New Carroll County Bow Record Just Officially Scored

Brandon McKune said this 11-pointer showed up at his Carroll County stand opening morning of the 2024 Georgia archery season. He had no knowledge this buck was around.

Brandon McKune caught a lucky break on Sept. 15, 2024 when his wife said she’d watch their newborn so he could slip off and hunt on opening morning of bow season.

“I decided to walk in to my stand on the back of our property,” he said. “It was hot. Really hot. I started sweating like everything. By the time I got to my stand, I was wringing wet.

“Where my stand is, you can’t hunt with an east wind. The wind was blowing in from the east. I was already there, so I said what the heck.”

Eventually that morning, a 9-point came in and started eating acorns. It was the 9-point that Brandon had seen on cameras and was targeting.

“I was watching him, waiting for a shot,” he said. “All of a sudden, this 11-point I had never seen before walked in. I couldn’t believe it. He was huge.

“I stood up and was hoping that the wind wouldn’t swirl. It seemed like an hour, but it was probably only five minutes. I shot and he ran off. I didn’t hear him crash.

“I walked back home and sat on the porch trying to figure out what to do. I finally decided to go looking for him. I found half my arrow. I kept walking and found the other half, and it was covered in blood. I kept walking and found him. I was so excited.”

After being scored by an official Pope & Young scorer, the deer was tabulated at 146 2/8 inches. It was certified by GON as a new Carroll County bow record.

Carroll County All-Time Bow Records