#17 James Taylor - TIE - Most Inspiring

Where did you take the buck? (City/State)
Holt MI

Buck Stats (Points/Features)

Scored 142 Gross - Net - 139

The Story: It was October 2nd in a new area, with a new bow and new blind. I hadn't seen a thing until the last 10 minutes when I heard a branch snap. It was a 10 point buck about 30 yards away, and he was headed my way. When he got to my shooting lane he was broadside, I was at full draw, I grunted, the buck stopped and looked right at me. I let the arrow go and after the pass through I heard the arrow hit the leaves. It got so dark and I couldn't find any blood, so I went home to wait for morning. When leaving the woods that night I was so excited about the possibility of hitting a buck that I accidently left my new bow on my tailgate and drove off. When I arrived home I realized what I had done. I had lost my bow. My wife and I went back to search for the bow to no avail. I was so upset that I didn't sleep at all that night. The next day I went back and found my arrow. After making three passes through the woods with no luck,I prayed this prayer:"Lord I lost my bow, Please let me find my buck." I looked to my left and all I seen was horns. Another hunter, after seeing signs I posted for my bow, returned it to me! I had my buck and my bow back! Two answered prayers with a happy ending.

# 20 Cindy Asher - Honorable Mention

Where did you take the buck? (City/State)

Traunik MI

Buck Stats (Points/Features)

4 points

The Story: Yooper bags her first buck! Living out in the country on 40 acres in Traunik MI, near Marquette is something I never thought I'd do...being raised a city girl from Holt MI. When I married my husband and moved to the U.P. it was like coming home since I was born in Escanaba.

I have come to appreciate nature and enjoy Gods creation. The woods is silent, peaceful, and beautiful with an opportunity to read. Today I was reading something a little different...the Black Friday ads and mapping my strategy for the big sales tomorrow!

I was sitting in my swamp blind right by the creek it doesn't get much prettier than that. My husband had been hunting earlier this week in that blind and noticed the 4 point. He offered today to take the ridge blind where I'd been hunting previously....so I could have the swamp blind with an opportunity to maybe.....see and shoot my first deer. The 4 point came in with a Spike and with 1 shot...I bagged my 1st buck.

#8 Bill Cortez - Honorable Mention

Where did you take the buck? (City/State)

Pinckney, MI

Buck Stats (Points/Features)

6 point/ 21 1/2" spread

The Story: I have shot the two biggest bucks of my life the last 2 of 3 years. I really feel the Lord has been talking to me through hunting. I lost my Dad to cancer on December 1st of 2008. 12 Days later I went hunting (my first time that year because of Dad being sick) and asked the Lord to send me out the biggest buck I have seen or has ever been taken on our property if my Dad was truly there with him. A few minutes later a huge buck came in and walked to within bow range (10 yards). He was by far the biggest buck ever taken on the property and the biggest buck any of us had seen there. A 10 pt with a 21 inch spread. This year on opening day I was talking to the Lord about some things and asked him to send me another one as a sign of what we were talking about and out came the biggest 6 point I have ever seen in our hunting area. I know most would just think its a coincidence but I do not and I am very blessed and thankful.

#3 Jeff Juhl - Honorable Mention

Where did you take the buck? (City/State)
St. Charles, Michigan

Buck Stats (Points/Features)
10 point 17" inside spread approximatily 160lbs dressed weight

My name is Jeff Juhl and I am 51 years old. I have been dear hunting since I was 14 years old. I am a serious hunter and have been since the first day I hunted. I have shot numerous deer over the years, but never a trophy buck. About ten years ago I started bow hunting and it has been my passion ever since. The past two years I have changed my hunting tactics and have gone hunting by boat into places where the average hunter does not get too. This year I even took it a step further. I had the opportunity, thanks to Spot Shooter Archery in Holly, Michigan, to have my bow “blessed” by Pastor Marv Gerbig of Holly Church of the Nazarene. I did not hesitate to take my bow to this event. As you can see God is good!The first week of November was the planned hunt for this year, 2010. Day one was very uneventful. The next morning was slow again so I decided to move my location. At 11 o’clock I did just that. It took approximately two hours to get moved and set back up. It all happened shortly after that. At 3 o’clock I saw my buck walking out in front of me about 60 yards. I used my grunt call to get his attention and he turned around and walked right into me. As you can see by my submission the end of the story was picture perfect.

#33 Dan Patrick

Where did you take the buck? (City/State)

Houghton, MI

Buck Stats (Points/Features)

8 point

The Story: I have always enjoyed the great outdoors. For the past two years I have held off from shooting a deer knowing that there were big ones out there. This year I decided to move my blind to a new location near where I have always hunted. The second day of the deer season my eight point came in. He came in behind me and moved to the side of the blind his head stretch just enough to be seen from one side of a tree his shoulder peeking between two other trees. I took a deep breathe and shot knowing I would shoot near the lungs. He ran right into a tree it made bark from the tree scatter into the the air he ran a little further then dropped. I had know idea how big his body was I had to take seven breaks as I dragged him out of the woods to the truck. I knew he had 8 points even once I was up on him I knew he was big but again I did not know how big until my cousin and I compared bucks he to had shot a six pointer shortly after me. Once the bucks were together I know I had gotten a big boy. This deer is 200 lbs and the biggest body buck I have gotten so far I hope you enjoy him as much as me.

#32 Jim Christie

Where did you take the buck? (City/State)

North Branch Michigan

Buck Stats (Points/Features)

13 point

The Story: Was watching this buck since last season. This year a doe pushed him toward me. The Doe ran one way, the buck was not quick enough to change direction. I shot and the buck fall and the doe laughed at him...

#32 Francesco Passerini

Where did you take the buck? (City/State)

Hillsdale, MI

Buck Stats (Points/Features)

10 point buck 145lb stripped 16inch spread.

The Story: I went hunting with my brother -inlaw Scott Calloway on the family property in Hillsdale, MI. This was my 2nd time out hunting in my life. I never hunted before. The hunt was almost over it was just before dark we were packing up to go. I went to walk out of the blind and seen 2 bucks in the field behind me so I took a shot a dropped the buck I ended up with a 10 point monster. It was amazing. That morning my wife and I prayed for our safety and for getting a buck. He gave me exactly what I asked. I feel so blessed.