Opener of muzzlelaoder season was a huge success on my small 20 acre property. I have pictures of this buck for the last three years at least. He always showed up in December and that month only, thus earning him the name “Mr. December.” Well he did the same thing on December 6th at 2 AM this year. As my Dad, my Uncle and I viewed the trail cam photo I explained the history of this buck. The big thing is that I swear he used to wait for me to leave my stand and then show up 15 minutes later on camera. As I hunted that night I thought to myself that this deer may never slip up and just hoped he would once during daylight.

Well at about 5:15 he did. I heard the shot and then got the text from dad. “I think I just smoked Mr. December!” We didn’t find any blood at the shot, but he thought he saw commotion in one area and heard a crash. I searched through the brush and found him piled up within 50 yards right by the trail.

It was my dad’s 50th year of hunting and by far his largest deer. Unofficially 5+ years old, maybe more, and rough score 138″. I am so proud of my dad and this experience will be one I never forget.

Big thanks to Casi Cooper for not only helping track and photograph this buck, but for putting up with our shenanigans all weekend. It was a great muzzleloading camp!!

Cass County, Michigan