Hunter: Shawn Lumsden
Points: 18 (10L, 8R)
County: Talbot
Season: 2019-2020
Hunt Story
On the evening of October 27, 2019 I decide to hunt an area on our property where a well-known buck is residing named Zeus. I have hundreds of trail cam pictures of Zeus near the Flint River with several photos taken in broad daylight. To say I wanted a crack at this buck is an understatement. It was a hot, 75-degree Sunday afternoon, but the wind was perfect coming out of the northwest in an area notorious for swirling winds - I had to seize my opportunity. I sneak into the ladder stand adjacent to a food plot we call Indian Trail due to the battered remains of an old trail used by Native Americans hundreds of years ago. A respectable 8-pointer immediately shows up, grunting and chasing a doe back into the hardwood bottom. Throughout the next hour several does begin filtering into the food plot. Around 5:55 p.m. I look up and see antlers through the trees, tines illuminated by the sun. Wondering if it was the same 8-point that chased a doe into those hardwoods, I position my binoculars to take a closer look. Sure enough it is Zeus! I know immediately because of his 8-inch unicorn tine sticking straight out from his left base. And then he disappeared as quickly as I saw him. Five minutes go by and a doe emerges from the river cane. Less than 60 seconds go by and here comes Zeus walking out into the food plot, head held high. He stands there for a few seconds checking the wind. As the doe continues forward Zeus puts his nose to the ground, lets out a couple of small grunts and the doe jogs forward. Instead of chasing her he majestically walks toward me. As he approaches a water oak in the middle of the food plot, he starts rubbing his antlers on the limbs and paws at the ground, freshening up a scrape. At this point he is 30 yards broadside. As he sticks his head up into the branches, I click my safety off, settle the crosshairs on his vitals and slowly squeeze the trigger. As the rifle roars, he stumbles forward and up a trail into the thick river cane. Seconds later I hear a crash and then the woods are silent. My emotions are at a peak as I thank God for allowing me to harvest such a magnificent animal. I let 30 minutes go by. As I take up his blood trail, I find him lying dead in the thicket 40 yards from the scrape. Zeus is officially down and he is bigger than I ever dreamed. I admire the character of his antlers realizing that he truly is a buck of a lifetime.
