Let the Big Buck Stories RollNothing beats the crackle of a fire after a long day in the field, good company, and stories that get a little bigger every time they're told. The hunt is about remembering why we head out in the first place and carrying that fire forward. Here's to your hunt, your story, and the tradition that keeps the heritage alive.There's a buck coming and it's not a spike! Nick Courneya's buck of a lifetime.A father and daughter sit in tall, dry grass next to a harvested whitetail buck.One early August day I pulled my trail cam cards for the second time that summer, hoping to see something respectable. Typically, my cameras are set up at Trophy Rock mineral sites all the way through September.      While scrolling I came across a photo that made me stop and study what I was seeing. I asked my wife to look at it to verify my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me.     What shocked me is I was looking at a deer I’d never seen before––and larger than any I’d come across on my farm! All I wanted was the stars to align so I could have a chance to hunt this high-caliber whitetail during the peak of the rut.   On November 7th, my daughter Katie and I went hunting with my older brother.  We hoped to turn up a doe so Katie could get a shot. Since she’s still learning, I usually give her commands when using the gun, so I was surprised when she quickly reached for it.   “What are you doing?” I whispered.   “Dad there’s a buck coming—and it’s not a spike!”    I assumed she was seeing a two-year-old or maybe the nine-point I passed a week before. Instead, down the hill I caught antlers moving the brush and instantly knew it was Big 14.  Katie was right!    I coached her to wait until the buck passed through the shooting lane on the bottom side, close to the lake. It passed quickly and Katie had no shot.    I couldn’t see the buck anymore and began to panic thinking I wouldn’t see him again. Then I caught a glimpse of him passing through the brush.    I looked ahead and determined I might have one shot between a group of ironwoods. Moving to that spot, I watched him approach. My hunch was correct—I had time to touch off one shot as he passed through.    The buck spun around and ran back the way he came.  I ejected and fired one more shot, but I think I would have been more accurate shooting from my hip given the terrain he was running through.      I lost sight of Big 14 about 90 yards through the brush—but a minute later, both Katie and I thought we heard some brush break. After a little laughter and settling down, I told Katie she was right—that buck was not a spike!   To my excitement, I found blood, and it was good blood. My brother and daughter followed the blood trail, and I eased along the lakeshore scanning the hillside and marsh below.  As I neared where Katie and I heard the brush break, I saw antlers sticking out of the marsh grass.    There laid the buck of a lifetime!   The Minnesota deer season of 2021 was a year to remember. But maybe the best part will be trying to match it again with more stories made during the process.    Thank you to Redmond and their products, especially Trophy Rock. It started the journey of harvesting this buck of a lifetime. Why We HuntNothing gives a hunt more heart than reflecting on the good old days. What favorite traditions and feelings hit home? We asked our Redmond partners what they love most. Here's what they had to say.GIF_v1025_R1Hunt Harder, Haul FartherWhether you're hunting from a blind or packing out your kill, fuel your hunt with Re-Lyte Hydration. It's powered by Redmond Real Salt with additional electrolytes and no junk to help you stay focused and hunt longer.Hydrate NowHunt - October Tribe Newsletter_v1025_12Hunt - October Tribe Newsletter_v1025-13

 

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