Bowhunters never forget the first deer they wrap their tag around. Regardless of size, the sense of accomplishment that comes with taking your first deer with archery equipment is a defining moment. But every once in a while, that first one turns out to be the buck of a lifetime. Such was the case for Truman Sink. He shares his big buck story below.
Hunter: Truman Sink
State: Ohio
Score: 214 (Gross)
Gear: Diamond Infinite Edge Pro and Rage Hypodermic broadhead
I got permission to hunt a 5 or 6 acre patch of woods along a ravine that was super thick with undergrowth and a small portion of higher ground that was a lot more open. I set up a stand in the higher ground area close to a trail and put up cameras to take inventory. I got several photos of some decent bucks, but when the season started, they all seemed to leave the area.
The first time I hunted there, I saw a big buck with a smaller buck in the field, but never got a good look at him. A week later, I was hunting there again and saw the big buck come up from the ravine and go out to the field. Ten minutes later, he came running in the woods right beside my stand, followed by an 8 pointer and a small 4 pointer.
I thought the big buck had run off, so I took a shot at the 8 point and then another shot. I missed twice! It was then that I realized the big buck was right behind my stand and had watched the whole thing, yet never spooked. This was the moment I realized just how big the buck truly was. I made plans to come back to hunt him again the next Saturday evening, October 29th.
I had been sitting in the stand just 15 minutes when I heard a deer walking. I saw the 8 pointer down in the ravine, so I grunted a few times and waited. I repeated my grunting routine several times over the next 10 minutes before the 8 pointer stepped into a clearing 40 yards away, headed in my direction. As the smaller 8 pointer was making its approach, I heard something crashing through the woods to my right. I looked over to see the monster buck running toward me. He, too, was coming to check out the sound of my calls.
The big buck stopped at 80 yards, then began to walk toward me again, coming in to 18 yards. There, he stopped broadside and turned his head the other way and started licking his belly. He was right in a shooting lane, so I started to draw back my bow. Unfortunately, the 8 pointer saw me and spooked.
My buck put his head up real quick, but never ran. The 8 pointer ran around the tree behind my stand and stopped. In response, the big buck turned and walked right in front of my stand to 7 yards. As he passed a small tree, I drew back and sent the arrow through him.
The giant buck ran about 100 yards back down into the ravine, then stumbled and fell. He got back up and ran another 15 yards and fell again. This time, he did not get back up.
I left the woods to give him time to die. I went and picked up one of my buddies, and he came to help me track the deer. When we found my buck, the coyotes had already ripped open his stomach and his intestines, but luckily we were able to save the cape for a shoulder mount.
I started hunting three years ago and had to learn on my own because none of my family hunts. This was my first ever bow kill and also my first antlered deer.
A big congrats to Truman on his buck of a lifetime to start his bowhunting career!
