The Legend of the Invincible Buck - Part 1

One year ago, during the start of the 2022 rut, I had two unforgettable encounters with a giant buck that would come to be known as the “Invincible Buck.” On November 3, 2022, around 9:30 in the morning, I lined up my Woodman Arms Patriot muzzleloader, aimed, and took a shot that I was sure was on target. The buck jumped, did a big donkey kick, but to my surprise, he walked away seemingly unscathed as shown in the video. Blood was scarce, doubt crept in, and the Invincible Buck lived on.

You can see this moment and the rest of my 2022 hunting season captured on the Big Woods Bucks YouTube channel as part of “The Next One” film. 

Five days later, on November 8, 2022, I had a second encounter with this legendary buck. I had changed my location, going mobile with a hanging hunt setup just 50 yards away from where I suspected this elusive buck was bedding with a hot doe. A last light, a doe, passed by me, followed closely by the Invincible Buck grunting behind her. As I got ready to take a shot, the camera obstructed my view, and I had to let down my bow, believing I would get another chance.

The second opportunity came when the buck walked into an opening at 25 yards. With the camera once again in the way, I had no choice but to push it aside gently. I let the arrow fly, and it felt like a perfect shot. Yet, the flight and impact seemed slightly off. The Invincible Buck bolted, leaving me in disbelief.

Back at my truck, I reviewed the footage and noticed the arrow’s unusual trajectory. The next day, I returned to the scene and found hair and a branch that had deflected my arrow, just grazing the buck’s chest. That’s when he truly earned the name “Invincible Buck.” Two opportunities, two near misses, and the legend of this remarkable deer continued to grow.

Exactly one year after our first encounter, I finally had my moment. Stay tuned for the rest of the story.