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 We hunt the Missouri side because of the price of a resident deer tag and on this morning we had a special new place in mind. My Dad was a big game guide in the area and knew it like the back of his hand. Dad was a good teacher he spoke little, but put me in the position to learn the hunting game and learn for myself. He was always there if I needed him, but if I didn’t made the right choice or decision deer or Turkey hunting he would just acknowledge with a smile. While we were scouting one afternoon we found a new area we had never hunted. It was a big bedding area along one of the rivers with large trails and some big rubs from the previous fall. Dad and I made a note of this and both knew we would have to try this spot when the wind was right. 

We finally got the south wind we wanted to go hunt the edge of a large bedding area along the river.  We had to get in there early to avoid spooking deer that were already heading back to bed. We decided to park at the road and not drive in creating a long walk in but for this area it was definitely worth it. This bedding area and field were across the river from where we parked but luckily there was a large beaver dam that made the water shallow enough we could cross and keep our dry feet.

While crossing the river we found two large sets of buck tracks that were very fresh leading up into the bedding area. Dad and I smiled at each other after looking at the tracks, in a non-verbal communication way that we had while hunting quietly. It was an acknowledgement that we saw the track and it was fresh, also that the owner of that track may be right in front of us.

We reached the field edge and it was still very dark and to our knowledge we hadn't jumped any deer on our entry route. Dad found a large lightening struck oak tree that would break up our silhouettes and sat up against it. I did the same watching another direction.

The prime targeted bedding area was to our west, with a small corn field in front of us separated the bedding area and another small woodlot further to our south. This area was made up of tall native grass and scattered willow trees and multi-flowering rose bushes. About the center of the bedding area was a strip of taller more mature trees that went from about 3/4 back in the bedding area right up to our fields edge.

The tracks showed that the deer were traveling down the mature trees to the field edge because it was much easier to walk in than the tall grass. It is the larger trees making this funnel that had been shredded up with the best display of rubs like Dad and I had ever seen. Improving the funnel was a stand of larger trees that met the field in a low spot similar to a saddle situation. The deer would cross the field in this low spot and feel safe.  We knew we were in a good position and as the bright red sun began to rise and light the ground around us our position began to look even better. Deer tracks, big deer track zigged and zagged through the area. The number of tracks said they were there the fact that the tracks seldom went in a straight line meant they were comfortable here and spent a lot of time loafing and resting in this area.

I looked at Dad and with a cupped hand around his ear I quietly mumbled to him, “ I think we found the honey hole”.

Dad looked at me and with out any movement smiled his acknowledgment.

The morning we started off with walking and rattling in the ground covered Oak leaves. I got ready for a buck, but couldn’t see any movement in that direction. As we watched intensely, an unforgettable noise came from the area in front of us, it was a couple of Jake turkeys trying and learning to gobble. It was a false alarm so we went back to our non-movement sentry duty of extreme surveillance.

At about 7:00 I heard walking in the oak leaves that had the pace of something bigger then a turkey. A nice 140" eight pointer came out of the bedding area and crossed the field. I slowly lifted my gun to get lined up for a shot, but Dad reached out and stopped me. I was amazed by his action, but with his smile I put the rifle back down as the buck looked behind him a couple of times but otherwise quickly got back into cover.

 It was tough to hold off on the good deer but with my Dad's encouragement I decided to wait and see what else might come out of this area. Nothing happened for about 30 minutes and by then that big eight was passing over and over in my mind. I was regretting my choice and Dad just smiled and said with a whisper through a cupped hand “Just be patient” then he smiled.

I let out a few grunts on the grunt tube hoping maybe the buck was still around and would come to investigate. I watched intently where in the cover that the buck had disappeared. No movement, no buck, I felt a little discouraged, at Dads action. Had I passed up a good buck for a no buck hunt?

 Then I caught movement to my left as a big buck just appeared out of the bedding area. I wondered, where did he come from, no leaf noise, no broken sticks, he was just there. Dad had said earlier, “If there is a shooter wait for me to get my gun on him also, so I can back you up.

This buck was only sixty yards away and could see my every move. Dad was around the tree from me and could barely see the buck.

I eased into my gun that was resting on a branch for the shot. I couldn't wait for Dad once I was on him I shot and dropped him in his tracks. Dad and I looked at each other in disbelief. What had seemed like it was going to be a regretful morning had just taken a turn for the better with me having no question this was the biggest deer of my hunting life.

 Everything happened so quickly that we didn't even know how big the deer really was or how many points he had. We both got up cautiously and headed toward the buck, I knew he was down but Dad had taught me to never take any chances.

As we slipped up on the buck I poked his eye with my rifle barrel confirming he was dead. We both had to learn how to talk again. Dad smiled and said, “ Good shot, I could barely see him, didn’t notice him until you started moving for the shot.”

We both looked at the buck’s rack with amazement. The bucks’ rack definitely did not have what we call ground shrinkage he was bigger then we had thought. He was a typical 13-point with a couple stickers and a 21" inside spread and a 165" Boone and Crockett score. He would easily make the Boone and Crockett 160 minimum to be recorded in the book.

My dad and I talked quite well as we field dressed the deer and drug him out to where we could pick him up with the truck. Then we started the long walk up to the truck parked on the main road.

I asked Dad, “ You had said if there is a shooter wait for me to get my gun on him also, so I can back you up. I worried about that when I shot, I didn’t know if you could see him, that he had his eyes on me.

My Dad just looked over and smiled proudly.

I guess he was acknowledging he understood like he did when we saw the deer track that morning.



Editorial Note:

 I was only 13 so it was a monumental year for us as I took that buck and 5 days earlier my brother Cameron took a 160" and he was only 11. We have taken our share since then but those two still remain our biggest bucks and our biggest memories.

After that year we began our outfitting business Bucks and Beards Outfitters. Now I'm 21 and he is 19 and we still have a passion for the outdoors. The three of us, Dad, Cameron and I love doing the guiding and have met some great people as they took some great bucks over the past 8 years.

 The bedding area and wood lot from this story has produced 7 Pope and Young bucks alone, since I shot my deer there, many years ago. Two of them were even bigger then mine!  We take a limited amount of hunters and only hunt during the rut and pre-rut to ensure a quality hunt. We are proud of our service to our customers and provide, home cooked meals and a down home family atmosphere.