My best buck so far

Here we are 5 days after harvesting him and it still gets me shook up telling co-workers the story. How I had a staredown with the doe he was dogging for 15 min and she never blew. Then, with a 4 year old 8 point at 20 yards, that I passed. Because I saw this guy just out of range. It was worth the body parts falling asleep due to being Frozen in one position holding a crossbow for nearly 20 minutes. Breathing shallow and peering at the deer through squinted eyes. There was almost no wind. Everytime I would breathe too deep I could hear the slightest sound of my hunting jacket on the tree behind me. So did the doe. She would burn her eyes straight through me and start to act concerned. I kept praying that the thermals would continue to rise. She was straight down wind. Then, finally I saw his rack come through the brush. My bow was already in position. He was at 15 yards facing be me head on. He turned broadside to follow his lady... I bleated to stop him and the shot found it's mark. I watched him run around 150 yards and disappear into a thicket. Immediatly, the doubt sat in. Was the shot good? So, I waited 3 hours before taking up track. It was sparse for the first 100 yards. Then, became better and better. Tracking with my son and daughter are memories well made. The last 30 yards was on hands and knees through thick tunnels of honey locust and small briars. Then, the cover opened up and there he laid. Like something out of a dream. As it started to rain I sat on the ground and gave a prayer of thanks with my two tracking partners. What an amazing experience. I've been at this for 27 years now and this passion still shakes me.