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This light display says it all.

I shot this buck in Montgomery County PA, 6:00 in the morning close to the job site before going to work....not much of a story.

Hey Moose experts, can this be true?!

Here's what the forwarded email said...

"By the length of his beard and the grey legs, I figure he must be over 10 years old. He looks to be well over 8 feet at the top of the shoulder hump,and with his head up the height to the top of his antler must be about 12 feet .This guy is king of the forest, no bear or pack of wolves would dare come after him when he has this rack......Considering that a dirt road can fit 1 1/2 cars across ... this fellow is HUGE ...THIS IS ONE BIG BOY!

THE PICTURE WAS TAKEN IN ELLIOT LAKE ( Elliot Lake is near Sault Ste. Marie. MI in Michigan 's Upper Peninsula )

Yes it is a regular size dirt road."

Then on Thanksgiving another friend and I took our daughters and hit the mountains. After hiking for miles, Danielle and I caught sight of a fair buck and tried to sneak up on him. We got within 400 yards, but they kept starring at us, so I took a shot. Missed!

Sunday was the final day of the season and I received permission to hunt on the prairie. I jumped in the suburban after lunch and headed out. As promised there were nine deer just waiting for me to arrive. I began my approach when out of nowhere a shot rang out and away they went. I got in the rig and took off down the road. They settled down in the field and I stopped. With nothing to hide behind and the buck I wanted standing 300 yards away, I decided to use the hood of the suburban as a rifle rest and set my sights on this 3 x 3.

We have a success and a sad story...

My son Caleb Stettler and his grandfather bagged this guy Thanksgiving Day in Walnut Cove, NC. We had been hunting all week trying to get each of the kids an opportunity. There was only one stand -- my dad's -- that was producing opportunities and it was my oldest son's turn to go with papa. The funny part is the club has deer antler restrictions and this guy did not make the cut, but was by far the biggest deer my son has had an opportunity to see let alone harvest. Calling from the box blind on his cell, my dad called me to see if it was the one saw the day before and he called the land owner. He got the green light and the rest is history. It was a nice ending to a crazy Thanksgiving. Sure glad the buck was in no hurry. I of course got in big trouble with my daughter (Katie). I would not let her shoot a younger 6 pt the day before from the same stand. I tried to make it up to her Friday after Thanksgiving. We had a doe come within 25 yards. She had some technical difficulties getting the gun shouldered -- I ASSUMED she was ready. Needless to say the deer spooked and that was that. It was cool though to see her nervous anticipation. The way I get everytime I see a deer in the woods.

As we ventured in I thought what I saw was another animal on the ground looking back. Grant immediately saw the outline of the deer and ran forward shouting “Poppa! You got him!”. When I caught up, I saw the largest 4 point I will ever likely see. He would’ve made a trophy 8 pt, but he lost his left rack and part of his ear, probably in a fight with another buck. We all commented that it would be nice to see that deer too.

The next day, Grant and I found the perfect spot for him to get a close shot. He waited patiently all day with me. At one point, I thought it wise to remind him how to set up his shot, where to aim and that he needs to prepare himself mentally to be ok IF he misses. We had spent some time at the range previously and I was pretty confident that he could hit a deer with a .410 slug at 30 yards but I felt the Lord’s prompting to add the character lesson too No sooner had I said that when a real 4 pointer walked out in the pasture right in front us, turned broadside and stared at us seemingly saying “Cheese!” for a photo. Grant had all day to set it up, took his time and slowly squeezed off his shot.

I have hunted all my life and I could not explain to my kids why I have seen but never shot the "big one". After seeing the big buck 3 years in a row, buck fever and frustrations were frequently experienced. I finally had him at an easy 33 yards, and the arrow went under him entirely. The next day I now longer owned the bow and when questioned I explained to my kids that the decision to sell it was practical, and not emotional. Six weeks later, at 125 yards, I finally was blessed with another chance. But this time it was muzzle-loader season. I always wanted a Boone and Crocket, and a drop-tine. Well, I achieved both. Gross was 193 and the best part, my wife let me hang in over the dining room table.

Went hunting with my dad this year and harvested a nice buck. The Lord gave me something even more special than the deer and that was a great opportunity to talk with my dad about what it was like when he was my age with his family -- fears, joys, and struggles with daily issues. I praised the Lord for allowing me that special time with my dad and for reminding me that I am not the first dad to go through these struggles. He also reminded me, as you do each week, that while the struggles are hard my kids will grow up fast and there will be a time when I will wish I could go back to these days. Bottom line -- enjoy the good, bad and ugly days until the Lord calls us home.

This weekend my daughter wanted to hunt, so we went to the blind and saw nothing, we still had a great time. Saturday I was Dad all day and the kids and I had a blast sighting in the new TC Triumph and of course checking traps. Mom returned from Christmas shopping and informed me of all the deer she saw running the fields as they drove down the interstate, just trying to rub it in maybe.

Sunday morning means church and Sunday school. After a great lunch with the family, I started to pack up my gear and head to a new spot I received permission on; as I pulled into the drive I could see the farmer cutting wood, no dice today on the new spot.

My wife and I have six children. Our first four are boys and the last two are twin girls. The girls are twelve years old and asked if they could try hunting. Well, the older brothers are jealous now. My daughter, Danielle, shot this buck this weekend with her twin, Lydia, and me, her dad. She used a .280 Remington at 175 yards. It is a 10-point buck, 19½ ” wide rack outside spread with a Green Score of 136 2/8, for the hunters that know what that means. It was her first buck–the first day ever hunting. She was participating in Wisconsin’s youth hunt this last weekend. I never shot a buck this big but I have guided to a few. It was a very hard shot she made; the deer was facing us with its head down. She took one shot and broke its back–exactly were I told her to aim. All her big brothers have to look up to their little sister now!