Larry Smith Buck

Erie County, NY 8-Point

As told by Larry Smith

It all started in the beginning of the 2024 summer when I drove by this posted property in Erie County. I looked up the landowner on my "Onx app" and stopped by their house to try and get permission to hunt there. The husband answered the door and I introduced myself and said I realize the property is posted but was wondering if anyone is hunting it and, if not, could I have permission. He said no right away, but we got talking and eventually his wife came out and seemed to warm up to me. They were very hesitant at first, but in the end she finally gave me permission and I knew i had some work to do.

I did a bunch of summer scouting, running cameras, put miles and miles on walking, checking food sources, and checking out surrounding neighboring properties. There was a ton of good sign, rubs, thick bedding and community scrapes. I knew I had found myself a honey hole. I got all my pre season work done, trimming lanes, stands, access and exit trails by August so I could stay out of there before opening day.

I went in October 2, 2024 in the afternoon and watched a different 8-point thrash a tree and make two scrapes. I saw two other bucks that afternoon along with four does. I knew there was a ton of different bucks there just from what was showing up on my cameras. Fast forward to October 5th, I knew it was going to be a little colder in the morning than recent days so I got out and was setup by 6:45 am wairing for some action.

Around 8:15 I spotted two coyotes trotting through the woods, they were going to cross right in front of me. I stood up, drew back and stopped him at 25 yards. I let my arrow fly, hitting him a little high. He started crawling away as his comrad ran off. I don’t like seeing that anymore than anyone else, so I got down and went up to him and knocked another arrow. He was growling at me and howling like a dog, it was crazy. I shot him again and put him to rest.

I climbed back up in the stand, and about an hour later his friend came back to the same spot looking for him. I stood up and drew back when I saw him trotting in. I "merped" him to stop him and he looked right at me and took off and I wasn’t able to get a shot. I was thinkng "No wonder I haven’t seen any deer, there are coyotes around." I was wrong. Two nice bucks came through that I passed on, and I saw three does, but they were a ways away.

Now it is about 9:15 am when I spotted an 8-point at 50 yards coming directly at me. He stopped and started browsing and looking around everytime a squirrel sounded off. About 15 minutes had passed and he made it to 40 yards still coming directly at me. I grabbed my bow, scooted up in my seat and was ready to draw back as soon as he turned broadside to give me a shot.

All of a sudden I heard sticks breaking behind me and it was obvious that it was another deer coming. At this point I’m in the most uncomfortable position possible. My bow on my knee, half my butt off my seat and my knee bent. The buck that came up from behind me stopped exactly parallel to me at about 7 yards. The two bucks had an ultimate stare down for what felt like 20 minutes, but it was about 10. I couldn't move. My leg fell asleep, my lower back was in so much pain and I was shaking uncontrollably. I just kept telling myself not to move or you’re going to blow your chance and they’re going to spook.

Eventually after 10 minutes the buck next to me just turned around went back from where he came and I finally was able to move and turn my head when the 8-point in front of me went back to browsing. I got back into position as the 8-point gor to 30 yards. He finally turned. I stood up and drew back all in one motion. As soon as I got my pin behind his shoulder I stopped him and let the arrow fly. Next was the greatest sound in bowhunting, "THWACK"!

He took off like a rocket, just running stuff over. I knew I'd hit him good, watching the arrow disappear right through him. I waited about an hour and got down to start tracking. I found only half my arrow 15 yards from where I shot him. There wasn’t a ton of blood, but there were bubbles in a bunch of spots so i knew it was a good hit. I was a little worried about the lack of blood, but after tracking nice and slow for about 15 minutes I found him near where I last saw him from the stand before he disappeared behind a bunch of thick stuff. Double lunged him and that’s the story of my biggest bow buck to date.