Non-Resident Downs Massive Missouri Typical During Rut Lockdown

Breaking News Bucks 2021

On opening morning of the 2021 Missouri rifle season, I found myself in the good company of Indian Hill Outfitters. That morning started out with seeing a few does, fawns and small bucks. As the morning continued, the deer movement became more sporadic. It seemed as if it was only small bucks that were on the move.

As sunset approached on opening day, I spotted a deer working up through the prairie grass. I noticed that the deer was feeding, and I kept my eyes on the movement. After a while, I saw that the deer was a buck. And I instantly could see that he was a shooter. Unfortunately, daylight ran out before he gave me a shot.

On the second day of rifle season, my morning started out with a few small bucks cruising, then a few does and fawns. They were all feeding as they passed through the cut corn field. The afternoon hunt was more of the same; does, fawns and small bucks were the only deer I spotted.

On the morning of my third day, the hunt started out slow. A few does and fawns were in the cut corn field until about 8:00 a.m. The rest of the day consisted of me sitting in my Ameristep ground blind, eagerly waiting, and desperately hoping that the shooter buck I saw on opening day would show up. I was banking on the chance that he might chase a doe into the cut corn field.

At about 4:30 p.m., a doe and her two fawns came out into the field to feed. A few does and small bucks joined the ranks shortly thereafter. About 20 minutes later, I noticed the doe and her two fawns were locked up along the fence line just staring at something that I couldn’t see.

I pulled the blind’s right-side window down to see what they were looking at, but I only saw one other doe at the edge of the field feeding. That’s when I heard the crunching of the corn stalks and I saw this giant buck cutting across the field. I grabbed my shooting sticks, along with my gun, and centered the buck in my scope.

When I pulled the trigger, the buck jumped back a bit and started to waiver. So, I loaded another round and shot him a second time. When the second bullet hit, I watched him fall to the ground.

I put my gun and shooting sticks down, gathered up my things in the ground blind and went to retrieve my kill. As I walked up on this buck laying in the field, I had no idea how big he really was until I grabbed his antlers and picked his head up.

“Holy Man, he’s a giant,” I shouted!

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