Rack Report: Christian Bond's Second Chance At Dozer

Buck: 198 3/8"
Hunter: Christian Bond
Location: Southeast Kansas
Time of Year: Nov. 17, 2011
Weapon: Bow

Kansas is on the maps of most serious whitetail enthusiasts because this big buck factory continues to churn out top-heavy bucks.  Knowing this, Oklahomans Christian Bond and Nathan Brown jumped at the chance to lease some land in southeast Kansas. 

In 2009, after arriving at their new hunting spot, Bond and Brown went in to inspect their new ground.  Bond took his bow, and minutes later the duo spotted a monster buck chasing does 150 yards away.  Bond made a stalk and arrowed the brute at 45 yards.  The buck had 26 points and scored 186 inches!

Bond hunted the Sunflower State in 2010 and arrowed a 5-year-old, 145-inch buck. But a giant buck that was nicknamed "Dozer" had shown up on his game camera and was the cause for much excitement.  The giant buck had points everywhere, including a drop tine, and his body size indicated he was at least five years old.  Bond, Brown, and their hunting buddy, Brandon Risley, pursued Dozer the entire season but never laid eyes on the big buck.

Fearing Dozer had been taken by another hunter – or didn’t make it through the harsh 2010/2011 winter – Bond was elated on his first visit to his hunting lease.  One of the game cameras had plenty of photos of Dozer – alive and well, and massive!

Last season on Sept. 19, Brown drew the short straw and headed to a treestand where Dozer was known to frequent.  That evening, Dozer appeared 15 yards away and Brown placed an arrow in the buck’s shoulder but got very little penetration.  With darkness minutes away, the decision was made to look for Dozer the next morning.
The next day, the trio scoured the woods for Dozer but found very little blood.  Brown was devastated and hoped the buck would survive its wound and not be eaten by coyotes.

On Oct. 21, a photo of Dozer appeared on the game camera giving no appearance of being injured and the hunt was on! Bond hunted the big buck for the next two weeks but never laid eyes on Dozer.

"I figured it would be rare for him to give any hunter a second chance," Bond surmised.  "However, I thought maybe with the rut going on, he might get careless."

On Nov. 17, Bond drove to Kansas and arrived at his stand location four hours before daylight.  In an effort to attract Dozer, Bond sprinkled C’Mere Deer and Bone-D-Monium on the ground 20 yards from his stand.  He climbed into his stand which was set at a pinch point between a small oak grove and a bedding area.

As light dawned, a doe appeared and came in to the attractant.  Soon movement indicated another deer was coming, and then Dozer appeared!  After working a scrape 30 yards away, the gnarly buck walked towards the doe and now stood 15 yards from Bond’s tree.

Bond slowly drew his bow but the doe caught movement and jumped over a fallen tree.  The buck turned to bolt but Bond released a perfect arrow striking Dozer in the vitals. 
Dozer made it about 150 yards away before coming to rest near a creek.  The 17-point brute had a wide rack with incredible mass that would later score 198 3/8 inches.