"What if" Dream hunt 2008

Get ready to experience the greatest “Monster Bucks in Rut” story I have heard! Ross Smith and Jeff Kempf have been best friends and hunting partners for 20 years. This is their story of TWO Monster Bucks taken, one GORING the other with his horns, as he lay half dead, while competing for a doe. It was November 3rd of the 2008 archery deer hunting season with high hopes that the pre-rut will have the big boys up and on the move. This was our first day on this particular farm because experience has taught us that we shouldn’t be in here until the proper time. This spot has an ideal funnel between a large wood lot and thick lowland bedding area. On this particular day my partner and I decided that we would both hunt this funnel and sit close enough to intercept virtually any deer coming through in hopes that at least one of us would be successful.

As dawn broke, I heard a buck grunting and chasing a doe in front of me. They both ran in and stood not more than 15 yards from my stand as I strained to look for antlers. As minutes of complete silence passed, the buck lunged and let out a tending grunt sound that sent chills thru me. It was eery, and that’s when I got a glimpse of what looked to be a dandy set of long tines. Of course, the adrenalin started kicking in as he now stood 12 yards away with 5 minutes before good shooting light. Suddenly the doe busted out along the fence line heading away from my stand and the big boy took off after her. They were almost out of sight when the doe turned and ran back by my stand. I clipped on my release hoping this was going to be it, and when he walked by at 20 yards I could see the giant rack and his body but not being sure of the obstacles between us, had to let him walk.

As the sun came up and the temperature rose, the deer were moving and the action was steady. Mostly youngsters and does however. At around ten o’clock the neighbor came in to cut fire wood just 50 yards from my stand so I was forced to climb down to relocate closer to the bedding area and Ross would stay in position. We both use climbing stands so it would make the move easy but I would have to set up just inside the bedding area. I located a good tree where the sign and trails were great but shooting was going to be somewhat limited. I settled in as the bright sun and 70 degree temperatures were trying to lull me to sleep and my partner Ross, watched the neighbor cut wood. At 12:54 I looked up to see a doe walking by on one of the well used trials just 10 yards from my stand. Behind her was one of the biggest bucks I had ever seen in the woods. I was able to get ready as he casually sauntered by without a care in the world. I went to full draw just praying for a small opening as he passed but nothing going. The biggest buck of my life just walked by within 12 yards of my stand and once again, no shot opportunity.

I began questioning my decision, as we did not see another deer until 4:45pm, until finally a lone doe passed by and headed towards Ross. A few minutes latter I notice two more working down in front of me when I heard the unmistakable sound of a big deer plowing through the woods coming from the pinch where Ross was sitting. I was a little shook, as I struggled to find him when he sounded as though he was right on top of me. Once again I clipped on, as a beautiful heavy antlered 8 point appeared. He passed by at 10 yards to tend to the feeding does and I elected not to shoot because it was my first day of a week long hunt and I had already seen two bigger bucks earlier that morning. Still only 20 yards in front of me I looked to my left to see an even larger 10 point coming from the opposite direction. When the two bucks made eye contact they immediately started displaying signs of aggressive behavior by lowering their ears and pawing the ground like a bull before an attack as the 8 point made his way to the 10. They came together with such violence and force and the battle was so loud and intense as these two giant bucks tried to kill for dominance. These are the kind of things that you read about and happen to other people but this time I had a front row seat.
As the intense battle continued the two bucks gradually got closer and closer to my stand. I went to full draw several times as I struggled again to find an opening for a shot and maintain focus on the bigger deer. After several minutes, still totally engaged and just quivering, they finally gave me the opportunity I needed to make a shot on the bigger buck. He immediately turned away from the big 8 and tried to run away but fell and was practically tackled by the other buck within ten yards of where he was shot. The smaller buck continued his intense and aggressive behavior towards the now deceased buck!
At this point I am shaken with adrenalin myself as I watched this deer thrash and continue his assault. I grunted, snorted and even whistled at this guy trying to get him to stop but he was oblivious to my efforts. This went on for several minutes before the exhausted, blood soaked deer decided to call it quits.
With his tongue hanging out, antlers and face literally dripping with red the victor walked under my stand and proceeds to investigate the spectator does. I tried to get some video or photos with my cell phone as he walked by but by this point I was shaking out of control myself and couldn’t hit the right buttons if I wanted to.
Now, one would think that this was the end to a terrific story but the fact is it gets even better. As the bloodied buck walked away trailing the doe they headed down the finger towards my partners stand. Not more then two minutes had passed when I heard another horrendous ruckus and thought that maybe this pumped up buck was at it again. The doe led the crazed buck by my partners stand and with a grunt from his mouth Ross stopped the big 8 long enough to launched an arrow into the opposite side shoulder. The buck continued chasing the doe as if he wasn’t even hit, when he ran up the hill within tree yards of Ross’s stand to confront the next challenger. Unfortunately for him it was the second arrow through the other lung and into the other shoulder. The buck finally ran off with an arrow sticking out on each side and went about fifty yards before piling up with a crash.
The practically perfect eight point grossed 138 inches and dressed out at over 200 pounds. The 10 point which also dressed over 200 pounds had a 21” inside spread and grossed 160 5/8’s. These two bucks are “personal best” for both my partner and myself. We’ve both asked ourselves many times since that day how ironic it was that things worked out the way they did. After all what if I would have got a shot at that big buck first thing in the morning? What if the neighbor didn’t come out to cut wood and force me to relocate? What if the giant 10 point would have taken the same trail as the doe and allowed me a shot? What if I would have elected to shoot the big 8? I have been hunting the woods for close to 30 years now and have witnessed many incredible moments but this is one memory that I was able to share with a good buddy and one that we will never forget.

(Story told by Jeff Kempf & Ross Smith, best friends and hunting partners for 20 years.
Edited by Jeff Nyland.)