Huge Buck Bagged by Persistent Ohio Hunter After 24 Months of Pursuit

Avery Stump proudly displays his impressive 19-point buck in an image provided by Avery Stump. After dedicated efforts spanning almost two years, Avery Stump finally achieved success on November 11 by successfully bagging a magnificent buck in the 200-class category, located in the north-central region of Ohio. The ambitious 19-year-old hunter reminisces to Outdoor Life about his initial encounter with the remarkable buck during a deer drive on his family’s privately owned land in Wyandot County during the autumn season of 2021.

Stump reveals that an incredibly massive buck suddenly emerged and swiftly vanished into concealment, surpassing all their expectations. Determined to apprehend the elusive creature, Stump made a conscious decision to keep their family away from the sighting spot, focusing instead on studying the buck’s behaviors and routines.

Immediately, without any delay, he began his task of strategically positioning cellular trail cameras throughout the designated zone during that same week. Stump identified a patch of low-lying land adorned with towering blades of grass, impenetrable vegetation, and thorny bushes, which he deduced served as the buck’s preferred resting ground. After securely installing his cameras, he refrained from visiting the area throughout the entirety of the previous autumn season.

Heeding caution, I refrained from recklessly intruding upon his territory; instead, I allowed him ample room to roam undisturbed, deliberately avoiding any intrusion into what I perceived as his refuge. Postponing my investigation until after the conclusion of the imminent hunting season, I meticulously explored every corner of the terrain, driven by the desire to unravel the mystery of his presence. My efforts unveiled ancient scrapes and evident trails of his distinctive marking, compelling me to strategically install additional surveillance cameras.

The buck in question was attributed an official score of 211 5/8 according to the Buckmasters scoring system, courtesy of Toby Hughes from Buckmasters of Ohio. As the spring of 2023 approached, a rumor circulated about the capture of a massive buck within the vicinity. However, the protagonist continually found himself unable to verify if this was indeed the same buck he had been diligently tracking. For months, a pervasive concern lingered; fearing that the elusive deer of his aspirations had vanished from his grasp.

As September arrived, heralding the arrival of archery season, Stump found himself ascending his tree stand at the crack of dawn on opening morning. As he climbed, the ladder emitted a resounding crack in the dim light, triggering a realization within him that his cover might have been blown.

For three whole weeks, I had absolutely no visual documentation of the deer’s presence. However, I vividly remember the moment that sent a chill down my spine – my body froze as I realized I was in close proximity to the deer’s resting spot, and the possibility of encountering the majestic buck lingered in the air. The lighting conditions were just sufficient enough for me to discern a deer-shaped silhouette standing 40 yards away. Despite my uncertainty regarding whether it was indeed the elusive big buck, it suddenly darted away, prompting me to resume my hunting endeavors from that very stand.

Believing that he had missed his chance for the season, Stump relocated his cellular cameras to an alternative family hunting property situated roughly one mile along the road. In just 48 hours, he successfully managed to capture a series of photographs featuring a distinct buck, an impressive 9-point creature. Consequently, he made up his mind to pursue his hunting endeavors in this newly discovered location on the memorable day of November 10th.

That afternoon, Stump found himself perched in a camouflaged shelter, strategically luring a buck within shooting distance through a series of rattling and grunting sounds. Time gradually passed, and soon enough, he caught sight of a majestic deer emerging from the wilderness, closely tailing a female deer. With anticipation building, he prepared himself to gaze upon the anticipated sight of a magnificent 9-point buck. However, to his surprise, his eyes locked onto the enormous buck that had been skillfully observed and documented by Stump since the year 2021.

Stump reveals, With his head lowered, he cautiously followed the doe’s trail. However, the shot opportunity presented itself at an unfavorable angle, compelling me to decline.

With his self-assurance rejuvenated, Stump returned to the exact location accompanied by his comrade Alex Lachner in the subsequent afternoon. Stealthily infiltrating the area and ascending a tree, the duo positioned themselves in their suspended tree seats by 3 p.m. Lachner positioned himself above Stump to capture the hunt on film.

Stump recalls the moment we hastily prepared for our hunt and suddenly noticed a majestic buck approaching us all the way from a distant corn field, around 200 yards away. Mesmerized, we keenly observed every move he made – creating a scrape, maneuvering through dense vegetation, and eventually engaging in two distinct rubs at a closer distance of 90 yards. However, as mysteriously as he appeared, the buck vanished into thin air, leaving us perplexed and intrigued.

At the moment of truth, an impressive 9-point buck emerged, eager to engage in an intense battle with the colossal antlered deer. A hush fell upon the hunters, their ears attuned to the clash of antlers marking the fierce confrontation between the powerful whitetails.

Although our eyes failed to catch a glimpse of their presence, the resounding thumps of racks colliding and the cacophony of brush being thrashed echoed through the air, originating roughly 100 yards from our position. Not long after, the grand buck made his appearance, cautiously inching forward with evident fatigue from his recent altercation with the 9-pointer. Observing him steadily retreating, we eventually saw him recline and take a brief ten-minute slumber.

Toby Hughes from Buckmasters of Ohio provided a snapshot of the remarkable rack, featuring mainbeams measuring 27 inches and an inside spread spanning 22 1/8 inches. The captivating encounter unfolded as Stump and Lachner observed the majestic buck rise to its feet and stride confidently in their direction around 5 p.m. With each step bringing the buck closer, Stump poised himself, drawing his bow with anticipation. The release of the arrow resonated with a slight brushing sound against the arrow rest, causing the deer to momentarily freeze. However, unfazed, the buck instinctively moved closer, presenting Stump with a challenging quartering away shot from a mere 30 yards.

New Piece: Ohio Bowhunter Triumphs Over His Father, Claims Majestic 10-Point Buck

At precisely 5:15 p.m., a magnificent deer stood no chance as a fixed-blade broadhead pierced through its lungs, rendering it lifeless with a mere few steps.

Stump claims that the buck he encountered was not particularly large in size. Based on its dental condition, he estimates its age to be around 4 years old. Surprisingly, the deer possesses a colossal rack with a total of 19 points. Buckmasters scorer, Toby Hughes, utilized the BTR system to measure the buck’s antlers and officially determined its score to be 211 5/8 inches.