Zach Dobbins downed this massive deer on public ground.
- Hunter: Zach Dobbins
- Buck Score: 155 inches
- Date of Harvest: November 26, 2024
- Location of Harvest: Indiana
- Weapon of Harvest: .350 Legend
Most public-land deer hunters never see a deer of this caliber, let alone shoot one. Indiana deer hunter Zach Dobbins had five years of history with this ancient whitetail, though. Over the course of that timespan, he also saw the deer in person once before but couldn’t get a shot at it.
An avid deer hunter of 30 years, he knew this was a special buck. He’s hunted that area of public ground for 20 years, and he knows it well. So, he continued scouting and homing in on the buck’s core area. Tagging the 7 ½-year-old buck wouldn’t be easy, but a deer of this caliber and unique character isn’t common. It’d require time on stand to get it done.
November 26, 2024, brought the backside of a cold front and the coldest day of the season. Settling into the stand, his position was in an area with steep terrain and big timber.
“I was hunting a bench with a drain coming off the hill behind me,” Dobbins said. “There was thick bedding cover to my left and right. There was a water hole behind me.”
Waiting for the action to unfold, he sat and took in his peaceful surroundings. The smell of fresh earth scent and fallen leaves wafted with the wind. Steam rose from the drainage ditch. Otherwise, it was a still and quiet start to the morning.
Public-Land Bowhunter Arrows Big Deer
The buck was a product of a late-rut gun hunt.
It was day No. 11 of his 12-day work vacation. Dobbins wondered if he’d catch up to the buck before his hunting time expired. Thoughts of the buck’s trail camera photos filled Dobbins’ mind.
Fortunately, he didn’t have to wonder for much longer. Brown fur materialized in the timber. Then a massive rack. Dobbins easily recognized the brute as the deer freshened a scrape. After finishing his work, the buck meandered over to the water hole.
The shaking hunter settled his sights, and took the 60-yard, quartering-away shot opportunity. The old whitetail fell, and Dobbins finally had the big buck he’d been after for so long.
“It was a great morning after a frustrating two weeks of hunting,” Dobbins said. “I was super pumped to get one of my target bucks down.”
With the deer expired, several buddies arrived to help get it out of the woods. His family and friends were happy for his success.
“My family and friends were very happy to see me finally harvest this deer that I had been watching for so long,” he said.
Kentucky Bowhunter Bags 17-Point Buck
He harvested this deer with the .350 Legend.
Looking back, he points to several tactical moves that helped him finally close the gap and tag this deer. Most important? A multi-pronged scouting effort.
“I ran trail cameras and mock scrapes with deer lures,” Dobbins said. “Also, I hang and hunt to not blow out one particular spot.
“I used the HuntStand app to map this area out,” Dobbins continued. “I logged data of deer sign and trail camera pictures.”
As for most deer hunters, this whitetail was special. It signified the culmination of much effort.
“This deer means a lot to me,” Dobbins said. “It’s my second largest and put a great ending to what was a very frustrating season for me.
“Deer hunting is one of my biggest passions,” Dobbins continued. “It helps me break away from the real world and do what I love.”
