In the fall of 2023, Joe Eugster’s friend and mentor of 30+ years, Jerry Gundlach, shared some devastating news—he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and it had spread to his bones. At 78 years old, Jerry had spent years mentoring Joe through trapping and hunting adventures, and during his retirement, he had also contributed to various custom-building projects on Joe’s farm. Knowing his friend was facing a tough battle with cancer, Joe wanted to give Jerry an unforgettable hunting experience to lift his spirits and create lasting memories.
Joe showed Jerry pictures of some of the bucks on the farm, including a 10-year-old buck that Joe had pursued for years. Despite two failed attempts with a bow, the buck had always managed to evade him. After viewing the photos, Jerry expressed his desire to hunt this particular buck, which Joe soon dubbed the “Jerry” Buck. After 40 hunts and countless encounters spanning the 2023 and 2024 seasons, everything finally came together on the afternoon of November 1st.
The “Jerry” Buck appeared, following the script perfectly, acting like the majestic old creature he was. Jerry made a perfect double-lung shot, and the story of the "Jerry" buck came to an end.