Hunter: Andy Adkins
Points: 8 (4L, 4R)
County: Worth
Season: 2023-2024
Hunt Story
I first started getting pictures of this buck in velvet this season. I had never seen him prior. The buck was pretty regular all summer, hitting a protein feeder, eating in a peanut field on the property that I hunt. I thought I had him somewhat patterned. That was until the peanuts were harvested and he disappeared. As the season approached, I was nervous about whether or not he would come back or get killed on another property. He was pretty visible, and I was certain that plenty of people knew knew about him. As the season changed from archery to rifle I was sure he was already dead, possibly killed by a neighbor. Until he showed up on camera again. At this point, I wasn't sure exactly where he was hiding, but after talking to some neighbors and moving some cameras around, I figured out where his core area was, and now it was time to hunt. A buddy that I hunt with had taken some time off during the rut and was hard after this buck. He never saw him, but did kill another nice buck. The deer was hanging out along the corner of the property in a thick bottom next to a cutover field. I was afraid to push in too hard on the buck and didn't want to bump him across the road into the neighbors property. It all came together on a Friday after work. My boss encouraged me to leave early and try and hunt that evening, and off I went. I got to the stand late, but felt I was in the right area. I snuck down a wooded edge and eased into the stand. I was in such a rush I forgot everything except my rifle. After about 45 minutes I heard some crashing in the woods to my right and since I didn't have my binoculars, I was looking through the scope of my rifle trying to catch any sign of movement. I didn't see a thing until I caught movement out of my peripheral and here comes this buck walking right to me on a string. I settled my nerves, realizing it was finally happening. He was walking straight at me, and I hesitated hoping he would stop and turn. It finally happened at about 50 yards, the buck turned broadside and I let that .308 bark. The bullet found its mark as the buck reared on his hind legs and went down shortly after. Once the buck expired within sight, I went to shaking, realizing that all the work I had put in this past year had finally paid off. It was bitter sweet as that morning one of the previous members of our hunting club passed away, but I felt that he was watching over me and helped bring my biggest buck to date right to me.
