Tagged out: Cahaba buck #3

When the season began I never dreamed I would be typing that subject line in an Aldeer post but after a lot of scouting trips, camera pulls, and pouring over topo maps and aerials, here we are. It has truly been an unbelievable season for me and I thank tthe Lord for the opportunities he’s put in front of me.
My first racked buck and buck with a bow on 11-14
11 point killed on 11-24
and this morning I finished the season off with a brute of a 9 point.

I made the long walk in and was settled 30’ up a pine at 5:40am. The wind was marginal for my set but this spot was hot with fresh buck sign and I gave it go. I’ve got a big hardwood bottom that loops around behind me and the bucks are rubbing and scraping all up and down the timber transition between the pines and hardwoods and it’s thick! I’ve got an 80-90 yards shot to my left and right and a little longer out in front. Around 7:30 a little yearling doe comes out of the hardwoods to my left and crosses into the pines in front of me. Two more does at 830 come out at the same spot and more or less follow the same general path the other doe took. As I’m watching these does ease through the timber I thought I heard a couple of faint grunts. I pull out my grunt call and grunt a few times and put it up. At 9am I catch movement to my left and it’s a buck with his nose to the ground headed from left to right angling away from me just like the does did, but he’s a little farther away. I saw he had a big body and a good enough rack and quickly shouldered my gun and started looking for an opening. I squeezed one off as he got in a small opening between pines. The shot felt good and but I lost him as soon as I shot. I thought I heard some thrashing in the leaves but couldn’t be sure. I marked the spot where he was when I shot and climbed down. It was about an 80 yard shot and where he was standing was sprayed in blood. I was able to quickly follow the blood trail and he didn’t go more than 50 yards!!! I was honestly blown away when I saw him. I thanked the Lord for a amazing season, took some pics and then started contemplating how in the heck to get him out. I spare all the details but I killed the deer at 9am and didn’t get him loaded up until after 1pm. My good buddy bloodtrail came out to help me or I would have never gotten him out. Thanks again brother! 3Ffarms conveniently had an “appointment” today or he would have been there too We had to drag him straight up a ridge... probably 100’ in elevation change. I gutted him before I started dragging and didn’t get a weight on him but I think was every bit of 180lbs. I hope y’all enjoyed reading the story, one of my favorite parts about killing a deer or turkey is sharing the story with y’all. Like I said it’s been an unreal season and now I’m gonna snuggle up with momma in that warm bed and read the LFTTs

That's awesome bud

Damn nice buck. Congrats.

Congrats on the great season brother!

Man congratulations! What a beauty! Thanks for sharing your story....

Fantastic buck! Congrats to you!

Congrats Southwood!!!

Man, you've had a helluva a year.. Now you gotta get to work to put all these on the wall congrats on a pile of good bucks

You need to be on the cover of a magazine dude. You can now go kill the coveted 4th buck. Can you put up a pick montage with all 3???

Congrats again man! Anytime you kill a deer and need a hand just remember; you can always call Brandon
Those hand trucks have hauled a lot of deer!

I’ve got another pic of “ole red eye”......

Congrats on a fine season

What you accomplished on Cahaba is not easily done! I tried my hand at that place a few times and quickly learned I wasn’t that mad at them to hunt that place. Great deer out there but some rough hunting. You should be very proud of your trophies and thanks for sharing the details

Freaking awesome man!! Congrats

Absolutely incredible! God has indeed been good to you this season, and it’s cool to see you Thank our Lord for his blessings! And I know your taxidermist has got to be proud of you too! LOL

Killing three good bucks on public land, and all before Christmas..... you are the man Southwood!

That is awesome congrats.

Congrats!

Congrats Matt!

Congrats on 3 awesome bucks, especially public land. How many of them are you mounting? Is that the entrance or exit in the pic with him on the dolly?

Congrats on some serious dedication and perseverance, that's not easy at all.

Nice buck..congrats

Dang man you got it done! Proud of you!

Congrats man, you have had a hell of a season! You’re a dang good hunter! Beautiful deer!

PM me for coordinates. I'm taking bids.

I couldn't be happier for you buddy.

When you killed your bow buck, I told you I hope you threw that monkey off your back all the way to Georgia. Sir, I think you threw him to freakin Bangladesh!

Congrats on a season that few others ever have, or ever will, experience. You have put the time, effort, energy, boot leather and perseverance into it and it shows. Can't wait to see these three on the wall once it's all said and done!

Congrats again Matt! Proud of you!

Dream Season! Congrats!

