When Deb Luzinski heard the cattails rustling from her tree stand on the afternoon of Oct. 27, 2006, she suspected that it might be a buck. But never in her wildest dreams did she expect to see a 222 2/8-inch monster like this! Photo courtesy of Deb Luzinski.

“You set up where? I thought you were going to the end of the field, not all the way out there. You are going to miss the deer. They will cut past you and head to the field.” Those were the words I heard from my husband, Mark, upon meeting back at our truck after we had gone our separate ways and set up our stands. I began to explain how I had come to choose that particular spot.

“One main trail runs down the center of the finger of woods and into the cattails. Minor trails crisscross in all directions, and there’s plenty of deer sign. I found a great tree -- a big poplar surrounded by smaller trees. Also, I noticed a few rubs and scrapes from my stand.” I stopped trying to explain and simply added, “I really like this spot. It looks and feels good.”

It was Friday, Oct. 27, 2006, and our discussion took place at about 12:30 p.m. At 3:30 we readied for the evening hunt and gave each other a “good luck” smooch before parting company to head to our different hunting areas. By 3:50 p.m. I was in my stand, my safety harness securely attached.

A DAY LIKE NO OTHER
It was a beautiful late fall afternoon. The temperature was cool, and the wind was blowing lightly but steadily out of the southeast. As usual, I sprayed the foliage and tree branches downwind of me with deer scent. After the woods had settled down around me, I began making a series of doe bleats with my Primos Original can call.

I always stand whenever I hunt for whitetails. I sit when bear hunting, but I stand and hold my bow for deer. Sometimes this gets a little tiring, but to me, it’s all about movement, or lack thereof. I had been on stand for less than half an hour when I heard the cattails rustling. I immediately looked to the right. About 50 yards out, a beautiful, mature 10-point buck was slowly making his way toward the higher ground where I was located. He would take a few steps and then rake his antlers in the brush, and I would call again. Sizing him up with my binoculars, I watched this fantastic animal and wondered if I would be lucky enough to get a shot.

IS HE REALLY THAT BIG?
He was definitely a “shooter” buck, with more mass and tine length than the 131-inch buck that I had taken a few years back. I called again. He took another few steps and stopped, looking straight east. The next sound I heard was loud movement in the cattails. Then he appeared: a giant non-typical whitetail aggressively striding out of the cattails and then stopping right at the edge and looking toward the higher ground.

I believe he’s looking for his new girlfriend, the can call that I have in my pocket, I thought.

He was the largest antlered buck I had ever seen. He literally had cattails hanging off his massive antlers. He had mass, tine length, palmation, kickers, stickers and several drop tines. What a monster! He looked at the 10-point buck and walked directly toward him.

Wow, I’m going to see a brawl! I thought. Two big boys looking for the same date! Fantastic!

A FATEFUL ENCOUNTER
When they finally met, the two bucks went nose-to-nose, but the 10-pointer dropped his head and backed away in total submission. Knowing there was no question of whether or not this giant was a shooter, I now focused totally on the larger buck’s ears, nose and eyes, carefully observing his body language. I never took my eyes off his facial expressions, and I didn’t look at his antlers again. I tipped the can, and he began to casually head in my direction.

page: 1 | 2 | 3