Monster Bucks Are coming out of the wood work!
Apparently, this year is shaping up to be the year for big Bucks. I can't remember ever hearing about so many once in a life time big bucks being killed in one year around here.
One of my best huntin' buddies Steve Bailey called me Sunday about to pee his pants. His message was Short and to the point......."Stephens,,,,, I just killed a M O N S T E R B U C K in front of the dogs, call me back as soon as you get this!" He had just killed his largest Florida Buck ever a big 10pt that they think will gross between 120 and 125". You don't see many main frame 10's in Florida let alone a buck that will break 120". The buck had a 17" outside spread. He was Killed near Orange Springs, Florida.
All I have is a poor camera phone image to post for now but I'll add some better pic.'s as soon as I can get my hands on them.
The taxidermist reported 122" net!
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The story goes like this....
It was past mid day and warm. The dogs were running a couple of does and everybody charged South to head them and Steve was left kind of behind on the deal. The dogs broke down but in a short time jumped again and headed back North. Steve pulled up to a spot where he had a vantage of 150-200yds down a fifth row. It was not long before he caught a little movement about 100yds down the row. He scoped it but all he could see was the tops of the buck's horns. He sighted down to where he thought the body would be and fire a round from his new (1965 model) 270 Weatherby mag.. The Buck moved slightly but Steve still could only see his horns. He took another shot guesstimating where the body was and the buck fell in his tracks.....shot through the middle of both front shoulders!
The Hancock Buck!
This Buck was killed on the second morning of Muzzleload season near Orange Springs, Florida. Steve and I were already back at camp and we had just had one hell of a hunt. Steve had shot a great little forked horn buck....just the kind of buck you would envision someone dressed in Buckskins shooting with his smoke pole. I had shot an outstanding 8pt with a 17 3/4" spread that was just a grunt shy of 100". Actually, he is probably the third best buck I have taken in Florida.
The buck on the right that I took is not quite in the class of these
three bucks but a 100" buck is still real hard to come by in Florida!
Then this thing rolls into camp in the back of a pickup........I could hardly believe my eyes! And I thought my 8 was big. Granted this buck is not wide but he's got everything else you could ask for!
He has a total of 13pts. and Mega Mass, forked brows, stickers, long tines, you name it! I have not even tried to put together an estimated score on him yet.
The old guy that killed him was hunting a cut over swamp that had grown back jungle thick. It was 10:30 in the morning when he spotted this deer approaching at about 75yds. The deer stopped to look around and he fired, missing the huge buck. The deer apparently did not know what happened and froze. He was able to get reloaded and the second shot dropped him where he stood. Supposedly the buck was well known from trail camera pictures but relocated to some out of the way place by the time muzzleload would open and would not be seen on camera again until after hunting season was over. You can see from his face he is a very old buck and he is reported to have actually regressed substantially from last year.
Another Big 13pt.
I do not know the name of the hunter that took this next buck, only that it was killed in Flagler County, during bow season. A friend of Mine, Rick Edwards took the pictures and recounted the story to me.
The story is as follows......
The guy was sitting in his stand when he spots some deer chasing and they are headed his was. No less than three bucks come screaming by, hot on the trail of a single doe. However, they charged by so fast he could not stop them for a shot. They are barely out of sight when he spots another buck coming behind on the race.
The buck comes up to within bow range and stops but he is facing head on and will not turn. The guy held his bow at full draw until he could not stand it any more and decided to take a frontal shot. That's usually a big mistake but it worked out for him, this time. The arrow actually caught the buck on the side of the nose and laid it open before going in between the paddle and the rib cage. Apparently, one of the ribs deflected the broadhead enough to send it into the cavity and snuffed him out. I know, incredible but true.
Shrouder Buck!
I don't have a picture of this buck yet but he was also killed near Orange Springs. I only saw him in passing on the back of the pickup but he's wide and has real good tine length. I heard he is 18" wide and will score around 120". I don't have any other details other than he was killed during muzzleload season but as soon as I have some more info I will get it posted.
Another friend of mine took an exceptional buck here in Flagler also, that is in the 100" neighborhood. I need to score him and I will get a post on him as well.
Good Hunting!
Larry Stephens
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