Shortly after Bryce first spotted the 212 1/8-inch-grossing Illinois giant known as Black Feet, he was offered a 50-yard shot but chose not to take it. Moments later, Bryce used a Primos can call to turn the buck around and lure him in for a much easier 15-yard shot.

Regardless of his busy schedule, Bryce always made time for bowhunting whitetails, especially during the November rut. On Monday, Nov. 5, Bryce jokingly proclaimed to his hunting buddy, Garrett Howland, "I'm going to kill a 200-inch buck this afternoon."

Garrett had basketball practice that afternoon and just smiled. He knew Bryce was simply taunting him, since it was such a perfect day to be in the woods. Colder temperatures and a rising barometer made conditions ideal.

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
Tom Ware's hunting operation in Pike County, Illinois, leases 5,000 acres. In 2007 Tom had booked only eight hunters per week during the prime two weeks of peak rutting activity in early November. The 80 acres that Bryce happened to be hunting on were owned by his uncle and were completely surrounded by properties leased by Tom Ware.

In addition to Black Feet, Tom knew about a second megabuck in the area with a 185-inch 10-point frame and double drop tines. On the day of Black Feet's demise, Tom had spread all eight of his archery hunters in the immediate area where he thought Black Feet and the drop-tine buck would be competing for does. Surely, Tom thought, one of my hunters will get an opportunity at one of these Illinois giants.

Bryce climbed aboard his ladder stand at 4:15 on the afternoon that he and Black Feet would meet. One of Tom Ware's hunters videotaped Black Feet dogging a hot doe at 4:40 p.m. The buck showed up near Bryce's stand at about 4:50 without the doe.

Still at full draw and aiming down his 50-yard pin, Bryce elected not to take a walking shot on the massive buck. He'd been taught well by Scott, and he knew the shot would be too risky. He also elected not to try to stop the buck with a mouth grunt. The buck turned onto a hardly noticed secondary trail and headed away from Bryce.

The young archer remained composed and relaxed his draw. He grabbed a Primos doe-bleat can-call and rolled it over. The whining moan stopped Black Feet in his tracks. Briefly staring in the direction of the call, the massive whitetail about-faced and slowly headed up the ridge on the trail that would lead within 15 yards of Bryce's position. Without a doubt, the mature buck suspected he'd discovered another hot doe.

A HEAVEN-SENT SHOT
Bryce picked a shooting lane between two trees and drew when the buck's head went behind the first tree. As if the hand of Fate had intervened, Black Feet stopped only three steps past the tree. Bryce squared on the back of the deer's shoulder and released a Carbon Express Maxima arrow tipped with a Tight Point T-Lock broadhead. The 350-grain arrow and 125-grain head, thrust by the 74-pound bow, completely blew through both shoulders and stuck in the ground on the other side. The buck let out a death moan and bolted downhill, expiring within 50 yards.

Bryce now became excited for the first time since the start of his seven-minute ordeal/adventure. He stayed in the tree and called Scott. "I think I just shot a 170," he blurted out.

Even though Bryce told Scott that he thought the buck was dead, Scott told Bryce to stay in the tree until he arrived on the scene. "I'll be there in about an hour," Scott assured Bryce.

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