Hunter: Dakota Yoder
Points: 8 (4L, 4R)
County: Macon
Season: 2024-2025
Hunt Story
On September 17th, the hunt began. A perfect spot had been chosen: a large oak tree nestled in a pinch point between a 10-acre field, a line of 10-year-old pines, and an old hedge row adjacent to a neighbor’s soybean field. For 12-year-old Dakota and his 9-year-old twin brothers, Blake and Brent, this was the ideal place to build a tree stand for bowhunting. The trio, guided by their dad, set to work, building the kind of tree stand every kid dreams of: a 6-foot wide by 5-foot high structure with 2-foot side walls for cover. Excitement filled the air as they cut boards to length, Dakota manning the screw gun while his brothers fetched supplies and scrambled up and down the tree. As dusk approached, their father spotted a beautiful doe just 200 yards away, calmly grazing despite the sounds of sawing and hammering. This close encounter only fueled their anticipation. That evening, they headed home with their project nearly complete, ready to finish the final touches the next day. After school, the boys and their dad set out to buy steps and camouflage burlap for the side walls. Their first stop, a local hunting store, was out of stock, and so was Walmart. Thankfully, a fellow hunter tipped them off to an unexpected spot: Buc-ee’s. With the steps and camo in hand, they finished the stand Thursday afternoon, eager to test it out. At 5:30 p.m., the boys grabbed their gear, climbed on the four-wheeler, and headed out to the new stand, which they named “Big Oak Stand.” As they settled in, the anticipation grew. An hour into the hunt, a small spike deer appeared, but it wasn’t the shooter they were hoping for. Disappointed but not discouraged, they packed up and prepared for another day. The following evening, excitement was in the air as the three boys returned to their stand. At 6 p.m., a small 3-pointer walked right under the stand, only to be startled off by a noise from the neighboring field. As the sun began to set, Brent grew restless and declared he was done for the night. Dakota, determined to stay, jokingly told him he’d have to walk home if he left. Brent climbed down but soon realized the half-mile walk home in the dark wasn’t appealing, so he climbed back up. With only about 30 minutes of daylight left, Dakota called their dad, doubting they’d see anything. His dad encouraged him to wait just a little longer, as it was prime time. Five minutes later, movement caught their eyes. A small 6-pointer stepped out at 25 yards. The twins eagerly whispered, “Dakota, there’s a buck!” Just as adrenaline started to kick in, another, larger buck followed—a big 8-pointer. Frantically, Dakota called his dad. “I see a big buck,” he whispered. “Which buck is it?” his dad asked. “I don’t know, Dad. It’s huge! Can I shoot it?” At that moment, the trail camera sent a picture to their dad’s phone. “Yes, Dakota, you can shoot that one,” his dad replied. With only 10 to 15 minutes of shooting light left, Dakota slowly reached for his bow, realizing it was all up to him now. His brothers urged him on in hushed voices, “Shoot him, Dakota! He’s broadside!” With shaky hands, Dakota drew his bow and set his sights on the big 8-pointer. As daylight faded, he struggled to see his pins. Finally, his eyes adjusted, and he placed the green 20-yard pin on the buck’s body, squeezing the trigger. The arrow hit with a thud, and the buck darted off with the arrow still sticking out. In their excitement, Brent began climbing down the tree even as the deer was still in sight. Dakota quickly called their dad, shouting, “I shot him! But I think I hit him high.” They decided to climb down and wait for their dad to arrive before tracking the deer. When their dad arrived, they immediately found some blood, but with the arrow not passing completely through, they decided to call in a tracking dog. As they followed the faint blood trail, Dakota couldn’t help but wonder if he had made a poor shot. But soon the trail became clearer. The dog turned right, and as they pushed through the brush, the beam from their flashlight hit the telltale white belly of a deer. “There he is!” someone shouted. Dakota, overwhelmed with excitement, crashed through the remaining brush to claim his prize. High-fives and congratulations filled the air as they celebrated a dream come true. Dakota had done it—he’d taken down a big 8-pointer, a trophy buck that would be remembered forever. For Dakota and his brothers, this hunt was more than just a successful bow kill; it was the culmination of hard work, patience, and the bond of family. A memory etched into their hearts for years to come.
