Hunter hunting along a marsh

Anthony Merlino

Information

  • Date Taken: 11/29/2020
  • Time Of Day: Evening
  • Method: Shotgun
  • Official Score: 138
  • County: Washtenaw County
  • Property: Private
  • Dressed Weight: Unknown

Got this buck on camera for the first time on 11/29/20 at 5:14am. Decided to hunt later that evening and hoped he would come out. At exactly 5:00pm I heard movement behind me. I turned around slowly expecting one of the small bucks I’ve seen almost every hunt but sure enough it was this big buck. I slowly raised my shotgun and saw a small opening in some brush and took the shot. I gave it about an hour and got down from my stand and unfortunately didn’t find a drop of blood. I searched for 2-3 hours for the next couple days and finally found this buck 3 days later 700 yards away from where I shot him. Unfortunately the coyotes found him first but it was still nice to get the rack. I don’t know where the buck was hit but I’m assuming a branch deflected my bullet causing a poor shot. It was very unfortunate to lose the meat on a nice buck like this but it happens.