Skip to main content

Non-Resident Downs Massive Missouri Typical During Rut Lockdown

Jim Cornell found success by paying attention to the body language of feeding does.

Non-Resident Downs Massive Missouri Typical During Rut Lockdown

Jim smiles for the camera with the owner/operator of Indian Hill Outfitters, Joe Ogden. (Photo courtesy of Joe Ogden)

Breaking News Bucks 2021

On opening morning of the 2021 Missouri rifle season, I found myself in the good company of Indian Hill Outfitters. That morning started out with seeing a few does, fawns and small bucks. As the morning continued, the deer movement became more sporadic. It seemed as if it was only small bucks that were on the move.

As sunset approached on opening day, I spotted a deer working up through the prairie grass. I noticed that the deer was feeding, and I kept my eyes on the movement. After a while, I saw that the deer was a buck. And I instantly could see that he was a shooter. Unfortunately, daylight ran out before he gave me a shot.

On the second day of rifle season, my morning started out with a few small bucks cruising, then a few does and fawns. They were all feeding as they passed through the cut corn field. The afternoon hunt was more of the same; does, fawns and small bucks were the only deer I spotted.

On the morning of my third day, the hunt started out slow. A few does and fawns were in the cut corn field until about 8:00 a.m. The rest of the day consisted of me sitting in my Ameristep ground blind, eagerly waiting, and desperately hoping that the shooter buck I saw on opening day would show up. I was banking on the chance that he might chase a doe into the cut corn field.

At about 4:30 p.m., a doe and her two fawns came out into the field to feed. A few does and small bucks joined the ranks shortly thereafter. About 20 minutes later, I noticed the doe and her two fawns were locked up along the fence line just staring at something that I couldn’t see.

I pulled the blind’s right-side window down to see what they were looking at, but I only saw one other doe at the edge of the field feeding. That’s when I heard the crunching of the corn stalks and I saw this giant buck cutting across the field. I grabbed my shooting sticks, along with my gun, and centered the buck in my scope.

Non-Resident Downs Massive Missouri Typical During Rut Lockdown
Jim was elated to have put down the big buck he spotted earlier in the week. (Photo courtesy of Joe Ogden)

When I pulled the trigger, the buck jumped back a bit and started to waiver. So, I loaded another round and shot him a second time. When the second bullet hit, I watched him fall to the ground.

I put my gun and shooting sticks down, gathered up my things in the ground blind and went to retrieve my kill. As I walked up on this buck laying in the field, I had no idea how big he really was until I grabbed his antlers and picked his head up.

“Holy Man, he’s a giant,” I shouted!




Subscribe today for just $8!

Non-Resident Downs Massive Missouri Typical During Rut Lockdown
Book your hunt with Indian Hill today. (Photo courtesy of Joe Ogden)

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

North American Whitetail's Blake Garlock shares his strategies for trail-cam use during four distinct times of the year,...
Gear

Ripcord Arrow Rests Rejuvenates Lineup with Three New Models

North American Whitetail's Blake Garlock shares his strategies for trail-cam use during four distinct times of the year,...
Gear

Don't Sleep on Conventional Trail Cameras

North American Whitetail's Blake Garlock shares his strategies for trail-cam use during four distinct times of the year,...
Gear

Browning Trail Cameras Announces Cellular Innovation for 2024

North American Whitetail's Blake Garlock shares his strategies for trail-cam use during four distinct times of the year,...
Gear

ATA 2024 Core SR First Look from Bowtech

North American Whitetail's Blake Garlock shares his strategies for trail-cam use during four distinct times of the year,...
Gear

Browning OVIX Camo: Ultimate Concealment for Any Time, Any Place

North American Whitetail's Blake Garlock shares his strategies for trail-cam use during four distinct times of the year,...
Gear

Air Venturi Avenge-X Classic PCP Air Rifle Reviewed

North American Whitetail's Blake Garlock shares his strategies for trail-cam use during four distinct times of the year,...
Gear

Primos Edge Carbon Fiber Tripod Shooting Sticks

North American Whitetail's Blake Garlock shares his strategies for trail-cam use during four distinct times of the year,...
Gear

Bowhunting Aoudad in Texas with Browning OVIX Camo

North American Whitetail's Blake Garlock shares his strategies for trail-cam use during four distinct times of the year,...
Gear

Bowtech CP30: A Better Bow Made For The Whitetailer

North American Whitetail's Blake Garlock shares his strategies for trail-cam use during four distinct times of the year,...
Gear

Browning's Exclusive OVIX Camo Gives You Complete Concealment

North American Whitetail's Blake Garlock shares his strategies for trail-cam use during four distinct times of the year,...
Gear

Start to Finish Success for Ultimate Season Bucks

North American Whitetail's Blake Garlock shares his strategies for trail-cam use during four distinct times of the year,...
Learn

Year-Round Deer Scouting with Moultrie Mobile Edge Cellular Trail Cams

North American Whitetail Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the North American Whitetail App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top North American Whitetail stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now