Truck-Buck 2019-20: Week 12 Winner, Luke Rountree

Week 12: Luke Rountree, 144 5/8 typical
County: Cook            Date: Dec. 2

Cook County was throwing out some stellar bucks last season. In addition to David Wall’s Week 11 buck that set a record as the best non-typical ever from Cook, there was also a new No. 1 buck of all-time for Cook County, a 166 4/8-inch typical not in the contest, killed last season by Jamie Williams.

Then in Week 12 it was Luke Rountree’s turn. Luke, of Adel, first got pictures of his Cook County buck around Week 5 of the season.

“I farm for a living and don’t have a lot of time to hunt,” Luke said. “We were trying to pick cotton, but every time it would rain I took that opportunity to get in the stand. I continued to get him on camera but never saw him from the stand until I harvested him.”

Week 12: Luke Rountree, of Adel, with his tall-tined Cook County 11-pointer that netted 144 5/8.

Luke was able to hunt the morning of Dec. 2.

“I got in the stand at 6:30. At around 7 a.m. a spike came out and made his way to my corn pile. Within a few minutes a doe and yearling joined him. They fed and browsed around for about an hour. I heard what I believe was the doe grunting. I decided to rattle around 8:30. I blew my best impression of a snort-wheeze and then did a one-minute rattle session. I quit rattling at 8:36 and sat back in my climber. The buck came out at 8:50 looking for a fight. His head was up and very alert.

“I figured I only had a second to take my shot. I was about 30 feet up the tree but still moved very slowly to get into position to shoot. The deer was facing me and would not turn broadside, so I waited until he looked left and placed the crosshairs on his neck. I squeezed the trigger, and he dropped in his tracks. I waited about 10 minutes to be sure he had expired and climbed down to claim my deer.

“Once I got him on camera this was the only area I hunted. This is the largest buck I’ve harvested to date, and I just want to thank the Lord for the opportunity.”

Luke’s buck ranks No. 21 on the Cook County all-time records.

Luke will be shooting in the finals to win a new Silverado pickup truck from longtime Truck-Buck sponsor John Megel Chevrolet. He has already won a $1,140 Browning deer rifle and a prize package which includes Antler Addict Mineral and 4S Draw from 4S Advanced Wildlife Solutions, a safety harness from Hunter Safety System and a Shoot-Out shirt from Realtree.

GON’s Official All-Time Cook County Buck Rankings