Joe Moore has been my hunting buddy since high school. I killed my first deer with a bow out of one of his treestands in 1996. Last week, Joe killed the biggest buck of his life with a bow. He’s been as elated as he would have been 20 or even 30 years ago. His passion for deer hunting clearly hasn’t faded and serves as a reminder that for most of us, no matter how old we get, we can expect some of our best days are still ahead.
Entering the final week of October for bowhunters is like lining up at the starting line and waiting for the green flag to fall. The race, or in this case the Midwest whitetail rut, is about to roar. The next month is what most deer hunters wait for all year. If we’re lucky, we never lose the passion that drives us from warm beds to cold deer stands morning after morning until we get it done.
The weather has been cooperating the last few days. It’s been colder and blustery across much of the Midwest region. The chill is causing a stir in the deer and the deer hunters, both feeling the arrival of the short but manic window of time we call the rut. Prime time is rapidly approaching. If you were to poll serious whitetail hunters to ask them their favorite day of the year to hunt, I’m willing to bet 90 percent of your answers are going to fall in the last week of October or the first week of November.
There is very little time left before the rut is in full swing. Make those final preparations. Be sure you have all the gear you need and it’s in perfect working order. Replace those old flashlight batteries, sharpen your knife, and make sure your bow or firearm is as dialed in as possible. Follow along here for weekly reports. We’ll be tracking the action as it unfolds across the Midwest over the complete rut cycle.
For a little motivation, I want to share a little of the story of Joe’s nearly 170-inch buck. Mostly because of his perspective, which I feel represents a lot of the right reasons to hunt, but also because a buck like this is another testament to Indiana becoming a top whitetail state in the country.
On October 15, 2025, Joe Moore killed a 169½-inch 12-pointer in Pulaski County, Indiana. He shot the buck with a compound bow. I asked Joe to answer a few questions about the hunt and how it felt to connect with such an impressive deer.
Brandon: Explain the setup you were hunting and why.
Joe: The weather had been unusually warm and extremely dry. Conditions were so dry that nearly all the acorns had already fallen, and over half of the beans and corn were harvested much earlier than normal. Based on a buck’s pattern from the week before — consistently emerging from the only standing corn to the north on a north wind — I chose to set up about 150 yards closer to a bedding area. It was a smaller section of woods with good cover that naturally funneled deer movement. Between the cover, the fallen acorns, and the position relative to the bedding area, it provided an ideal setup for that wind and time of year when I knew he was still in the area.
Brandon: Describe the history you have with this buck.
Joe: I have had this deer on camera for three years. Last season, he came within 10 yards of me twice, but I chose to pass both times because there was a larger 12-point that I was hoping for. I ended up not harvesting a deer at all last year, which was the first time in over a decade. Ironically, it turned out to be one of my favorite seasons. I spent a lot of time studying late-season behavior, braving tough conditions, and simply observing. It was a true education in deer movement and patience. This season, that patience paid off with this buck.
Brandon: Walk us through the lead-up, the shot, and the follow-up.
Joe: The shot was at 17 yards. The buck came out of the corn and began moving toward the bedding area through a section thick with honeysuckle that provided excellent cover. At first glance, I thought it was a smaller 8-pointer I had seen previously, so I did not draw right away. He was feeding slowly on acorns but never fully stopped. As he quartered away just past my position, I finally counted ten points and decided to draw. When the sunlight caught his antlers just right, I noticed the sticker points. That is when I calmed myself, focused, and took the shot.
The arrow passed through completely, the Luminok glowing in the dirt behind him. Initially, I was not sure I had hit him well, and I did not feel the usual surge of adrenaline, partly because I was second-guessing whether it was even my target deer. I waited about 40 minutes before climbing down to avoid pushing him. Then I walked about half a mile in the opposite direction to meet my hunting partner, Cody Polovitch, who was hunting nearly a mile away. We followed our tradition and grabbed dinner at a local Mexican restaurant, giving the deer extra time.
When we returned, we found blood within 30 yards and the deer less than 60 yards beyond that. He had died quickly. It was not one of those long, nerve-wracking tracking jobs. The adrenaline rush finally hit when I walked up to him. He was incredible.
Brandon: After 35 years of hunting, how does it feel to kill a buck like this?
Joe: Honestly, it feels bittersweet. I plan my entire year, personally and professionally, to ensure I have quality time in the woods. I only take one buck a year because that is what my family needs to fill the freezer. So, knowing I will not be hunting through the November rut is tough. At the same time, taking a mature buck of this caliber with archery equipment is a rare opportunity. It is a mix of gratitude and quiet reflection more than celebration.
Brandon: What does a buck like this do for your motivation as a deer hunter?
Joe: It is humbling. There are so many factors that must align — from access to good ground, to time to scout, to favorable conditions, and ultimately a clean, ethical shot. No matter how much you prepare, luck still plays a role. I am incredibly thankful that all those elements came together. It reinforces why I love bowhunting, not just for the harvest, but for the process, the patience, and the perspective it brings every season.
See you down the trail…
Brandon Butler
driftwoodoutdoors@gmail.com
Pic: Joe Moore shot this Pulaski County, Indiana buck, the biggest of his life after 35 years of hunting, on October 15.
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