck wieghed around 275 Ibs.

[vambo991]

Awesome buck, Eatdeer. I noticed you're from West Central, IL. I took this guy on opening day with muzzleloader in Northwest Jersey County. He's my biggest to date... grossed 162 1/8 (11 pt). another guy a couple farms away got a real big 8 pt. the next day... I'm gonna try and send pictures of both.

[vambo991]

This my bro and a buddy with that 8 pt... not a good angle, but you can see the mass and width were great. He was a monster, but still kinda young... hate to think what he would have looked like at 5 1/2.

[EatDeer]

Those are both nice bucks!  Did you shoot your buck in the late-winter muzzle loader season? Where you hunting with a outfitter,or on private land?   

[vambo991]

No, I just use my muzzleloader during firearm season. Got him on opening day (1st season) about 10:00 a.m. I actually use my muzzleloader because I let my brother use my shotgun and I just kinda like the damn thing. I like muzzleloader-only season though too, cuz I almost always have the woods to myself and if there's fresh snow on the ground...well...you know.
 
I'm lucky enough to have permission to hunt some pretty primo land (about 120 acres) near Fieldon, IL. I'm hoping to buy the land some day cuz it has produced some incredible bucks almost every year, but outfitters are buying up every parcel around at elevated prices. My bro and I have run into a few "lost" hunters from New York and Pennsylvania and, before politely pointing them back in the right direction, found out that several surrounding land owners are leasing their property to outfitters, who then bring in guys from all over the east coast just for the 1st firearm season. Seems that "Pike County Fever" is catching on all over Illinois. Don't blame them really... there's just a lot of BIG deer around here.
 
 

[smudd55]

Hey vambo it looks like your boy has got an abundant supply of testosterone.  That is what makes their face swell up.  Congrats buddy.

[locoman1951]

2010 deer

[Cut N Run]

They sure do grow 'em big in that part of the world. You have to hunt a long time before you see one that big around here. There's just too many folks killing off the youngsters and not nearly as much rich farm land here. Thanks for sharing the pics.

Jim