By MATT STARR ("Matt 2")

BUCK SIGN HUNT CLUB

It was early November getting close to gun season. The “Two Matts” were heading out to the back woods to muster some luck on what has been a hard season. I (Matt 2) had my sights set on filming Matt 1. Because the time in the season was getting late and because we had seen a scarcity of bucks worth harvesting this year, I suggested to Matt 1 that I film him instead of he filming me to have footage for our web shows. Matt 1 had been insistent on my getting my first deer with a bow, but because of our having struck out this year thus far, I suggested that he should be the first one to harvest a buck on film and let me take control of the camera.

Keep in mind that I have been hunting for two years now compared to Matt 1’s almost three decades of hunting experience. Needless to say, his marksmanship and confidence with the bow far surpass mine. After three weeks of not seeing a mature buck that would be in range when we were in our stands, I stressed that we both focus on our strengths to get some footage for our show. He took his bow, and I took the camera. This had been our agreement for the past week or so to no avail despite our strategy. On each occasion, Matt asked me to bring along my bow in case he was able to shoot a deer early in the hunt. If that were to happen (and of course after proper tagging), he would film me. I agreed.

This Friday had been a challenging day at work for both of us. We both got out later from work than we had liked. It was imperative that we get to our spot stealthily as it was about a ten-minute hike to our stands on the back corner of the property. We met at 3:30, secured all of our gear, and headed out to the “coyote stands” as we call them (by virtue of the fact that many coyotes are around there).

Our spot was along a ridge about 30 yards in a woods north of a corner tree line adjacent to a corn field that had been harvested. Matt 1 saw deer coming out of an island of woods in the cornfield about 250 yards to the southeast of our spot on previous occasions. We knew that some of those bucks were making their way in the afternoon toward our stands and getting a quick hit of our Ground-n-Pound Fall Transition mineral lick (I know it’s a shameless self-promoting plug, but it is true – we have the trail camera photos to prove it).

As we were getting everything set up, it was an absolute miracle that I didn’t scare off every living mammal within earshot as my scatter-brained distractions from the day had me so distraught that I must have dropped half of the contents in my back pack on the ground from my stand. I was not having a good day. Matt 1 laughed forcing me to lighten up and we both settled in.

I filmed Matt 1 as he delivered the intro just like we always had. As usual, he nailed it in one take. Not two minutes later, we saw deer to the south in the cornfield – two bucks. Both of them were too young to shoot, but it was a good sign; we needed to see deer since they were so allusive this year. A few does made their way from the island woods crossing catty-corner just behind the two bucks offering a little tease. One buck intently followed the does while the second remained disinterested in anything other than foraging for food in the opposite direction.

Then, he emerged from the tree line on the west side of the cornfield. His rack immediately captured Matt 1’s attention. “Shooter!” he said in a stage whisper.

“Where?” I asked.

“Right there coming our way!” he said. I began framing the shot when he continued, “Get your bow. You’re going to shoot this deer!”

“What?!” I said.

“Get your bow. You are going to shoot this one,” he insisted.

Still holding the camera which was attached to my suspended bungee cord, Matt 1 told me to give him the camera. I tried to hand it to him forgetting that I needed to unlock it from the support. Quickly getting my bearings through what appeared to be a comedy of errors; I finally gave him the camera and loaded my crossbow engaging the safety.

The passing moments were all surreal to me. This beautiful 140-inch 10 point buck was headed right toward us. Unsure of my sights, I kept asking how far away he was and how far away different landmarks were in order for me to use the appropriate sight-level in the scope for my shot. “Is that 20 or 30 yards?” I asked. I know I must have asked that question probably five or six times before I finally heard Matt 1 say, “it’s 20!”

Just as in a movie, we could have not scripted the deer’s action and blocking any better. He cut the corner of the cornfield and wiggled his way through some fallen branches and brush as he entered the woods. I disengaged the safety and waited for him to present himself broadside in an opening (yes – 20 YARDS from me) when I tried to stop the deer from his path. “BAP,” I blurted out. The deer stopped, looked, and I shot delivering a fatal blow slightly behind the ideal kill zone but penetrating the lung on his opposite side no less. He kicked high and tried to run off leaving a plentiful blood trail behind crashing about 80 yards from us.

I couldn’t believe it. I had harvested my first deer with a bow. It was extremely exciting. I don’t know who had more fun between Matt and me. As I found out later, he had planned from the beginning that I would shoot the next mature buck that came along. He had told only his wife about it and no one else on our pro staff. It was Buck Sign Hunt Club’s first buck kill of the season, and we managed to capture it on film. I was shocked, humbled, and proud, but most of all honored that I got to share the experience with my friend.

We laugh about that hunt when we talk of it for any number of reasons – one of which is at the moment of stopping the deer, my “BAP” apparently sounded a tad louder than ideal. The deer should have just jumped out of his skin or died from shock instead of stopping in his tracks we joke.

Shortly, I field-dressed the deer while Matt went to retrieve the deer cart from his truck. My inexperience continued to show because it took me all of the 15 minutes to field dress the animal. By that time, he had returned and we loaded the prize to the cart and headed back to the vehicles at a double-time clip. I know I made him late for a rare date with his wife, yet he stayed until the end when I strapped the deer to the carrying unit on the back of my Jeep and headed to the deer check station. I think I must have text-messaged him at least twice that evening to make sure that he offered my apologies to his wife for making him late.

While this story was a great one for me, I felt there were many more lessons and analogies we can appreciate in addition to the outcome. It was a most memorable experience for me shooting this mature buck, and I continue to learn more about the artistry and responsibility of hunting in today’s world. It is an activity that gives me a zest for living and inner peace. As most hunters will acknowledge, it’s not just about killing an animal. There is a connection with the world that is an overwhelming feeling for me whenever I hunt.

Being a “Master Hunter” isn’t something that one can say about himself or herself. It can only be bestowed upon an individual from other people when referring to the truly successful hunter. Matt has the trophy wall to prove his skill, but his generosity, mentorship, and his thoughtfulness to many others in and out of the sport of hunting epitomizes what I believe to be a Master Hunter.

I will long-remember this hunt. – Matt “2”

copyright 2011