2011 Opening Morning 14 Point

by Ellen Robson
(Blue Springs, Mo)

I'm, Ellen Robson who shot this 14 point buck opening morning 2011 at 8:30 am. I have been hunting for almost 30 years and didn't know if I would ever see a buck like this one. I shot this on our land close to Chillicothe Mo. in Livingston County. I shot it with a 30-06. My husband was walking back to his stand and spooked this deer up and it happened to run by my stand. I heard something coming and looked to my right and saw this huge body and antlers. I first grunted to slow it down, it slowed down a little. I then looked for an opening for a shot and prayed it came that way. It did. That all happened in about 3 or 5 seconds. I was sure I hit it because of the way it acted after I shot. I did not see it run off in any direction afterwards or did I hear anything. I got our my binoculars and did not see anything. I stayed in my stand for a few minutes and just shook. Didn't really have time to get nervous before hand. So decided I better get down and look for it. I was only out of my stand for a few minutes looking and saw my husband walking up the trail. He was asking me where I thought he was when I shot. I was looking left and right didn't see anything. Could not find any blood trail. He took about 5 steps forward and said I see your deer. When I walked upon it I was in disbelief. It was magnificent! My husband, my son-in-law and myself could hardly move it. A neighbor brought his tractor with a lift on it to get it out. It would have taken us forever. A friend of ours who lives close by scored it. His score was 172 and 7/8 gross and 160 and 3/8 net. We will take it to the Mo. deer classic in the spring to get it officially scored. This was definitely my most exciting hunt ever----but I also just enjoy being in the outdoors you never know what you might see.