Well...my trigger finger got an itch...Updated

And I scratched it on my #1 hit list buck and my best Alabama buck to date. I taped him out at 143 6/8” gross as an straight up 8 pt. He’s a fine south Bama pine goat

Alright I’ve teased y’all long enough so I’ll post a few pics after my short story. I have two years of history with this deer. I passed him up last year as a high 120’s possibly low 30’s deer. I know what y’all thinking people just don’t pass up 130” deer in this state Anyway I wasn’t sure of his age and he looked young to me so he got the pass. I started sharing a few pics with close friends and a few guys on here that I trust their opinion. The opinion suggested he was mature and at least 4.5 years old going into this season. I was still undecided if I was going to kill him this year. I’m really trying to up my game to 5.5 year old deer. I gave this decision a lot of thought over the coming months as I watched him grow. As the months progressed he was turning into the best deer I would ever have a chance to hunt.

I finally decided I was gonna shoot him if he gave me the opportunity. I realized he was mature and would be my biggest BAMA buck to date. I also realized he lived on a very small property and he would not get a pass if the adjoining neighbors had their opportunity at him. I have busted my but on this property making it the most attractive it can be. I’m very fournate to have a small natural regrowth cutover that is super thick. It’s a buck magnet and holds a lot of deer. I really did not have to do anything cover wise as it was already in place. I set out this summer with the goal to amend my soil and get some summer plots planted.

My 2nd goal was to keep the pressure off this deer until I thought I could kill him. I only hunted this place with the correct wind. I would not put a foot on it other wise. It was hard sitting at home on some of these fine days we have had recently but the wind was not right. I felt like yesterday was going to be a good opportunity to catch up with him. As y’all now we just came off several days of hot weather. The hot weather had literally shut down the mature buck movement in my neck of the woods. I felt like he would be egger to get on his feet with a 20 plus degree cool down and our rut kicking into gear.

I settle into my stand at 3:08 adjacent to the natural regrowth cutover. I had determined he used this area has his core bedding area most of the time. At around 3:30 I catch a glimpse of uelloish horns at the edge of the road I’m watching down. I quickly get my gun shouldered and he steps out. He’s walking at steady pace and I have to holler at him to get him to stop. The wind is blowing 15+ mph and I’m in a loc-on that’s in a gum tree not much bigger than my leg. Needless to say, I was having trouble getting the cross hairs settled. Thankfully they settled in good enough and I squeezed off a round. He buckled at the shot and crashed at edge of the road. At the point I knew I’d be closing out our history together. It’s a bit sad on one hand but very fulfilling on the other.

As I always say I’m truly a blessed man!! I definitely don’t deserve the many great things our Heavenly Father provides for me!! It has truly been a blessed season of the great 8’s for this ole lucky fella!

God bless and good luck

You've been a member here for 12 years. You do know the fine for not posting pictures, right?

143" is a strong 8 pt.

well done ...

That's a hell of an 8. Pics please.

It is one hell of an 8! Pretty deer. Congrats Mike

Yea I’m seeing how it feels to be like several of the other big buck slayers on here that keep their pics rat holed. I’m going to sleep on it tonight and I may share a pic or two with y’all. A few of my close friends on here has seen him. He want disappoint y’all if I do decide to share

Look, you can't just call 2dogs out like that. It's kinda rude.

Hey...hey now you dropping names, not me

It truly would've been a good one next year

Congrats squeaky!!

Congrats Mike!!

Damn squeaky thats dirty to tell the story with no pics.

Tell a story about you killing a big one?!! And you don’t post pics?!!!! I say ban hammer

Did you kill it in the big pen?

Well Hell...May as well throw a pic up cause I bet you can't dance... That's a lot of Antler for a Bama Buck... Just Exactly Where did you get him from... Congrat's on the kill.... ...

Heck yeah I JT’d him I shot him in the Pelham big pen that’s a WMA with my gun on a non gun day....I mean my bow

Just poking fun JT if you read this pal. I forgive you

Like I've been told many times, no pics > didn't happen.

Regardless of pics, Congrats

Congrats on a really good Bama deer. He's a stud for sure. That's why you been passing all these older deer, waiting on the right one. You ain't getting soft on us after all.

Congrats hope to see pics of that hoss!!

Okay, wake up and post them up!

Congratulations Mike! If you need any help with posting the picture let somebody else know.

Sounds nice man congrats

Posting for Mike! He said it was this big


Congrats again man!! Great deer!

Congrats.

Beautiful buck. Great story. Lesson in patience right there. Congrats.

Daggum thats a nice deer! Congrats!

