It was opening day of the first 2007 shotgun season in southeast Minnesota and Dan Harlos was was returning to his stand at around 12:30 p.m. after taking a short break. Suddenly Dan looked up and saw this buck and a doe trotting along a fence line about 120 yards away. The two deer proceeded to a large oak tree with brush around it and bedded down about 100 yards away.
"The buck was bedded in such a way that all I could see was his head and rack," Dan said. "I patiently watched him for approximately 4 hours. Finally the doe got up and began to feed toward me with the buck's nose to the ground right behind her. I was ready because I'd been looking at him through the scope for the past 30 minutes. When he got within about 80 yards and turned broadside, I took the shot. He ran about 40 or 50 yards and expired.
"I had been hunting in this spot for the past 7 years and I do believe that I had seen this buck as a yearling and for 2 years or more. His rack was very easy to recognize due to the sticker on the G-2. He disappeared for a couple of years, possibly because a larger buck was seen in the area during that time. Then he returned as a mature buck. I haven't had him officially scored. To me, it's all about the hunt!"
North American Whitetall North American Whitetail is designed for the serious trophy hunter. It provides authoritative coverage of world-class whitetails, the latest approaches to deer management and advanced hunting techniques.
© 2009 Intermedia Outdoors, Inc.
