In autumn 2016, Illinois had been experiencing above-average high temperatures for the last few months. The most recent information I obtained from trail cameras, showed a lot of morning movement when the temperatures were cooler.
On Nov. 6, I knew it was that time; I just had that feeling as temperatures were projected to be much cooler that morning. I called my buddy, Aaron Cully, and said we have to go after Big City. The legacy of this deer began after Aaron and I were hunting on his farm in 2014. We were chasing two mature bucks that would score in the mid 150s, maybe 160s.
Using the information from trail cameras located throughout the farm, we located and had been avoiding the area Big City was habituating. Since opening day of bow season I had been tirelessly hunting every chance I got at my other farms in Illinois to avoid pressuring Big City. I was exhausted when the alarm when off the morning of Nov. 6. We were running a little behind and got in the stand just in time before that chilly morning’s first light.
As the sun was breaking the horizon,…
