Bowhunter Arrows Big Indiana Buck Her Husband Was After

• Hunter: Maranda Nichols
• Buck: 184 1/8 inches
• Date of Harvest: October 14, 2024
• Location of Harvest: Indiana
• Weapon of Harvest: Bowtech Eva Gen3

Indiana deer hunter, Maranda Nichols, had a great 2024 deer season. It produced a massive non-typical whitetail, and an experience she’ll remember forever.

“I felt like I had a lot of weight on my shoulders last archery season,” Nichols said. “I didn’t have a very successful hunting season [the year before]. I wanted nothing more than to make up for it. I believe I did that.”

Maranda and her husband kept tabs on this deer for a couple seasons. Both were after the massive whitetail. Unfortunately, just before the 2024 season started, the deer vanished. Even so, Nichols started hunting. They still had hopes of seeing the deer.

Eventually, epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) hit the area, and they worried even more. Hunters were reporting dead deer, and they feared the big buck might fall to the small but mighty midge fly.

She tried finding and patterning the deer, but it continued to prove challenging. Eventually, she decided to hunt closer to a swampy area. That location usually produces sightings, and she hoped the big deer was living there.

On October 14, 2024, she rushed home from work, changed clothes, and headed to the deer woods. She climbed into the treestand, knocked an arrow, and settled in for the afternoon.

About an hour and a half later, she heard a loud crash coming out of the swamp. She grabbed her binos, scanned the area, and spotted a big 10-pointer. The deer pushed a couple does toward Nichols’ position.

After a few tense moments, she lost sight of the buck. Hoping to draw it out, she grunted lightly, but it still hadn’t appeared. A few minutes later, she saw the deer walking through the swamp to the right. It stopped about 45 yards behind some brush.

While the big 10-pointer was still standing there, the giant buck that had disappeared for weeks walked into view. Just as it committed to her direction, the oldest doe started blowing. After a brief pause and look around, the monster buck continued walking toward Nichols.

Within seconds, it was at 35 yards and quartering away. Nichols drew, settled the pin, and released the arrow. It connected. The buck bolted out of sight. Then, Nichols heard it — a crash.

About 20 minutes later, she climbed down and looked for blood. In the process, she saw her lighted nock about 60 yards away. She thought it fell out of the deer, but it hadn’t. There was her buck.

“I was getting my arrow to see how much penetration I had,” Nichols said. “I got about 10 feet from my arrow and saw a tail. I walked a foot further and realized my arrow was still in him. He was down.”

Her husband drove the side-by-side to the buck, and along with another friend, they loaded the deer together. They joked around, because her husband had been hunting the deer, too.

“My father-in-law came down to check it out, and he couldn’t believe his eyes,” Nichols said. “He said this is probably the biggest buck ever taken on that property. He also explained how this is a 6th generation Nichols farm deer.

“I couldn’t believe this was real life,” she continued. “I am so thankful for this amazing harvest. This will be a day that I never forget.”