This is a deer I have been after for three years now. The first year he showed up I was already tagged out. I set up my feeder to see what all had made it through the season. These are some of the first pics I got of him. Notice the deformed right side of his rack. If you look close you can see the scars from a hip injury to his right hip.





That leads us to last year. His right side is still deformed and that is why I named him THE FREAK. He never once showed himself in the daylight. You have to look close because it's hard to see the hip injury in the nighttime pics.





This year I set up the feeder to get an idea of what was around and he was one of the first deer to show up. I knew I might have a chance because he made a couple of daytime visits while still in velvet. I also was getting him on camera in my food plot right at dark or just after dark. This was the first year his right side looked somewhat normal. You can definitely see the hip injury now in the daytime pics.





I had one encounter with him during bow season but my stand was turned facing the patch and I couldn't shoot him without standing up. When I tried he heard me and ran off. Soon as he was gone I repositioned the stand where I can shoot the whole plot without having to stand up. When gun season came in he left for two weeks and I thought the neighbors may have killed him. He finally showed back up and I knew if I didn't get him soon someone else would.

Now for the good part. A storm came through Sunday night so I was hoping with the change in the weather he would make an early appearance Monday afternoon. I got set up around 3:00 pm in my lockon which is on one of the only two trees on the whole 60 acres that I can put a stand in. I had 3 does come out first but they saw me and left. Then another doe came out and a small six point came out and ran her off. A few minutes later another six point came out and started sparring with the first one. They stayed until almost dark. I could hear another deer coming from my right but I didn't think it was going to come out before I lost shooting light. One six point walked over to the edge where the deer was coming in from. All of a sudden THE FREAK charged out chasing the six point. He stopped about 25 yds out and turned broad side. I knew this was probably my only chance at him. I drew back and he must have heard me because he looked straight at me. I could barely see him through my peep but I settled the pin on him best I could, said a little prayer and squeezed the trigger. It was a beautiful sight watching that green nufletch nock bury up behind his shoulder. He is my first 10 point and weighed 195 lbs. He's not as heavy as I thought he would be because he was a short bodied deer but he can ride in my truck any day. Just wish I could breathe life back into him and hunt him again tomorrow.

Awesome man and congrats on a fine looking mature deer with your bow!

Congrats!

Thanks for sharing the story. Enjoyed reading.

Congrats!

Congrats

very nice buck, congrats.

How old do you think he is???

Congrats brother that's a goodun proud for you

Congrats

Nice story and deer, enjoyed.

Congrats.

Not real sure. I didn't look at his teeth but I think he is at least 6. Just goes to show that what some think is a cull deer if given time can turn out to be normal.

Good job. I bet you sleep better at night now. Congrats

Congrats on a brute!!

Way to stick with it!!

God Bless,
David B.

Good deal!

Awesome story and great pics! Congrats!

It's always cool to see someone take a buck that they've got some history with. Very cool indeed. Great buck sluggun!

Nice buck, congrats

Good story / nice deer

congrats

Congrats on a very nice buck.