Typical Rifle, 146 7/8"

by Steve
(Hamlin, NY)

Avoca Buck

This buck was taken in the town of Avoca on opening day 2017, first thing in the morning. Actually heard him chasing doe in the dark for a good 10 minutes. As the sun came up he was still chasing and grunting but i couldn't see him in the hemlocks up above me. Finally the doe came rushing down the hill one after another. As each doe bounded by me, I searched its head for antlers, seeing nothing. As the last in line came down the hill, 50 yards behind the last doe, I saw the rack and he was pursuing those doe quickly with big bounds. As he got even with me I let out a vocal grunt. At 40 yards he literally came to a sliding stop. I put crosshairs of the .270 just behind his shoulder and squeezed. With the crack of the rifle he took off on angle back up the hill. The last I saw him he was heading down the hill, through some cover before he disappeared and then I heard the crash of him going down. After waiting a bit, I climbed down and walked down to find him. When I saw him, I knew the wife wouldn't be happy as the 8 point I had taken with the crossbow a week earlier, from the same stand was already at the taxidermist. Knew this one was going to surpass his score of 122 and change.