By Andy Traister, Clarion County
On Thursday, October 11, 2007, I had my typical day of work.  I had to leave an hour early to go see some friends of the family.  Well I completed my visit and got to my house and I happened to look out the window and see my dad coming out of the woods.  He was so excited, he just saw a really nice buck, and he needed to get his grunt call. He said the deer were moving.  Well this made me hurry up, get a shower and take a few practice shots with my bow.

My friend Mike Switzer was meeting me at 2:30pm to head to my favorite spot in Limestone, Pennsylvania.  Mike arrived and we made the twenty minute drive to my go to spot.  I told Mike about all the nice bucks in the area, and I since I enjoy having someone to hunt with, and genuinely want to see them shot a nice buck.  Last year he went with me and harvested a very nice buck.

I took him to the top of the hill where I have been seeing some nice bucks.  Upon arriving we were very happy to see a bunch of fresh scrapes all around the stand.  He asked, “Are you sure you want me to hunt here?”  I replied “shoot a big one!”

He hunted the top and I hunted the bottom as both places are loaded with apples.  No sooner did I get in the stand when a doe came strolling by.  I called Mike and told him I saw a doe 5 minutes after I got in.  He then said HUGE BUCK, HUGE BUCK, and hung up the phone.  A couple of minutes later he called me back and said just kidding.  I thought a nice one was coming in.  I looked to my right and there was 3 button bucks walking right towards my stand.  They walked under my stand and into the thicket.   Five minutes later (approx. 4:25pm) this buck came walking in.  He made a couple of scrapes and ate a few apples. Then he stopped and started stomping his foot like he winded me.  Since the wind was a little swirly, I got a little nervous.

What seemed like an hour he started to walk towards me grunting on the trail of the doe.  For some reason, he turned and started heading into the thicket.  I had one opportunity.  At 28 yards I mouth grunted and he stopped perfectly broadside.  I knew I put a perfect shot on him.  I called Mike on the phone and told him.  He thought I was joking since he pulled the joke on me.  Well I went to the truck to get my deer cart and switch into some lighter clothes.  I started tracking. I found the buck on the ground about 75 yards away.  It was actually a little bigger than I thought.  Although it wasn’t the big, big buck I was after.  I was more than happy to hold this nice buck in my hands.  Mike couldn’t take it anymore.  He came down to see it and he helped me drag it out.  He said, “I guess you weren’t joking”.    It was an 18 – 19 inch 8 point.