Hunter: Alison Guyton
Points: 8 (4L, 4R)
County: Bartow
Season: 2016-2017
Hunt Story
I believe I am more addicted to deer hunting then my husband is, it is my respite for sure! We had smoked 90 butts for our church fundraiser from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and didn't get to bed until about 3 a.m. I'd jokingly tried to make a hunt date with some of his friends who came to pick up butts from the prior night's cooking because my husband was balking at taking me hunting after his two nights of intense cooking. But I knew he would take me, so long as no alarm clocks were set for Saturday morning. We awoke around 8 a.m. with the typical dog noise wanting breakfast and leisurely got ready to head to our hunt property which is only about a 30-minute drive. Once we were almost to our property lines, a nice buck crossed the hard road in front of us. It was just shy of 10 a.m., and my husband said "good deal, they are cruising looking for does." He had bucks chasing does just six days prior here in Bartow County. We entered our property gates, and I was ready to head out before my husband, so as he put on his extra shirt and orange. I headed down the dirt road ahead, since he travels way faster then I do. Being as I was going to his area this day but a new spot, I was carrying in a small bag chair to set up my own little ground blind, as I don't go up trees and change positions a lot as I hunt. I hugged the tree line as I walked in, just in case any deer were around. Much to my surprise, this 8-point buck popped up out of one of our trails that leads to a stand into an area that is normally a food plot, but we didn't plant with the drought this year. He looked dead at me, but rather then spook, he put his head down to either eat acorns or sniff after a doe I reckon. Somewhere in there, I bent over a little to drop the bag chair, grab my rifle off my left shoulder and get it up and nailed him with the perfect broadside shot he gave me. I know my husband must have died at the truck hearing me shoot! I stood there, rifle ready in case any others came up as my husband approached and I told him where the buck was able to stumble to, a little privet hedge in the old clearcut where he was headed to. He was able to find blood right where I said I shot him and right where I said he went, not 20 yards. My husband just threw his hands out over his head, gesturing his rack was out past his ears. My best buck yet! 16 years and 1 day since I shot my first ever deer and first ever buck (11-11-2000) Loving every minute in the woods with all His creatures! Be still and know that I am God! Psalm 46:10
