 Mark Walker 2004 |
Michigan Grunter
I shot this 4-1/2 year-old 9-point whitetail on a neighbor's farm the morning of my 46th birthday, November 8th, 2004. I'd been after him for several years and grunted him in from across a hayfield. One arrow from my BuckMaster bow and he dropped within 70 yards! I hunt on about a five-acre parcel of the farm with several tree stands near a wooded creek separating the alfalfa fields. I never use bait for deer, I just scout a lot try to situate my stands near travel routes between food and bedding. I've never had any luck rattling antlers for deer, but have had luck with voice bleats and grunt calls. He's sporting 11-inch tines though the green score is only 126 inches. While a 'long' deer, he only weighed 150 lbs dressed. A Michigan DNR biologist who checked him said, "Weight is in the genetics too - sometimes you get a buck with a huge body and average antlers; sometimes you get one like this with great antlers and a medium-sized body!" What a great birthday present regardless! |
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