Nice, was he chasing that doe you got there too? We need the back story man!! How many tags does MD issue? Nice job!!!!!
Your tag question first: I hunt in two "managed hunts" for two different counties in MD. Basically there's parks in MD those counties have deemed have too many deer and they need to ethically reduce the population. One of the counties I hunt for you put in for a lottery for different parks and a lottery for the stands at those parks. You have to hunt whatever stand you get drawn for on that date. That was where I hunted yesterday. You're allowed to shoot a buck first but have to shoot two antlerless deer after that one in order to be able to shoot another buck. Friday's hunt was with a different county. For that county, it's just me and 5 other guys at one park. There we can hunt Monday-Saturday any time the season is open but bow only. There you can shoot up to 4 bucks but you have to have a doe first for each buck. Both parks you can shoot unlimited does and for both parks none of the deer count towards Maryland's license. So all of my deer this year haven't actually counted towards my license yet because they were for these programs. For my license, in my area of MD, I'm allowed 10 does for each of the 3 weapons seasons. I can shoot 2 bucks (that have to be in different seasons) and I can buy one bonus tag that can apply to any weapons season.
TLDR: MD license for my region allows 10 does times 3 seasons (archery, muzzleloader, rifle), 2 bucks, plus you can buy a bonus tag for another buck. I can shoot up to 6 more bucks and unlimited does through the hunts I do for the counties
Story time: yesterday I was in my chosen stand with a perfect N wind. Around 7:25 I had a doe work towards me N to S. She was within 60 yards when I first saw her but behind some junk and had no idea I was there so I just waited. She came in broadside to about 40 yards. I put the scope on her and slowly pulled the trigger. She bounded towards me and I realized I didn't hold down and I could see I gave her a haircut. She had no idea what happened and was slowly marching straight at my tree as I struggled to get the next round in my chamber. I absolutely love my 220 but man this issue is a PITA. It was stuck good and I could not get it to budge all the while she's closing the distance to 15, 10 yards. I pulled out the magazine and jammed my finger up into the slug and popped it out. She heard that at about 5 yards and looked up at me. She dashed to 20 as I racked the round and then dropped her in her tracks. An hour later on that dot and this buck came walking in nose to the ground on the same trail she came in on. He turned and looked like he was going to do the same thing she did but he stopped behind the thick stuff. He picked his nose up and seemed to catch a whiff of something. I don't think it was me, but I'm guessing the wind swirled a bit and he couldn't tell where the smell of the doe was coming from. He walked back N some and then turned to head E on the same trail he was coming in on. I didn't think I was going to get a shot because as he heads SE on that trail it's really thick. Luckily he kept that nose to the ground and hit a small clearing which I was already waiting for him to enter. I held a little low but not low enough. Dropped him but he needed another. Made sure to take my time and hold low enough and sent one straight through his lungs. Legit saw steam escape from him into the cold morning air and knew he was done right there 40 yards away from me. I honestly still can't believe it happened. Every deer I shoot I let my wife know and she relays it to my little boy. He's 4 and he's already obsessed. She usually videos his reaction and every time he just asks if it was a buck or a doe. When I shot this buck I facetimed him and was able to tell him dad finally got a buck down for him. I'm not sure if it was the kill itself or just pulling through for my little buddy but I didn't stop shaking for 30 mins after this one.
Between processing fees and what this guy is gonna cost to mount, the last 2 hunts sure have been pricey lol. A good problem to have. I'm supposed to be off this Friday and this coming Monday. There's a couple studs I'm after in a different park that could rival him but I've got the rest of the year to get after them.