Well, I finally scored! If you would have told me back in the summer when I was spending hours and hours practicing with my bow that I would not release a SINGLE arrow at an animal until just a few days ago, I would have laughed out loud! I mean, there’s no way that I can hunt Wyoming, Montana, Alberta and Iowa without shooting at anything! Right? Wrong!

What a tough year! But don’t get me wrong, I have been blessed in so many ways this fall outside of filling tags, which sometimes becomes too important. I have made many new friends, spent time with my boys out in the field, laughed and broken bread with lifelong friends that I haven’t seen in several months, but the biggest gift I have received is knowing that I am truly BLESSED by God to have a wonderful job! And, my taxidermy bill will be significantly lower this year! Ha!

I could not have taken my first (hopefully not my only) buck this year at a more special place with truly special people — The Begert Ranch. Hiram and Darenda Begert have become like family to my family over the years. Their son Brett, his wife Hayley and their beautiful children, McKenley and Boone, also have a special place in my heart.

After chasing Rio Grande turkeys on their ranch, this was the first time I had deer hunted with the Begerts. It was awesome!

I shot this buck at 15 yards from a ground blind. Dan Johnson was running camera and sitting in a Lone Wolf only 5 feet off the ground, getting the entire hunt on video. I know it was a very weird setup, but it was the only way to get it done. Very unusual deal.

Of course, I was hunting with my BowTech Guardian set at 67 pounds, an Easton Super Slim arrow tipped with the G5 Striker broadhead. The buck only ran 70 before piling up! He rough scored right at 145”.

Now let’s just hope this starts the ball rolling!

I am Blessed!

Well, heading off to Wyoming today. Going to take my family with me, after all, I can't spend Thanksgiving without them. I just wanted to take a minute to write a short blog before leaving.

I love this time of year for so many reasons. From college football to spending time with people in camp that I love being around, it's just an awesome time of year. Take some time over the next few days, be it in a tree stand or your recliner, and just think about what all we do have to be thankful for.

Have a great Thanksgiving. More blogs coming next week.

One of my dearest friends in the whole world, Al Kraus of Rapid City, South Dakota, just shot a monster buck. Al is the owner of Black Hills Archery where he is regarded as “the expert” in the SD, WY, NE corner of the world. Al knows archery equipment as well as anyone. He and T-Bone are the best I’ve ever had the privilege to work with when it comes to setting up bows.

Al killed this monster while we were hunting together in Iowa on October, 30. The buck grosses green at 203” and has only 3” abnormal points making it basically a 200” gross typical whitetail. Unreal!

It is the largest buck every killed with a Realtree camera.

And not only is the deer mind boggling but video is incredible! What a hunt for Monster Bucks XVI!