Ohio Late Season Redemption

[hoyt31786]

Well I finally got it done tonight January 18 2021 here in Ohio. Had a nice weather front move in was actually just going out to do some herd management on a farm me and a buddy hunt. Well surprise one of the target bucks I haven't seen since our gun season December 6th showed up tonight. I haven't been out for awhile I actually hit a bigger buck December 29th and never found him.... So I was heartbroken and just waiting for cameras to tell me to get back out. I passed alot of bucks this year hoping to get an opportunity at the buck I hit and never found finally got my opportunity late season and just blew it. I knew the shot was marginal but thought it was gonna be lethal so I let the buck go overnight and was hoping to walk right to him the next morning. Well I never found my arrow but the deer was spraying blood from both sides for 650 yards. Never seen a spot where he laid down and just ended up losing blood he was heading right for a major road leaving the property. I feel like the deers gonna make it but at the same time just hate the not knowing....Hoping to get a trail cam pic or find the sheds this spring. Only has happened to me 1 other time in 20 years of bowhunting... Was a cold high barometric pressure sunny day that got him on his feet just like the buck I harvested tonight. Weather fronts still a huge part of late season hunting. So tonight I went out didnt expect to see much based on the trail cameras ive had out . Seen first couple deer at 4 off in a distance in a grass Hatfield. They eventually made there way over to me I was on a thin bottleneck of timber along 2 cut beanfields. As those deer were milling infront of me 2 small bucks came in from across the beanfield and came right too me. About 430 I looked across the grass hayfield and could see 2 more deer making there way towards me. I figured just a couple does I pulled up my binos and caught a glimpse of a doe then following behind I caught antlers. As the deer got into my section of timber I looked in my binos again and was shocked to see it was the wide ten I haven't seen since gun season. My heart started racing and I went from coming out to just shoot a big mature doe too okay im getting my chance at redemption. As he slowly worked my way I kept telling myself take your time dont mess up again. He worked into 30 yards and hit an opening I drew stopped him and executed the shot. I knew I made a great shot the deer ran started the wobble and went head over heals within 50 yards of where I hit him. I was shocked didnt expect to see a good buck but knew with the weather anything could happen. It felt good after messing up the shot on what would have been my biggest but believe me I still replay the one that got away. Im usually clutch when it comes to making the shot but i honestly think i waited so long to get an opportunity at that one deer that when he came in i just totally rushed thru it... Everyone kept telling me it happens to everyone but man i guess i just never thought it could happen to me....I'm gonna continue to think about that hunt and what i could have done different prolly the rest of my life.This is my 3rd good buck in late January in ohio over the years. I truly believe Early and Late Season are your best opportunitys to kill a mature buck.

Buck I killed Tonight Another picture in 2020 Beast Buck Lineup 22 " inside spread 24" outside spread


The One that I never covered

[Tapeworm]

Congrats on ur late season buck

Sucks losing the other one but the lows of hunting make the highs seems that much better

Hopefully the lost one will make it til next season for u to get another crack at

[Matt Gill]

Congrats!

[WV Bowhunter]

I’m not seeing the picture, but congrats anyway!!

[jman22]

I can't see the pic either, but sounds like an exciting hunt and nice redemption. Congrats

[UntouchableNess]

Congrats on really sticking with it! Our seasons ended Jan 10th.

[muddy]

I see no kill pics, but congrats

[Uncle Lou]

Well done. Time to enjoy the moment

[hoyt31786]

thanks everyone I can see the picture in the post and on 2020-2021 beast buck lineup i guess I'll try to repoat picture on here

[hoyt31786]

This Is the Buck I hit but did not recover.....

[hoyt31786]

This Is the Buck I hit but did not recover.....[/quote]

[hoyt31786]

I see no kill pics, but congrats

Can u see them now??

[hoyt31786]

[Tsom]

Nice and wide! Congrats!

[jman22]

I can see him now. Great buck. Look at that spread! Congrats again