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My friend Lee and I archery hunted every day the first week of September 2012 with hopes of harvesting a whitetail deer in velvet. Being a relatively new bowhunter, I was content on sticking an arrow in any decent buck that was in velvet.
My first opportunity at a whitetail buck came mid October when an average 4x4 buck walked under my stand with about 10 minutes of legal light left. Showing great restraint knowing that there are very big bucks in the area, I let this buck continue on his way. Besides a few spiker bucks, that was my only opportunity at a buck during the 2012 archery season.
On the opening day of the 2012 rifle season, about 30 minutes after legal light, I once again had an opportunity at an average 4x4 buck, which I had no problem passing up. Prior to the commencement of the rifle season, I had promised myself that I would only harvest a buck that was bigger than my 6x7 buck hanging on the wall at home that scored 156 3/8. As I watched this 4x4 buck walk into the trees, I reassured myself that my patience would pay off... little did I know what was in store.
The first two weekends of November were quite successful for our hunting party but we kept talking about a particular quarter we had hunted the year before. I had seen the biggest buck in my life there but in August, the landowner had denied us hunting permission on that quarter this year.
A few days prior to the third weekend, I decided that placing a phone call to the landowner wouldn’t hurt, as it had been three months since we’d last spoke and were denied the permission. The phone call lasted no more than a few minutes and when I hung up, I had secured hunting permission for the rest of the season.
That Saturday morning found our group covering three advantageous spots in and around this prized quarter. I had set up about 100 yards from where I saw the enormous buck the previous year. It took only 30 minutes or so after morning legal light when I heard a shot from Lee’s direction. I texted him asking how big the buck was and he responded back “she missed”, referring to his daughter Meagan. He then responded with, “He is headed your way and he is BIG!”
The buck ended up traveling between me and the other group. I never did see the big buck that day but Lee’s other daughter, Marlee, and Matt had the big buck standing broadside at 40 yards. Matt couldn’t shoot, as he had harvested a 4x5 buck the first weekend. Marlee, due to hunting ethics, showed great restraint by not shooting, as she had discovered when leaving the truck that she had left her tags back at the cabin.
We came back and set up that afternoon for the evening hunt. Again, I chose the same location as the morning. The big buck didn’t show himself that night but Lee harvested a 4x5 buck about a half mile away. Heading back to the cabin that night, there was no discussion on where we were setting up the next morning.
Sunday morning found us set up in three groups about an hour before sunrise. With no surprise, I again chose the same spot hoping to get a glimpse of the big buck. The grove of poplars I chose were about 50 yards from the trail and 100 yards from the thick bush that we saw the buck go into the previous day (and the year before).
My patience finally paid off. Thirty minutes after sunrise I saw him, the enormous buck emerged from the bush 100 yards away on the same trail! There was no need to raise the binocular at that distance; he was the ONE! What was disappointing was that I only had a brief moment to observe him before he disappeared around a big dirt pile. I sat there in disbelief, as I missed what I thought was my only chance.
I was sitting there taking in what I witnessed and trying to decide my next move. Should I go after him? Sit and see what happens?
The big buck quickly answered my questions when he emerged from the other side of the dirt pile and started walking towards me. I have been hunting for 25 years and I didn’t think an experienced hunter could get buck fever but it sure came over me. I started shaking as I raised my rifle up and set my crosshairs on him. Just as my thumb touched the safety, the buck disappeared into a shallow draw.
Assessing the topography of the draw, I knew where he would emerge, and not in the ideal spot. I ran about 20 yards and braced myself against a tree with my rifle raised. As soon as the buck came out of the draw, I slipped the safety off, took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger, dropping the buck in his tracks. I just stood there a moment to take in this truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
My cell phone buzzed right away with Lee asking, “That you?” referring to the shot he’d heard, and then, “Get him?”
That’s all he needed to ask, as he knew I would not shoot at another buck other than this particular one. I responded back with, “I think I will name him Gran Pappy, GP for short.”
As I walked up I was absolutely shocked and in disbelief. Usually I experience “antler shrinkage” when I’ve walked up to my bucks in the past, but his antlers just kept getting bigger and bigger! He was an enormous 4x5 buck. He was very typical with about a 3-inch sticker on his left antler. I sat on my hunting stool a few feet away staring at the big buck and trying to convince myself this was all real as I waited for the others to make their way over.
Lee and his two daughters were the first to reach me and I was greeted with handshakes, high-five’s and hugs all around. A few minutes later, Matt and Eli joined with the same reception. It all started to sink in now with what I had accomplished.
After numerous pictures, field dressing, and a pull back to the truck, we were off to our next spot with me now delegated to a pushing role. Somehow I didn’t seem to mind, because Sunday November 18, 2012 had just become my most memorable day of hunting in 25 years.
On our way home, we had to travel through Red Deer and I placed a call to Sugar Creek Taxidermy to see if they were accepting mounts, which they were. When we dropped the head off and started discussing the score, we all figured that this trophy would score close to 165.
It took a week to prepare the skull and I picked up the antlers so I could have them while I waited for a call back saying they were ready to finish the mount.
I had the antlers green scored December 4 and to everyone’s surprise, the score came in at 174 7/8 gross and 170 net! This green score was 16 days after harvest and I needed to wait another 44 days to meet the required 60-day drying period before getting them officially scored.
On February 12 I had the antlers officially scored at 173 5/8 gross and 168 1/8 net. Checking the Boone & Crockett website, and referencing only 4x5s in Alberta, I discovered that only one buck qualified for the all-time book (minimum 170) and three bucks qualified for the awards book (minimum 160).
My buck now takes the place of the second biggest 4x5 whitetail buck on record in Alberta. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime buck and a true trophy. ■
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