2008 Hunts are brought to you by: Click on a logo to visit the sponsor's website                                                 2008 A QDM Buck Called Stumpy   By Keith Beasley   This buck is a direct result of our Quality Deer Management philosophy of letting the bucks in your deer herd grow to reach maturity before harvesting them. Keith Paul and Kevin all passed this buck in previous seasons, including Keith rattling him to within 5 yards from his tree in 2007. Then in 2008, the buck stepped out of a funnel to enter a 'Facts from the Field' food plot and Keith dropped him at 94 yards with his muzzleloader.         Not having the luxury of owning our own hunting property, Paul, Kevin, Dad and I are extremely grateful for the land owners who give us the opportunity to pursue our hunting passion on their land. With limited properties, it is paramount that we manage them intelligently and properly. This is where our "land manager" philosophies began to evolve and we became so intrigued by the Quality Deer Management approach to our sport. You have read many similar stories we have written over the years about us changing our style of hunting and learning tricks and techniques that year after year enable us to harvest big mature bucks on very small pieces of land; this year was much the same. Our tried and tested methods of hunting the wind, using very little pressure with proper stand locations, and creating a sanctuary that we never enter so neighbouring deer will feel safe, continued to benefit us again this season. With the addition of our amazing Facts from the Field food plot and trail camera study, which took place over 4 seasons on the farms we hunt, our hunting has never been better. Even with programs and tactics, our number one key to successfully harvesting big mature Ontario whitetails year after year has been our sound management practices. Our neighbours must love us as year after year we pass on any buck 3 ½ years old or younger. This means that until they reach maturity at 4 ½ years old we let them pass. We lose some of them to neighbouring properties in hopes that one day the neighbours will participate in our program but until then, this system works as we continue to see older age classes of bucks frequenting our farms. Many of these older age class bucks are ones we have been passing since they were 1 ½ years old.     With the deer numbers being lower than in previous years, we were aware that our management strategy that was planned would need to be altered long before the season started. We would not have had this level of knowledge without the aid of the food source and trail camera inventory. As a result, we knew which does called each piece of land their home and which ones came through periodically. Even better we knew which bucks were in the area and which age structures were available. Armed with accurate information we were able to carefully choose which deer would be targeted.     When October 1st, 2008 finally arrived it was met with incredible anticipation by all of us. Knowing where deer were crossing neighbouring fences, roads and funnels we were able to establish new stand locations and clear shooting lanes in many new spots.     Having seen the deer use the plots heavily in the summer and early fall we could not wait to see what the response was after the local crops had been harvested. As expected, our deer sightings increased when late October and early November arrived. Not only was the pre-rut coming into full swing but the food plots were congregating our local does to nearby bedding areas. This in turn allowed us to see more buck movement than in years previous, as they honed in on our resident does. Knowing that we share many of our bucks with neighbouring properties, this created a constant sanctuary for them to return to. Our does did not need to search elsewhere for food sources and the bucks continued to check in on them until the rut finally happened.     Our hunting strategy focused on not scaring our does off the food plots, so we often hunted the perimeter of the property. This required us to focus on deer movements before and after feeding and of course travel corridors. This technique worked very well for us as we saw bucks of some age class almost every time we hunted. Passing on dozens of 1 ½ year old bucks, it was a treat to watch and also encounter 2 ½ and 3 ½ year old bucks at the same time.     Notice the difference that one year can make as bucks add antler growth from one season to the next. It is believed that most bucks reach full potential at 6 1/2 years old. This buck, nicknamed "Stumpy" due to the 1" brow tines he grew in 2007, had a 120" rack that year. In 2008 the buck had 3" brow tines and scored 140 2/8 B&C gross rack and 135 3/8" net.         Then the magic of the rut kicked in and the crowning moments of our 2008 Facts from the Field Program were witnessed. Mature bucks started to magically appear during daylight hours, as they wanted to visit the does that were feeding heavily on our plots. Kevin and Paul both had multiple shot opportunities at two different mature bucks as they approached the plots in search of does. Each time they waited, not being able to confirm which deer it was until after the shot opportunity had passed. Our patience paid off and on November 13, 2008, shortly after 5pm as deer fed in a Chicory Plus plot, Stumpy, a high tined 9 point that we have been waiting to mature for a number of years made the fatal error of leaving the cover of a low brushed funnel to see the deer feeding in the plot. When the buck stepped out into the golden rod field and began to trot towards the plot, I grunted at the majestic animal and he paused at 94 yards. With more than enough time to take aim, my muzzleloader fired. Stumpy whirled and ran the way he had come. I waited for darkness to settle in before exiting the stand.     I went home and as I walked through the door everyone knew of my success just from looking at the smile on my face. I returned with the boys and after a 100 yard blood trail, Stumpy was expired in a thick swamp.     This was one of the most rewarding hunts I have ever experienced, as Paul, Kevin and I have all passed on this animal for years. Having him finally walk out during the rut to a food plot that we toiled over so many months earlier and recognizing him instantly from the many previous photos combined for a hunt that I will truly never forget.         Return to 2008 Hunts Page