Took me a few days to talk him into giving up. He had love on his mind and that turned out to be his demise. The hunt took place in one of our southern bow only counties, public land btw. If you have been to them, then you know. If it’s flat someone made it that way. It’s steep, rough and the only way in is to walk. Which allows them to get a few years in them. My son was able to join me for the weekend we. We seen lots of small bucks, several elk and chased the buck that I later killed. Most of the hunting takes place on old reclaimed strip land, some is really open, some is thick. So it’s spot and stalk, wait in a pinch point. Got there shortly after daylight, sit up in a pinch point between 2 large fields. Had seen him in there for a few days and it held some does.
After about an hour he came across the field below me. I gave him a couple doe bleats, he looked up but kept moving. He was gone for about 15 min, then came back out. He was heading my way. Closing the distance quickly, I said to myself, it’s going to happen. He had his head down, grunting every step. He got into about 70 yards, stopped put his head up. Then crossed the rock drain going away from me. He had found him a doe, he was locked down with her. I watched and tried to figure out a way to get there, but it was too open. Then he moved into a better spot and it was on.


That was him at about 150 yards. He moved behind that big green bush and I made up lots of ground. Crossed the ditch where I thought he would be. Popped out on his side and he stepped out. Hit the range finder it was 41 yards. As I drew he looked up at me, then back to his doe. Put the pin where it needed to be and pulled the trigger. It flew true and hit where it needed to be. I knew it was good. He gave about 3 big jumps and was out of sight. Let him to go get the buddy I was hunting with, we gave him about an 45 min. He made it about 75 yards.




Haven’t put a tape on him yet. But I think he’s going to be 140ish as an 8. Thanks for looking.

A few more pictures.

Nice, congrats!

Great Story
Awesome hunt and Buck!!!

Great story and hunt!! Beautiful buck!!

Nice

Great hunt Matt.

Great hunt!

Osky

Nice buck!

Thanks. Glad you liked it

Have you guys been seeing a lot of elk down there? I've thought of making the trip just to see one.

Nice deer.

Let one of those elk cross in to Tazewell County and I will be eating high class. I'm heading to some land o the state line hoping a elk comes through.

Hillbilly come on down to Southwest VA and I’ll show you some elk. Eric

sounds like a great hunt thanks for sharing

Nice buck, congrats!

Very nice buck And you are a excellent story teller It sure sounds like some high adrenaline fun. I archery hunted on GWNF land in W VA for a number of years You are on target when you say it is very steep nearly everywhere you go . And going down a mountain is as hard or harder as going up it is .And that indeed allows some buck to get some age and some pretty nice antlers . Congrats on the dandy buck and thanks for the great story and pics.

Great deer!! Congrats!!

Yes, lots of elk. Some days are better than others. Seems if the deer are moving, the elk are as well. Some are fairly tame and others are pretty wild. Lots of bulls in the mix, some good ones. They claim to have one in the 400 inch range. But I have never seen him.

Good hunt story!!

Congrats on a good buck!!

Congrats!

The hiking back in several miles to get away from other hunters is what I loved about hunting W. Virginia.