Well, my Illinois hunt was a challenging week, but perseverance paid off. After catching a trespasser on our lease and 5 days of Bama hunting weather (78 degrees), things finally changed on day 6. With a cold front approaching, the light switch flipped on Tuesday November 10th. It was another 78° day with winds at 20 mph and gusting to 30! The morning started off fast! Nice mature 8 point cruised through and then the chasing started. I had my first encounter with this deer (Wide Load) that morning. He had a doe holed up in a tree top about 80 yds from me. There was no calling this guy off of her. I got to watch him run off 6 bucks that morning. All the deer were curious as to what was going on. Does and fawns were coming to investigate and they were also run off. All of this was happening for 2 hours on a small ridge just 80 yds away. Once the deer moved off at 0830, I knew I had to move. I slipped down undetected in the windy conditions. I went back to the truck and got snacks, drinks, and my climber (I was in a lock on earlier). I slipped back in undetected thanks to all the wind. Moved northeast to the edge where the vegetation was thicker. That’s where all the does were running when being chased. It was perfect for SSE wind. I was settled in at 1015. Deer movement was immediate. Saw two deer while climbing. At 1130 the action slowed and I had 5 deer, including 2 small bucks, bed down around me. At 1430 the bucks got up and started stirring. They started bumping the bedded does. About 1630, Wide Load was behind me and coming towards me moving NW. He skirted me at 60 yds. That concluded the action for the afternoon. I slipped down and left the climber on the tree. I went back and met my two buddies, who traveled up that afternoon. The cold front and rain was approaching.

Wednesday morning, Veteran’s Day, started with a 40° swing in temperature. It was 38° with a brisk 5-10 mph NNW wind. I slipped back up in my climber and was settled at 0604. Immediately had a deer slip through followed by a couple small bucks...all in bow range. There was chasing all morning. Around 0700, I looked behind me on that small ridge where all the chasing happened the day before. I saw a big body cruising about 125 yds away. One quick look through the binos and I knew it was him. Grabbed my grunt and hit 5-6 loud, short grunts and he stopped! Two more short grunts and he was on his way! A few seconds later he was 35 yds behind my right shoulder, then he turned to go back to my left. I had to swing around the tree, bow in hand. Once I got around, I found him stopped behind a double white oak. I quickly ranged where I though he would walk...38-40 yds. My grunt was hanging from my bow holder, right in front of my face. I grabbed it, turned the tube away from him and hit two soft grunts. He then started walking. I drew back and stopped him with a mouth grunt...right behind some limbs. One step and I grunted loud and he froze in the next SMALL opening. He locked on to that noise and turned just slightly towards me and he locked on me in the tree, but it was too late. The arrow was sent! I had my pin set at 30 and I held it slightly high. I watched as the lighted nock dropped into him. I see it hit and I could see a lot of arrow hanging out!!! Crap!!!! Shoulder shot I thought. He wheeled and threw my arrow after a couple strides. He ran back the way he came and at 75 yds he stopped and I could see the wobble starting. After 2-3 staggering steps, he was down! I grabbed my phone and texted my buddies that Wide Load was dead...it was 0704! I stayed in the tree and watched him for 30 minutes...while I collected myself. 😬

I never believed I’d be sitting behind this class of deer, much less with a bow! 11 points, 20 3/8” wide, and scored 157”. God answered my prayers that I would take this deer and be able hold it together and make a good shot. The G5 Megameat went in the top of the scapula and broke two ribs on the opposite side before bouncing back. That’s why I saw so much arrow sticking out.

Great read. Congrats!

Congrats on the stud, Chris.

Awesome man!!

Nice

Nice buck

Good Lawd, what a deer, what a story. Way to “get ‘er done.”

Way to stay COMPOSED! Beautiful buck, congrats!!!

Awesome deer congrats

Heck yeah congrats!

Great deer, and great story

Congrats - thanks for sharing and great season

Congrats and great read. Different for sure hunting up there. Deer react to calling.
Just got back from IN, my son killed a pretty good ten after we experienced that same hot weather.

Congrats on a fine buck deer!

Congrats!

Heck yeah, congratulations man!!!

Congratulations!!
Great job hanging in there till the conditions changed .
What county were you hunting?

Nice!!

Congratulations. Great pics and read.