I came around the bend as my headlight began to reflect off of the red brake lights on the truck that was parked in my usual spot right off the highway on a piece of public land. Dang it I thought, that's the first time all year there has been anyone here! As I slowly drove past, my brain was running through my other options for my morning hunt. I went down to the first turn off and turned around. As I thought it over, I decided I would go to the spot as planned but park on the north side and access my downed tree to the south. I knew the area the other hunter was most likely in, and it was well south of where I planned to sit. With a south wind in my face, it seemed like it might work out after all. By then, it was right at legal shooting light and roughly 20 degrees. We had got a decent snow a few days prior, and this was the first day it was going to break above freezing. The snow was the reason I was even sitting in this spot to begin with. My tree stand was about 400 yards up the ridge to the west. Two days prior I was headed into it when I noticed a major trail junction 30 yards in the woods from the access path. I noted it and proceeded on to my stand to no avail. On my way out, I prepped this spot in the form of a downed tree for this morning's sit. As I stepped foot into the timber from the access path, I heard something heavy jump and then vanish. I thought dang, there he goes…I hope the other hunter gets a shot. I froze for a few seconds and then proceeded another 30 yards to my spot. I quietly stepped into the fork of the tree, unfolded my chair and sat my bag on the ground. As I began to stand, I heard a twig snap about 40 yards to my southeast. I lifted my head to see the white a deer’s rear. Quietly I hit my knees as I got my crossbow over in position. About the time I get in place, a mature buck begins to make his way directly past me at 20 yards. I found my hole through the trees as he stepped into it. I grunted to stop him, but he could have cared less. Not wasting any time as this would be my only shot opportunity, I squeezed the trigger. Sending 575 grains straight through his lungs. I watched as he crashed through the timber out of sight. I was quite in shock. I had been scouting, hunting, and learning for 7 years on this piece of land to figure out the habits of a mature buck and here I finally shot one in less than a minute. I gathered myself and arrowed another bolt as I reflected on all of the hunts and lessons that had led me up to that moment. It’s not the antlers I was after though, it was the knowledge of the habits and behaviors of a very elusive animal to hunt that I was chasing. I realized as I reflected that I was thankful for all of the failed attempts and lessons I learned along the way. It definitely taught me how to be a hunter of the prey I seek and not just be in the right place at the right time. I let 30 minutes pass or so and then went to check my arrow. It had stuck into a small cedar 5 yards behind the point of impact. With the ground still covered in snow, the track job was pretty easy. Bright bubbly blood and that unmistakable pop at the moment of impact told me it was safe to proceed. It didn’t take long to find my first mature public land whitetail buck piled up in a small ditch. He didn’t make it 70 yards. I’ve harvested many deer in my life but this one was really special. I had hunted hard for many years to grow and learn as a hunter. Much of my younger years were spent hunting family land in tree stands that had been there for years. This was the first time I actually got out on public access and taught myself how to go in and find the deer others could not. It was an amazing feeling of accomplishment and one I hope to continue to pursue for many many years. I will also say, I’m ultimately after meat over horns but the mature bucks do pack the most bang for your buck meat wise!