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	*Hard Work Pays Off Big for Missouri Hunter!* Rob Mathes knows a thing or two about whitetails, and he isn't afraid to work at it. "You have to be willing to go where others won't," Rob says. He has proof on the wall it works too! Take for instance the big 8-pointer he took with his archery equipment in 2002. Rob drew out for one of Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) managed hunts in early November of 2002. The area was a walk-in area only. That didn't bother Rob. After hunting several days on the managed hunt, he was forced to go deeper and deeper into the conservation area to avoid hunting pressure. As Rob and his cousin Bill, (who was also drawn for the same hunt) drove to their parking spot as they had done several times that season, this morning would be different. "I had a gut feeling one of us would get a shot opportunity that day," Rob told me. He was right. After getting his climber up the tree about 8:30 a.m., he settled in, and awoke the hardwood ridges he was hunting with some action coming out of his grunt tube. It didn't take long, and a mature buck came right into the sounds, as if on a string. At twenty yards, he drew his bow back, put the pin behind the deer's shoulder, and released. The buck bolted quickly and was out of sight in seconds. After letting the deer lay about one hour, Rob tracked the deer and found it lying down, but still breathing, so he shot another arrow, hitting the deer for the second time. The buck got up and ran a complete circle around him, before crashing to a stop in the deepest ravine in the place! After field dressing the big bodied 8-pointer, he went to summon his cousin Bill, who was hunting nearby. Well, how long does it take to drag a big buck, climber stand, and bow out of the woods for over two or three miles of steep ridges and hollows. "It took us over six hours to finally get that buck out of the conservation area!", Rob and Bill both said. "Was it worth it?" I asked Rob. "You better believe it!" he said. His cousin Bill wasn't so sure! Take the big 10-pointer Rob took in November of 1991 with his centerfire rifle. He was hunting the far west region of St. Louis County, Missouri, so he was definately in the right place. "I had the flu, 103 temperature, and shot that buck, then had to drag it out of the woods by myself, with no help, it took over four hours!" Rob has thirty years hunting experience, and has taken numerous deer with bow, muzzleloader, and rifle. He's not scared to work hard at all, whether it's to put a trophy on the wall, or fill the freezer. I guess hard work does pay off after all! Written by Matt McAnally hunter profile-Keith Pinson \| Whitetail Feeding Habits All Year Long \| The Ridge Stand by Matt McAnally \| Off & Running--J.P. Mahn \| Elk Photos \| Confidence Doe \| Shed Hunters \| Chad Goetten Buck \| hello M.B.B. Rob \| Mud Lick Monster \| \| Return Home \| Taxidermy Shop \| Hunting Photo Gallery \| KIDS TRAIL! \| Wild Hog Mania! \| Fishing Photo Gallery \|