Ohio Farmer Steps Out Of The Tractor And Tags A 231-Inch Buck
The buck, the why, and the gear
Ohio Farmer Steps Out Of The Tractor And Tags A 231-Inch Buck.
David Hostetler had unfinished business with a buck he called Flyer. He missed the deer at 50 yards during a gun hunt in 2024, lost track of him in 2025, then watched him reappear over the summer of 2026 with a much bigger rack.
Hostetler also had corn to get in. Free afternoons were about to disappear, so when Ohio’s early bow opener gave him a small window, he took it. The shot did not go exactly where he wanted. What happened next is the part worth remembering. Let’s dive in.
The Buck
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Ohio whitetail · Bowhunting · Early archery opener · September 30, 2026
231 4/8
SCORE
20
MINUTES
80
YARDS
Hostetler first crossed paths with Flyer two seasons earlier, when he missed the buck at 50 yards during a gun hunt. Flyer disappeared in 2025, and another buck Hostetler planned to hunt was killed by a vehicle. Then Flyer showed back up over the summer of 2026. Hostetler added a food plot, and the mature non-typical began using it every day.
Opening morning brought a soaking downpour, so Hostetler climbed out and returned for the afternoon. He was back in his hang-on stand by 3:30. Around 7 p.m., young bucks started filtering in. Then he spotted Flyer across the creek. The big deer spent about 20 minutes pulling corn from the stalks before crossing toward Hostetler.
Flyer was quartering slightly toward him when Hostetler released. The arrow landed farther back than he wanted. The buck ran a few yards, stood with his head down, then bedded. Hostetler backed out. A drone check around 11:30 p.m. showed the deer was still alive, so the group left him alone for the night. The next morning Flyer had moved, but they found him about 80 yards farther down the creek. His rack measured 231 4/8 inches under the Buckmasters scoring system. Then Hostetler went back to the 7,000 acres of corn waiting on him.
𐂂 Field Fact
Ohio’s current hunting rule allows an aerial drone to aid in deer recovery after the taking has occurred, but no one involved in that recovery may be employing a hunting device. If the deer is found alive, drone use must stop before hunting resumes, and the operator may provide only the deer’s last known location.
The Woodsman’s Edge
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When the hit looks wrong, your next decision matters more than your next 50 yards.
Hostetler could see Flyer bedded after the shot, and he knew the arrow had landed farther back than he wanted. He did not turn that doubt into pressure.
𐂂 Watch the deer, not just the arrow. Where he stops, whether he beds, and how he carries himself can tell you more than a quick look at the ground.
𐂂 If the hit is questionable and the deer beds, mark the spot and back out. Walking in because you want certainty can turn a recoverable deer into a much longer track.
𐂂 Build the recovery plan before you need it. Know who can help, what tracking tools are legal where you hunt, and how weather and temperature affect how long you can safely wait.
Dress For The Sit You Did Not Plan On
This hunt started warm, got interrupted by rain, and turned into a long night of waiting. Early-season weather can change fast. Kings Camo is the kind of practical layering lineup I look at when I want enough flexibility for the walk in, the sit, and whatever happens after the shot.
The Field Call
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Would You Back Out?
Your arrow hits a little back. The buck runs a short distance, stands with his head down, then beds where you can still see him.
It is warm, dark is coming, and the deer has not gone down. You know the angle was not perfect, but you also know he is hurt.
What’s your move?
Tap your call to see why Dale would rather lose a few hours than push a wounded buck.
Gear Bench
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Petzl ACTIK Headlamp
$64.95
Dale’s note: When a recovery stretches into the dark, I want a headlamp that does not require much thought. The ACTIK puts out 450 lumens on the included AAA batteries, has a mixed beam for close work and distance, and includes a continuous red mode that helps preserve night vision. It is weather-resistant and also accepts Petzl’s CORE rechargeable battery. Simple, light, useful.
The Last Word
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Flyer was not a perfect-shot story. That is why it is useful.
Hostetler knew immediately that the arrow landed farther back than he wanted. The buck bedded, the drone later showed him still alive, and the group resisted the urge to force the recovery. By morning, the deer had moved only 80 yards and was dead.
A big rack can make you want to hurry every decision. The better habit is the opposite. Once the arrow is gone, slow the whole night down.
Hostetler knew immediately that the arrow landed farther back than he wanted. The buck bedded, the drone later showed him still alive, and the group resisted the urge to force the recovery. By morning, the deer had moved only 80 yards and was dead.
A big rack can make you want to hurry every decision. The better habit is the opposite. Once the arrow is gone, slow the whole night down.
Have you ever backed out on a deer you could still see after the shot? Reply and tell me what made you wait.
After the shot, patience is part of the hunt.
Dale Richey
Big Buck Journal
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