I’M BACK! It’s been a long time! Many of you already know why… 
When Nov. comes rolling around I have a tendancy to spend more time in a tree than a squirrel! 
I actually hunted 22 days in Nov. alone between MN and WI. 
Bow and string, rifle, muzzleloader then back to bow and string.
It was a great year and I saw my share of bucks. I actually passed on 22 bucks this year which is a new record for me. I finally got lucky and harvested this 9 pointer during the MN firearm season on opening day. Caught him in a staging area between a thick bedding area and a food source about 200 yards away right before sunset. He’s 18 inches inside, dressed out at 197 lbs. and green scored 140 inches. This is my 3rd largest buck to date! He was harveseted in northern Morrison County.
This year I did not pull my bow back nor did I pull my trigger on my rifle or my muzzleloader on my Buffalo County lease. I got a couple of real nice shooters on camera and promised myself that I would not kill anything smaller than those two bucks.
I never had an encounter with either buck. However, my friend Kraig from Luddington, MI did!!! I met Kraig last year on the internet when I placed an ad stating that I was looking for a couple of other bowhunters to share a lease with me. Kraig answered that ad and we’ve been friends ever since. We eventually turned down that lease and we decided that we would swap a salmon fishing trip for a buffalo county bowhunting trip on my lease. So in August, Kraig and his brother-in-law (Joel) took my girlfriend and I out salmon fishing for 3 days and we ended up catching 36 kings! 
We had a blast!
Since we had such a great time fishing, I wanted to return the favor and get Kraig and Joel on some quality bucks. They decided to come out the first week of November. Kraig was sitting on one of my stands early in the morning and had an encounter with a huge buck. He had him at 25 yards but could not get a clean shot! 
He guessed him 20 inches wide and in the mid 150’s!!! Needless to say he could not stop talking about him and wondered if he would ever have another encounter like that again!
Well…. he did…. 
The very next morning on the same stand about the same time, he caught movement from behind him exactly where the buck came the day before. He did not get a good look but was pretty sure it was him again. However, this time the buck did not not take the same route and headed the opposite direction. Kraig once again was feeling that luck would never be on his side. 
About 1/2 hour later, he heard a deer coming from the same direction the buck headed. However, this deer was headed towards him and it was just a matter of time. He finally became visible and it was a buck! But not the big boy. 
This buck was a decent 9 pointer about 17 inches wide but nothing compared to the big boy. Kraig decided to pass on him and did not pull back his bow. That was a good decision because as soon as he did he saw another buck about 50 yards behind the 9 pointer. The second buck closed the distance quickly and Kraig finally got a good look and this time IT WAS HIM!!! 
The big buck took the same route as the 9 pointer and stopped broadside at 10 yards! Kraig let one fly and it found its mark! The buck ran 70 yards and piled up!
It ended up being a 10 pointer (4 on the right and 6 on the left) 196.5 lbs dressed, 20 1/4 inches inside spread and grossed 163 5/8! And Kraig guessed in the mid 150’s!
Congratulations Kraig! Looks like I’m in good shape to go salmon fishing for life!!!
Kraig’s brother-in-law (Joel) also made the trip and killed a decent 8 pointer that very same night – 17 inches inside spread.
All in all it was a great year to be in the woods and the best thing about it, I know there are 2 shooters still running around for next year!
Now it’s time to get some ice under my feet! I have not been out yet but will be next week for 3 days fishing the Bemidji area. Hopefully we will get some fresh snow too so I can go coyote hunting! 
It never ends does it…
