Trophy tales: Readers' stories and photos from another deer season

Bill DeCesare, 67, Eau Claire, Wis.

(As told by nephew Jeff DeCesare of Eden Prairie)

Our long-standing tradition is to have Uncle Bill join us for the Minnesota deer opener near Alexandria. In anticipation of the hunt, we admired a massive deer captured on one of the trail cams the week prior, creating some added excitement. On opening morning, Bill saw a sizable animal moving through the shadowy brush but was unsure of the antler size. The animal provided a clear shooting lane to the vital area, and he capitalized with a well-placed shot. Bill was surprised and ecstatic to discover it was the same brute captured on the trail cam. It had 11-points (a 12th tine had broken off), a 24.5-inch inside spread and a field-dressed weight of 260 pounds. It was his largest deer after more than three decades of deer hunting.

Michael Kreutzfeldt, 22, Stillwater

Sunday afternoon's heavy fog limited good visibility to less than 100 yards where I was hunting in St. Croix County, Wis. — a good excuse to watch the entire Vikings-Packers game before heading back to a deer stand. There was still a heavy fog and a light rain so I chose a stand that was enclosed. Twenty minutes before dark, I spotted two does. A minute later, a bigger deer approached from the same direction. It was the big buck that eluded us all last year and was never photographed on trail cameras throughout this summer or fall. We didn't think he was still around. With a steady rest and the cross hairs settled in on the 12-pointer's shoulder, my 2014 deer season ended with a bang.

Jaden Howard, 13, Brainerd

(As told by his dad, Dennis)

Jaden was sitting on a stand 200 feet from me hoping, like I was, that our drivers would push a whitetail toward him. Suddenly I heard my son shoot, and saw two big deer standing 25 yards from him. They didn't move so I yelled "shoot again." He replied "I can't, my gun is jammed." I watched helplessly as the two deer ran off through the brush. Thankfully we were blessed with snow on the ground, and we tracked his deer about 400 yards, finding a beautiful eight-point buck. Jaden didn't stop smiling, admiring his first deer, and neither did his proud dad.

Alaina Bohrer, 13, Edina

(As told by dad Kevin)

My daughter had a very memorable first deer hunting trip. About 15 minutes before legal shooting time, I spotted a deer, heading downwind from us. Soon afterward, I heard and saw it coming up behind us. It kept coming, and I thought it might try to join us in the stand! It finally stopped about 10 feet away. I looked at my watch and it was right at legal shooting time. My daughter got up very slowly, turned around, got down to her knees and got set. The deer never noticed her. She paused, then placed a perfect shot. She was so excited, her heart was racing! Mine was too. She did a great job doing most of the field dressing, and even skinned and quartered it by herself. She's already looking forward to next year.

Rory Lenton, 64, Rochester

Sometimes it is just meant to be! I was archery hunting near Rochester, and as the sun began to set I heard crunching leaves. I was taken aback by the size of the 10-point buck that was approaching, but recognized him from my trail cam pictures. I slowly picked up my bow and at about nine yards, released an arrow. But a small tree deflected it and the buck bounded off. Nearly two weeks later, my brother-in-law, Ron Pike, and his son Weston, of Mound, came for an evening hunt. About 5 p.m., my heart nearly jumped out of my chest — the buck I had missed earlier was 50 yards behind me. He approached, but about 30 yards he began to walk down a hill. I grunted, he stopped and the arrow was on its way. As he bounded away, I was sure I had made a good shot. We waited an hour, and as the sun was setting began the search. We trailed the deer from one speck of blood to another. The blood trail eventually led to a 100-foot cliff. Knowing deer can't fly, I looked left and then right, trying to decide which way he went, when I heard Weston shout "I found him!" I walked over to the cliff and stared down where Weston's flashlight was focused — and there lay the big buck.

Text and photos compiled by Doug Smith