My name is Jimmy Rhodus and I live in Kentucky. In late July 2007 my daughter and I started watching the "drop tine" buck near an apple orchard.

We glassed him for the next month at least once or twice a week. When September rolled around, I had my Mathews bow pinned in and ready to go. The first 2 weeks of bow season was really hot so I waited until it started to cool down. On Sept. 11, my daughter and I put out a trail camera and we got pictures of him coming into the apple orchard around 7:20 p.m. I decided the hunt was on! I hunted the old buck 5 days straight.

On Sept. 17 I had to work late. I rushed home, took a shower and made it to my stand by 6 p.m. About an hour later I saw several does move into the field and begin to eat some very small apples that had fallen off the trees. At 7:20 p.m., the buck came into the field like clockwork! When I saw that massive set of horns coming across the field, I didn't need any binoculars to know that it was him. Instead of looking at his antlers I decided to close my eyes and take a couple of deep breathes. He soon presented me with a 42-yard shot. I took aim and let the arrow fly. It was a good hit.

The buck turned and ran out of sight. I was uncertain of where I had hit him. After I regained my composure I went to my truck and made some phone calls. I gave the buck about 20 minutes. Knowing that I was running out of light, one of my friends arrived and we started tracking the blood trail. It led us straight to the buck. He was laying 40 yards inside the woods line. What a buck of a lifetime!

Needless to say, my 2007 hunting season ended early, but what a great season it was! Now I'm concentrating on a 150-class 10-pointer for my daughter and I hope her season goes just as well. My buck gross-scored 174 3/8 non-typical. He'll be officially scored on November 19th!

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