Magic Bucks 2012

Magic · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 12:34 pm Post subject: Magic Bucks 2012

I finally got a chance to go to the Cabin Friday afternoon for a hunt. Our weather pattern has changed and I would not be plagued with the NE wind that prevented us from hunting the entire first season. We simply do not go when the wind is wrong.

I decided to go to the Straw House for a quite evening of watching. About 4:45 I started seeing deer, most of which were bucks. Spikes, and small racks, a nice 8 point, and then a very nice 9 point with a drop tine. I had seen 8 bucks, but by then it was getting on toward 5:30 so I decided that since Pat would be here for the Saturday evening hunt, I would not shoot.

Saturday morning found me in a favorite place. A 24' ladder stand against an Oak on the end of a ridge which overlooks the bottom. As it got lighter, I started seeing deer, most of which were bucks. (I only saw 2 does?) The bucks were restless waiting for the next 7-10 days to pass before our first estrus comes into play. They came from all directions, and were mostly poking along with their noses to the ground. I saw 4 spikes, forkies, sixes, and a small 8. The 12th buck that I saw in a 2 hour period, I decided to shoot. He was moving along fairly quickly, so I picked out a spot ahead of him and when he cleared the large trees, he presented me a shot, and he immediately dropped. It had all happened so quickly, that I was wondering as I climbed down if I had rushed and shot a dink.

Thankfully there was no "ground shrinkage" and he proved to be a 10 point with an 11" G2, and a 17Â½" inside spread.

Pat got to the cabin about 2:00, and we climbed into the Straw House about 3:00. It is amazing how two different day in the same stand can be so much different. I had seen deer and 8 bucks the evening before, and today we had only seen 2 does and a spike.

I was looking ahead when I noticed Pat easing her rifle out of the window. I thought that this was strange because she had not had her binocular up. I then looked to my left with my binocular, laid them down, and put my fingers in my ears. There was going to be a shooting.

The buck was walking quickly from left to right, so I grunted with my voice and he stopped. She told me later that she had forgotten to click her safety off. I waited for the buck to pass the spike, and grunted again. He stopped and put his head down to eat. At the shot, his hind legs buckled and then his front, and he lay still. We did not know how big he was because everything had happened quickly and neither of had had time to really look at him. We did not realize until we walked up to him that it was him.....HIM. The Sticker Buck!!!

12 points and 17 3/4" inside spread.

ribo451 · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 5:23 pm Post subject:

Congratulations to both of you. That's awesome.

David Naumann · 6 point Joined: 22 Oct 2005 Posts: 481 Location: Illinois

Nice!

Magic · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 10:54 am Post subject:

Here is a trailcam picture of Pat's buck taken on 10-08-2012.

It grossed 149 7/8 and was 6 1/2 years old. Wink

GunnyD · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 6:28 pm Post subject:

WOW, that high ten is nice, but I do believe Mrs Magic out done you.

Magic · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 7:01 pm Post subject:

We know that your eyes and honesty are working gunny. Yup, hers is truly a trophy.

My Grandson is doing a skull mount with mine and he says that the tooth wear is unbelievable. It will be interesting to age him, because to me, old bucks are the trophy bucks. Wink

Magic · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 6:02 pm Post subject:

A Grandson got a 19 1/4" inside spread 8 point from the "Straw House" this morning, but I do not have a picture yet.

Magic · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 6:52 pm Post subject:

Thanks Guys, and the saga of the "Sticker Buck" lives on. This buck's sticker was on the right side. One of last year's pictures showed a sticker on the left side.

I had suspected that there was more than one.

GregE · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 11:27 am Post subject:

Now that is just a Big Grin to read!! Very Happy

Way to go Lynn and Pat- grandson too. Cool

MOre pictures soon........

Magic · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 5:16 pm Post subject:

It is neat Greg that you and Bandaid have ridden over a lot of my place and can visualize where some of our activities take place.

Marty and his two boys will go over tomorrow. Also another Grandson and his GF will be there for a hunt.

The Cabin is a wonderful family get-away place. I have just gotta finish that Addition. Confused

Magic · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:10 am Post subject:

I finally got a cellphone picture of the Grandson's buck to upload.

19 1/4" inside spread 8 point.

Magic · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:38 pm Post subject:

Marty just sent a text. Grandson Luke got his first deer this afternoon. He said that the G2's forked in the back making him a 10 point.

Magic · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 5:34 am Post subject:

Our plans are to go to the Cabin after Ben's ballgame tonight. He has not gotten his buck yet.

GregE · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:07 am Post subject:

I remember where the straw house is, but don't remember the name of the stand on the ridge toward the end of our tour.

Did you ever find the missing connector?

Magic · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 10:18 am Post subject:

And never will.

We ended up with rain this morning and a basketball game this afternoon. The Grandkids have until the end of the month to hunt.

ribo451 · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 7:16 pm Post subject:

Congratulations to the whole family. Looks like you guys are cleaning up this year.

Magic · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 3:47 pm Post subject:

Thanks. I was at the Cabin yesterday doing some work on the Addition and watched a nice 8 point from the back porch.

Marty and the Grandguys will be there this weekend. Ben still has not gotten a buck. Marty either for that matter, but he has been wisely spending his time with his kids. They have learned from him that there is more to hunting than shooting.

Magic · Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 8:28 am Post subject:

Our season closed Thursday with no more shots from the "Magic Team". Basketball interfered with hunting time and several small bucks were passed over.

We have a very nice flock of turkeys with 14 longbeards, and the Largemouths are starting to swirl. Wink

GregE · Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:14 pm Post subject:

thanks for taking us along. I'ts been fun!! Very Happy

Magic · Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 7:07 am Post subject:

These four were just outside of the Cabin's bedroom window Friday AM. The closest was probably 15 yards away. Wink

Oak · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 4:36 pm Post subject:

You had a great season! Thanks for sharing throughout the fall.

Magic · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:01 pm Post subject:

Yes, we did indeed have a very nice season. We passed on several "shooter" bucks, and saw several others that did not present a shot. Marty had one bruiser at 125 yards that he would have shot, but he was steadily walking through the timber and did not present the right shot.

Hunting is much better when killing is not the primary objective for success. That is a good trait to instill into the young hunters.

I thank each of you for following along and for adding your kind words and comments.