Bowhunting Couple Get Two Great Bucks

It’s a good thing to have a girlfriend who supports your bowhunting obsession. It’s even better when she’ll go bowhunting with you. It’s the best thing when she kills a possible Pope & Young buck the same month as you.

That’s the fortune of Blake Clifton, of Monroe. He has hunted since his early teens and his infatuation with killing big whitetails has grown over the years. Refining his tactics, he has now taken four P&Y-class bucks in Georgia and has passed his interest and expertise on to his girlfriend, Karlee Folds.

Blake and Karlee have known each other since teenagers and have been dating for three years. Karlee grew up in a hunting family, and dating an avid hunter was an easy transition. They pursue bucks in Dekalb County and keep tabs on them using cellular cameras. They began getting pictures of a nice buck in July, and he grew into a stud by September.

“We had intentions of killing him opening weekend,” said Blake. “We only had the right wind to hunt him on the second and fourth day of the season.”

The first hunt produced no sightings, but on the second hunt, Sept. 14, their luck improved. Easing into their double lock-on stands, there were several does already at the Attrax bait pile, but they didn’t spook. Two small 8-pointers came in later to feed until an odd non-typical buck came in and ran them off.

Then the target buck entered the scene and came to the pile. Karlee stood, drew her Elite Valor bow and drilled the buck at 18 yards. It crashed just over the hill about 40 yards away.

“That’s the best shot I’ve ever made on a deer,” Karlee said.

The buck, Karlee’s biggest, had 10 points and grossed 129 7/8 inches and nets unofficially 125 1/8. She’ll have to wait the 60 days to see if she’s got an officially P&Y buck. Either way, it’s a very impressive bow-kill for a 23-year old lady.

Karlee Folds

A few weeks later, Blake started getting pictures of good buck. He did not have any pictures of this buck on the small tract before that.

“He daylighted nine times in two days,” said Blake.

On Sept. 30, Blake went in carrying a climbing stand on his back. The area was loaded in ivy, creating a challenge to ascend an ivy-covered tree with a climber.

Within 20 minutes, some does showed, followed by a young 8-pointer. Then it was quiet for an hour.

“At 6:15, the big one stepped out,” said Blake. “It took him 35 minutes to reach me as he was eating acorns on the way.”

Finally at 6:40, Blake drew his Mathews VXR bow and released. After inspecting the arrow, he could tell it was a liver hit, so he backed out.

At 12:15 a.m., he returned with Karlee and friend Eason Crow, and they took up the blood trail. After about 120 yards, they found Blake’s biggest Georgia buck. The 10-pointer had thick mass throughout its frame and grossed about 146 total inches and should net down to around 141 inches.

In a span of 17 days, Blake and Karlee both killed trophy bucks with their bows. This is a bowhunting couple who know how to enjoy success in the woods.

Blake Clifton.

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