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2009 Cowinner: The Kyle Simmons Buck
By Mike Handley
Because he rarely asks for time off from his job, inclement weather usually dictates when Kyle Simmons can go hunting. The demand for firewood near Spragueville, Iowa, keeps him busy for 60 or more hours a week.
But last October, the 24-year-old saw the stars aligning and asked his boss for an uncharacteristically long weekend.
Rain had ushered i... READ MORE
2009 Cowinner: The Bob Decker Buck
By Bob Decker
My 2008 hunting season started as soon as Wisconsin’s ’07 season ended. My hunting partner, Paul Olson, and I made numerous trips from Eau Claire to our hunting lease in Buffalo County in January and February to check trail cameras and fine-tune stand locations.
Trail cameras revealed that several good bucks had survived the hunting se... READ MORE
2008: The Ben Knisley Buck
By Keith Snider
For Ben Knisley, a "good" deer season is defined by how much time he’s able to spend in the woods with family and friends. Filling a tag always comes second to the young Minnesotan, and he’s not picky when opportunity knocks.
The 2006 season was good on both counts. Not only did Ben shoot a buck (a serious understatement), but he also ... READ MORE
2007 Cowinner: The Johnny King Buck
By Mike Handley
The two men approached the downed buck cautiously, from different sides. Johnny King’s bullets had dropped the enormous whitetail, but Brad Heisz, who’d answered his cousin’s desperate call for help, had obligingly administered the coup de grace.
Brad reached it first, while Johnny was circling around in front. He knelt, grasped ... READ MORE
2007 Cowinner: The Deb Luzinski Buck
By Deb Luzinski
On Friday, Oct. 27, 2006, my husband and I were the coordinators of a "permit-only" archery deer removal at a 1,000-acre regional park in a northern suburb of the Twin Cities Metro area. We had 15 other hunters in the woods, all in stands they’d selected.
I set up my stand around noon that day, getting in and out of the woods as quickly and ... READ MORE
2006: The Ed Huff Buck
By Mike Handley
Perhaps it’s a good thing that Ed Huff’s second arrow was never found. Somehow damaged, it might’ve been the reason the 55-year-old contractor from Lake Wales, Fla., didn’t hit the 4-inch bull’s-eye.
Or it might’ve been the pressure of shooting in front of an audience, to which few bowhunters are accustomed. Nev... READ MORE