That's one fine looking 8 pt!!!

My best Alabama 8 is 140. Jackie Bushmen told me he had never shot one that big in bama. Super congrats on the great 8 Squeaky!!!

that is one fine buck ...

My sight unseen assessment proved correct. Full grown , congrats!

Congrats!!! Well deserved! What an 8 point!!

Congrats Mike! That is a stud of an 8 buddy!

Dang good one congrats, I killed a 8pt last year that went 139 2/8

That’s a fine deer, congrats!!!

Congrats man!! Heck of an accomplishment and great story...You've got it figured out!

Fine buck!!

Nice. Judging from the mass, the shape of his head in the second pic and the amount of beading on his bases, he very well may be a 5.5 year old. I applaud your effort to hold out for a fully mature buck, it is a challenging undertaking but can be very rewarding. Congrats

You're right, he didn't disappoint. Very nice deer. Congrats

Stout deer, congrats.

He was well worth the wait love all the Mass and character...Congrat's...he is a Hammer of a 8 point....

Heck of a deer. Congrats

Man that is a buck of a lifetime.....beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!

Once again, great buck and well done!

Nuthin' wrong with that! Great patience and great buck for anywhere, not just Bama. Congrats man!

Dr. B

Congrats on a great buck!

congrats on a fine buck!

Congrats

Squeaky you would'nt happen to live between the fire station and softball field would you?

Congrats again, my friend!!!

I can honestly say that I have as much Respect for you, your hunting ability, your Dedication and especially your Restraint and Patience as anyone I know. You, sir, are the Real Deal!

I have enjoyed watching this joker grow with you!
And, I also know the bittersweet emotion of killing a Homegrown one like that. He was a special deer, no doubt. But, there will be another. And, this one has Blessed you with some fine experiences and memories!

Hot dog!

Nice buck Mike! Congrats!

Great deer! Love the mass

Awesome buck

Great buck and great story! Congrats on ANOTHER good one!

That rack is awesome. Congrats

Beautiful buck Squeaky! Congrats!

Giant!

143” my a...


Just joking bud. He’s a stud. Congrats!

Awesome buck, congrats!

Yes sir I do live between the Antioch FS and Straughn school ball field.

Thank you all for the kind words and congrats.

Awesome 8 Mike! Congrats!

I admire your patience. It definitely paid off. Great deer. Congratulations.

Real nice buck, Mike.

Congrats to you.

Damn fine deer sir! Congrats to you

that is a stud of an 8 point brother,congratulations pal!!!!

Great buck! Congrats! CD.

Good job sir,thats a mighty fine buck.

You still hunting at Tyler,Mike?

No sir, the management of the club decided they wanted to shoot the woods up and no control on guest among other things. I left it with them and leased my own little spot in Covington Cty near my new house. I also have my personal property I own.

Big ole solid 8 point !

Congrats on a cool buck.

Congrats on a great Alabama buck!

Congrats!

Congrats Squeaky! That’s a great buck!

Congrats! That’s an amazing deer.

Congrats Mike, great buck. Tell that young man to smile

Congrats on A Fine Buck.

Congrats on a stud!

Hell of a buck Squeaky. Proud for ya

Awesome deer! But i hope that didn’t come out of Covington County...Lease prices will go up up up

Congrats, nice one!

Congrats Mike!

Fine deer! Congrats!

Congrats. That's a great buck especially coming out of Covington County. How long have you been watching him grow? Also congrats on improving your property enough to be able to hold and grow him. Neighbors around there can be hard on the young rack bucks. He's passed his genes on for several years and there will be others.

I aquired the lease mid summer of 2016 from a friend that had it one year. He didn’t hunt it much the year he had it and did nothing to improve it. I hired a dozer to come in to establish a couple food plots. All did last year was plant a few winter plots in a 3 way mix. Nothing done special the first year. I got serious over the spring with get my plots in good shape. I planted every bit of available dirt in WMS Pea Patch.

I got his picture on my first camera run on the property. He was running with a really old 6 pt that year. It was my goal to kill the 6 to keep him from pushing the 8 off property during the rut. I killed the 6 pt pretty early in January and the 8 had the fun of the place. There was not another deer calling my land home big enough to run him off. I was able to watch him grow the entire summer of 2017. My history was brief with this deer. Sounds like you knew of him and what takes places in the area? I can assure you the young bucks will always be safe on any property I hunt. If they get killed it want be by me.

Congrats big Bama Buck!

That's a keeper for sure.

What a story Mike. No joke about the year of the 8’s for you. Congrats! And I’m taking notes haha

Congrats. You are a man to think about passing on that buck.