It’s the time of the season that we all wait for with excited anticipation, as the weather cools down, more sign is showing up and bucks are on the move. We love hearing all of the stories and seeing the photos. Sharing all of these awesome encounters is one of the best parts of being a hunter and passing on the tradition. Here’s a great story sent to us from Joe Luli about the huge buck that his dad, Bill, recently shot in Ohio.
“We have been hunting this deer for a few years and have hundreds of trail-camera pictures of it, and the buck was essentially nocturnal on our farm. We have strictly managed the property, putting countless hours into working on the habitat, learning the deer movement, etc. Sunday October 21 was the FIRST time that my dad or I had actually ever seen this deer on the hoof after multiple hours over the last few years of trying to outsmart this 7- or 8-year-old deer (as aged by the taxidermist). This buck was actually on the decline as his age was showing this year — the previous year he sported two massive drop tines and split brows and would have easily broken the 200-inch mark.
“This normally nocturnal giant finally decided to get up and move in daylight with cold temperatures and high pressure. My dad, Bill Luli, was in the right place at the right time. My dad had to watch this bruiser slowly walk with its head down, cruising on one of the old logging trails for five minutes — which seemed like an eternity. When the deer finally got within range and gave him a clear broadside shot at 23 yards, his Wicked Ridge Warrior crossbow found its mark. The giant ran about 90 yards before he went down. My dad has had both of his rotator cuffs surgically repaired, so the lightweight Warrior crossbow was ideal for him, since he had to hold the bow up for more than five minutes. It was a moment that we will never forget and truly the deer of a lifetime. The buck green scores 193 6/8” nontypical.”
Congrats to Bill Luli on this outstanding Ohio whitetail!
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