When it comes to shooting bragging-sized bucks, John Koleszarik isn’t accustomed to things going right. Even if the hunter from Central City, Pennsylvania, isn’t too discombobulated when opportunity knocks, he’s apt to witness Murphy’s Law in action.
While hunting public land in Somerset County last season, however, he snuck one past Mr. Murphy.
On Nov. 12, after finishing work early, John headed to the tract he’s hunted for more than four decades. He and his buddies, including son Kaden, always step up their efforts during the rut there.
“As soon as I settled in around 3:00, I immediately noticed the wind hitting the back of my neck,” he said. “I was horrified and swore at myself, How could you be that dumb?”
Rather than lose stand time AND risk spooking deer, he opted to stay put. Not long afterward, he seriously regretted the decision.
Just as he’d feared – perhaps not enough – a mature doe wandered into his scent stream at a mere 35 yards, got as noseful, and did a 180, disappearing into the nearby mountain laurel.
Deer No. 2 did the same thing, only with more pedal to the metal.
“Soon after the doe left, I saw a beautiful 8-pointer approaching from 50 yards. Despite getting the shivers, I was relatively calm as I prepared to take the shot. When the deer was at 30 yards, I thought, This is it. I’m going to get a crack at that buck,” he said.
The wind shifted, however, and the buck whiffed him. Its departure was far faster than its arrival.
John was crushed, of course. All he could do was lean back and curse his luck, a relaxation exercise that lasted only a few minutes.
“I’d just glanced at my phone (it was 3:35) when I heard a twig snap and turned to see a buck with a monstrous rack coming toward me, this time – thank God – from upwind.
“As soon as the whitetail was in range, it stopped suddenly and looked right at me,” he continued.
Before the deer could react further, John launched his crossbow bolt, which pierced the surprised buck’s boiler room. His evening hunt had lasted barely 40 minutes.
“Smiling, I slouched back into my stand. I knew that deer was toast. I’d just arrowed the biggest buck I had ever seen. Unbelievable!”
At 188 1/8 inches, John Koleszarik’s public-land 15-pointer is Pennsylvania’s No. 1 Typical by crossbow.
– Photos courtesy John Koleszarik
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