This video — and special story — really doesn’t need much set up. In fact, I think it’s best if I simply copy/paste an Instagram post from the Manitoba bowhunter featured in the self-filmed video, Josh Kobelka of Clearwater Outfitters.
Josh wrote on his Instagram page:
After a late and tough start to my whitetail season, I got news that my grandpa was in the hospital and things were not looking well. I cut my season short and headed up to visit him.
Over the next few days my grandpa and I visited and talked a lot about hunting. He asked me how things were going and I showed him a picture of a buck I called Shredder. A big bodied, gnarly looking buck that I assumed to be the culprit of a few big rubs on a property I just got permission on.
When I showed him the picture he said, “Wow is that ever a big buck, I hope you get him!” I didn’t know what to say, I hoped I’d be visiting him for the rest of the whitetail season, so I simply said “I’ll get him one day.”
As fate would have it, things turned for the worst. On one of our last talks together, I could barely muster up a word. He broke the ice and started talking about hunting. He wished me good luck and that I’d get a buck soon as it was getting really cold out. Before I left, I told him that I’d get a buck for him this year.
He passed shortly after, and 4 days later I snuck into my spot to get some much needed tree therapy. I hung my set and rattled shortly after daylight. Twenty minutes later Shredder stepped into a meadow 100 yards away and I grunted him in to 15 yards. My arrow flew true striking his heart, and he expired in seconds. One hour into my sit and the heaviest, most gnarly buck I’ve ever laid my eyes on was on the ground.
As I walked up to him, I found a buck skull just 10 feet away with fresh blood in the shape of a heart from Shredder on it. Initially I didn’t think much of it, but then it finally hit me: It was a buck for both grandpa and me, and was his final sign that he was right there with me all along.
Author's note: Be sure to turn up the volume to fully enjoy the YouTube video's audio quality. It’s spectacular. I love the sound of the big buck’s steps as he approaches the stand. And if you listen closely, I think you can hear the slight squeak of Josh’s bow limbs in the cold as he draws at the 5:01 mark. Good stuff.