Congrats on a great public land deer. And so there's not only one, but three great public land deer? That's quite an accomplishment. I would love to see the other two deer.

do they have bonus bucks

(Jan. 27
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Bon
us Buck Day, must
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Great job man! You’ve got that place figured out

Great job.

Congrats on the great season!
You put in the hard work and reaped
The benefits !!!
Santa has brought you a big taxidermy bill!
Priceless!!!

That is the exit.... it was low but it looks super low because of the way his leg is hanging. I wa shooting at home from a pretty steep angle. It blew out the top of his heart.

Congrats!

That is awesome man! Heck of a year!

Congrats on another good buck and awesome year. Be tough to top that one!!

That's impressive anywhere but on public land that's really getting it done. Congrats!

Congrats Southwood!!

WOOHOO!

Great deer and season!!

Nice work and results! You earned them!


God Bless,
David B.

Man, you are tearing it up!

Makes me want to go hunt cahaba some.

Congrats man!!!

Impressive to say the least..congratulations!

Congrats, you earned it!

Heck of a season on private or public land ! Congrats man. Very impressive indeed!!!

That's a big ol heavy joker too. Big body. Proud for ya! That's quite a feat.

Congrats!

Congrats Southwood. That's a great season anywhere, on public land it s just awesome. You better not tell mama how much you taxidermy bill is. She might not snuggle up on you if she finds out.

Outstanding. I been following your post and have enjoyed. Post all three pics together sometime

Congrats on a great season. That's impressive for public land in Alabama and that place is definitely rough to hunt. I've worked all around Cahaba and it's rugged.

Congrats on a great season, its not even January and your tagged out. Thats super impressive to accomplish that on all public land too

Heck ya. Fine deer.

I think you suould write a book with the success you have had!

Congrats, heck of an achievement. What are you gonna do for the remainder of the season now?

Congrats post pics of all 3

Congrats

congrats on a dandy of a buck and an awesome season!

Congrats!

Heck of a season man! Time to get ready for them turkeys

Congrats, heck of a year

Heck yeah. What an accomplishment to kill the three bucks you did on public ground. I've hunted there a little and haven't seen anything close to the three you've put on the ground.

How many days have you put boots on the ground at Cahaba this year (not including research)? If you don't want to answer, I understand.

Awesome, congrats! Wow, those browtines!

Congrats. Awesome season

man you did good!!, that is the best deer ive seen on here, maybe not the biggest , but he has a perfect rack, with a lot of mast. perfect size and shape!!

What you going to do now?
You going to be done or bowhunt does?

Great buck & great season !

Congrats on a great year.you have figured cahaba out.

Congrats man, thats freaking awesome.

Cool story, nice buck!

Thanks everybody for the congrats! Here are all 3 bucks...

You need your own hunting channel!!! You've had the season of a lifetime on PUBLIC LAND!!!! Way to go!!!!! I hate you!

Heck of a buck! Congrats on a fine season!

Awesome, congrats on a great season

Fantastic. Just totally fantastic!!

Wow!

That's all I got

Great job man

Heck of a season man sounds like your doing something right.

You are the man. Congrats on an awesome season! Did you have pics of Any of the bucks you wound up killing?

I have shot a few deer at Cahaba, but nothing like you have done this year. Well done.

Awesome buck. Thanks for sharing your story.

Hats off to ya!!! Great accomplishment. You did your homework and put in the time and it paid off. Enjoy the moment.

Fine buck and a great season!

Who needs enemies with friends like this

$1 bob

Wow! Congrats and way to stick with it. That's awesome.

Thats awesome

Congratulations

Fine buck right there! Congrats. Thanks for sharing the story.

nice buck & great season; congrats man

Great season... Definitely a great job on public land. CONGRATS !!!!

Reading your story reminded me of one i killed several years ago. I had to drag him over hills & hollers, and across a creek. I was by myself and kept thinking "I killed him, and now he's gonna kill me."
Congrats on a fine buck and a great season.

Congratulations, man. The last pose of you and your last buck made me laugh. You have one of those "ain't nothin but a thang" looks on your face! I nominate you for the WMA's Poster Child. Awesome job!

Congrats buddy. I have hunted Cahaba for 2 years now and have yet to harvest a deer and have only seen deer a handful of times in several hunts. The fact that you have taken 3 bucks blows me away.....and 2 studs at that. You without a doubt have Cahaba figured out. One question for you....just wondering if you have had success with using calls, rattling, grunts, etc. out there and I understand if you don’t want to comment. Congrats again!

Congrats on an awesome season!

Congratulations on a season that most couldn't accomplish on managed private property.

Congrats

Absolutely incredible!! That is tough hunting and even tougher after you kill one.