Nothing intrigues me as much as being able to follow a specific buck over a long duration of time. I wish this was like a segment of midwest whitetail where the deer go from 120 to 195, but thats not the case here. This story is about named Tank. I first got picked Tank up on camera in mid November 2022. In my mind he was a fat underachieving 4.5 yr. Super thick. Mostly nocturnal. Here he is beside the cedar tree where he would get his picture taken so many times in the yrs to come
The Legacy continues….
- Thread starter redblood
- Start date
In 2023 he added a unique point but has always kept the little crab claw at the end of the mainbeam. On a cold foggy late november afternoon, i thought i ended the story of tank and he came through chasing a doe and i got an arrow in him. When i got to him i was amazed by his size but noticed his extra point was missing. Well he came back 2 nights later to the same scrape line. Yep, i shot the wrong Tank
Attachments
In 2024, i saw another incredibly mature buck who i figured was tank at last light. The next afternoon i sealed the deal, but i knew this was not Tank. Well the very next day Tank showed up on the same scrape line i had killed the fat buck the day before, but i had just located the buck of a lifetime on another farm and could not pursue him. Her is Tank the day after his fat running buddy took a tumble
Attachments
jfelts1994
Well-Known Member
Cool story, man! Years ago we had a freak running around our family farm. Not a monster but had a lot of unique rack characteristics and was 140 or a little less. Well I saw him running a doe with another buck, and got him to stop and no longer looking at his horns, shot him. I was so stoked and called my dad freaking out about how I had killed him and needed his help. Well, at the end of that blood trail we found a nice 3.5 year old decent 8. I had got them both to stop and picked the wrong buck and smoked him. Dad killed him a week later about 200 yards from where I shot my buck. Was still excited but it was definitely one of those where ya are a touch disappointed from the high of thinking ya killed the one ya meant to!
In February 2025 my wife text me m that a huge deer was dead in the road in front of my moms farm. I would have to drive through a few moments later and we drug the massive shed buck off the rd. Luckily, we saw Tank a mile away that morning in a wheat field and i knew without question it wasnt him. 3 nights ago i finally get a really nice 11 pt on cam beside Tanks cedar tree, but obviously wasnt Tank. But this evening Tank came home. Probably a 7.5 yr. Still has the trademark crab claw. I only have one tag left, but would love to get an arrow in Tank before the final gun, but if not i look forward to chasing him next yr. Pictured below is the 11 pt and ol Tank
Attachments
It happens. Tank will not break 100" . But id love to be able to send his teeth off to be aged
jfelts1994
Well-Known Member
The size definitely isn't relevant and I probably shouldn't have mentioned it but definitely am familiar with killing the wrong deer. haha I hope you smoke him and interested to hear about how old he is if you do.
Im in a tough spot. I killed s great bow deer in october and have several gully mature deer that will outscore tank by miles. But i would definitely put a tag on him if i get the opportunity.
Its odd that deer on that farm rarely score well
jfelts1994
Well-Known Member
Seems you get a lot of mature deer moving through though and that is a blessing.
Nice problem!
DoubleRidge
Well-Known Member
What a cool story! Thanks for sharing!
thirdwilliam
Well-Known Member
Nice to see tank still around. I remember these stories
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Better get him before diabetes does :)
Lol. Hes not scared of an acorn
trout
Well-Known Member
What a great story! He is built like a tank! Front end is loaded heavy and deep. I saw a few similar block shaped bucks in Iowa. I was in a butcher shop in Iowa when the owner asked if I wanted to see 300# buck hanging in the back!
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Classic case of our antler high-grading as well :)
Nearly all our genetically best antlered bucks get specifically target & killed by 3 1/2 or younger, while most those below average antlered bucks live to maturity?
Nearly all our genetically best antlered bucks get specifically target & killed by 3 1/2 or younger, while most those below average antlered bucks live to maturity?
He's appropriately named and hope you get to see him up close and punch your tag.
The thing is i have a dozen bucks that will outscore him substantially that are mature. I have another buck who i have had just as long a history with that will score in the mid 140s and a buck they i have had history with longer (different farms) that will score 130. But i havent had their pictures in a month or so. But this one is in a killable spot with stands i place for different wind. I olan to be sitting in one on friday . Thursday wind is bad
If you need help on the 140 let me know.
I need help finding them. My best 3 have been hiding for the last couple weeksIf you need help on the 140 let me know.
Tank is vulnerable right now, need to strike when the iron is hot.
I have my scale ready to weigh him, get after him.
You need to be in the tree every free minute you have. Good luck!
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
They should start combining beans on one of my farms today... it won't mess up the deer one bit.
