Three Years of Patience Pays Off on 44-Acre Kentucky Tract

• Hunter: Jacob Cook
• Buck: 180 inches
• Date of Harvest: October 10, 2024
• Location of Harvest: Kentucky
• Weapon of Harvest: Compound bow

Jacob Cook had three years of history with this big Kentucky buck, and it all started in 2022. With a lot of trail camera photos, he knew the deer pretty well.

“When I first started seeing him show up, he was a main-frame 10-pointer,” Cook said. “I never was able to get a shot on him in 2022. In 2023, this deer was a 13-pointer with a small drop tine.”

He watched the deer all summer. Cook even patterned it and positioned stands accordingly. Unfortunately, on opening day, the deer ducked under a 40-yard shot.

After that, the buck disappeared. In late November of 2023, it returned, but Cook never closed the gap. The whitetail made it to 2024.

By the summer of 2024, it blew up into a massive animal. The brute regularly appeared during daylight, especially of an afternoon.

Finally, on October 9, 2024, the wind switched to where Cook could hunt the deer. The buck walked into view and fed on acorns. It never breached bow range, though.

The next day, on October 10, 2024, Cook climbed back into the tree stand. That afternoon, it was cloudy, and he had a good feeling about it. He hoped the deer would emerge once again. It did.

As the sun dropped lower, deer walked into view and started feeding on acorns under the oaks. While watching 10-15 deer around him, more movement to the left caught his eye. It was the big fellow, and it stood 100 yards away.

For an hour, Cook watched the buck feed on acorns. Then, it turned and walked toward the stand location. At 40 yards, it stood for about 20 minutes. Afterward, it continued onward and walked to within 5 yards.

“When I shot, he was almost right under me,” Cook said. “But I shot, and he took off running. I never heard him crash. I got out of my stand, went to my house, and got some flashlights.”

About 45 minutes later, he returned to search for the deer. He recovered it about 140 yards from the point of impact.

“Words couldn’t describe this hunt,” Cook said. “This was my biggest deer. To shoot him with a bow, it was an absolute blessing.”

Looking back, he’s proud to have harvested the buck there. It was first his parents farm. In 2023, he bought the 44-acre tract from them.

“Everyone couldn’t believe how big the deer was,” Cook said. “It was the first full deer season owning the farm and I was able to harvest the biggest deer of my life. That’s a true blessing. There is no better feeling in the world than getting out in God’s creation and seeing how wildlife changes throughout the year and watching and studying the wildlife.”

This deer was a 6-year-old buck. It scored 180 inches.

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