Form North CarolinaFellow Hunters, I have been a member of Mid-America Hunting Association for the last three hunting seasons. I must say I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I mostly hunt Whitetail Deer and have seen my share of trophy deer since hunting with the Association. However, that trophy still eludes me. For example, last season my hunting partner, Robert, and myself were hunting in Kansas. One afternoon after dark, I was waiting to be picked up by Robert when a truck passed by me as I was waiting. As soon as he went by, I saw his brake light come on. The truck stopped, and out onto the road stepped the biggest buck I have ever seen. He cam out of the same block that I had just hunted. He was enormous!!! I estimated close to 200 B/C. Heavy horned, wide and exceptionally long tines. What more could you ask for? I didn't get a chance last year and luckily we were drawn for the same unit this year. The first day, we saw a lot of nice bucks 18 to 22 inches wide. That night at the local hotel, I got a shock. Some more hunters told me of a deer that had been found dead, apparently arrowed by a bow hunter. They showed me a picture and pictures don't lie, it was the Monster I had seen. Green score was 191+ with 18 points and 27 inches wide. But, he isn't the only one, Robert killed a 16 point our first year out that scored 180 B/C. This year he killed a 13 point, 21 inch + wide and green scored 153 B/C. Another friend, David killed an 11 point 21+ inch wide and scored 150 B/C. Then Larry G. killed a 13 point, 18 inch wide with heavy palmated horns. Me, I blew my shot on a nice one and saw plenty more big bucks. Even though I haven't taken any deer, you can see why I go back again and well again next season. Good luck to you all. Outdoorsman and friend, Joseph F. Rich, II
Joe Rich is as nice of a hunter as anyone could hope to meet up with. He is easy to get along with, is generous to others and simply a good hunter. He has helped several others gain the same enjoyment he has from mid-west hunting. He has referred, either first hand or from others that he has sponsored into the Association, a grand total of 9 other members. Joe was the first person in his hunting circle of friends to take the leadership role and join the Association. From this circle of 9 hunters, 7 trophy class bucks have been harvested since he and Robert joined 3 years ago. The other 7 joined during subsequent years. This is a high performance rate for any one group of deer hunters. In this case it does appear that all these hunters required was an opportunity to hunt their own style they have found to be effective. |
