After getting hunting permission, Tyler Cooper had cell cameras up within days. He immediately began getting pictures on his target buck, and started making a gameplan for the archery season to come.
November 06, 2024
By Cam Coble
It all began with drive to a local restaurant with his fiancé, Marisa, that Tyler Cooper first learned of a giant Missouri buck he'd eventually put his tag on. One late July evening, the two were in route to their favorite Mexican restaurant when Marisa exclaimed to Tyler, “Stop, back up — I see a big buck." Backing up to take a peek at the big buck, the duo glassed the field and watched the big deer feed unalarmed with a few smaller bucks.
Wanting to keep tabs on the deer, Tyler drove to the field where the deer was spotted three days in a row. Each time the buck was there like clockwork feeding in the same location. Surprisingly, the "big buck" they were watching from day one wasn’t even the big one. Watching closely from a safe distance, Tyler could clearly see a much larger buck in the group now feeding with them.
“It was the biggest buck I’d ever seen in the wild," Tyler said.
The only problem was the buck was on a piece of land that Tyler couldn’t hunt.
"I’d tried in previous years to gain permission," he explained. "But each time the old farmer denied me.”
On a last-ditch effort to gain access, Tyler took his fiancé and their son, Randy, to the farmers house to ask once again. Taking down his name and number, the farmer said he’d consider it, but wanted to think about it.
The opening day of Missouri's archery season was a good one for Cooper. A 10-yard shot resulted was everything he could have asked for. Several days passed when Tyler’s fortune finally changed — the farmer left a voicemail granting the couple permission for hunting. After receiving it, Tyler didn’t waste any time. The next day he was placing cameras in key spots on the newly-acquired land.
Watching the big non-typical one day from the road — and studying aerial onX maps — Tyler had a good idea where the deer was crossing. It was at a location where a creek made a pinch as it winded through the agricultural farmland.
It wasn’t long after the cameras were placed that pictures of the big deer began appearing on his cell cams. Several were in locations where he figured the deer would be using.
Opening day of Missouri’s archery season was warmer than average, with temperatures hovering around the high 80s. Despite the warm weather, the deer was daylighting often enough that Tyler went all in for him. Throwing his portable hang-and-hunt stand set on his bac,k Tyler left earlier than normal for an evening hunt at the pinch. Getting up the tree safely, he quietly trimmed a few branches to allow for ample shooting opportunities before sitting back to begin the waiting game.
Cooper's Missouri 12-point scored 185 2/8 inches. As the sun sat below the horizon, a few does and small bucks began filtering past Tyler’s position.
“I looked back further behind the other deer and saw him," Tyler exclaimed. "He looked awesome, and bigger than I expected in person."
The bucks was around 80 yards out and heading toward the now-ready archer. When the deer reached about 15 yards, Tyler drew his bow and waited for a shot. With the buck closing the gap to a mere 10 yards, Tyler settled his pin and squeezed off a shot — one that he thought looked good.
Upon further inspection — and a lack of blood — Tyler felt it was best to come back in the morning with some help and a tracking dog. The next morning the trail was short, and a few hundred yards later the buck was piled up.
Tyler Cooper's opening day Missouri buck carried 12 points and grossed 185 2/8 inches.
