Hunter: Billy Atkinson
Points: 9 (5L, 4R)
County: Franklin
Season: 2024-2025
Hunt Story
Here's the story of my late season bow kill. As most hunters do, their hunt starts before the deer season begins. I had seen deer a few times on camera. Then he had left not seen again until Dec the 7th. The moon was changing so I started hunting mid days. A doe had came in and then another doe, then I hear The Buck came in. I was only in my stand for 10 minutes and had to watch the deer for 20 minutes. I could not move. The Buck was just feeding around in hard woods about 25 yards away. The does where feeding on my left and he was in front of me. I was locked down, I just knew any minute she would bust out of there and he be gone. Well she never felt right she knew something was up just couldn't figure it out. The Buck finally feeding to my left started moving to where the does were. He got about half way to them then he turns back to the right. She then had started to head back the way they came from. The time was now or never, I got my bow up and as he started to move I pulled back then took my shot. As he ran up the ridge I could see the arrow hanging out. I sat there for an hour to give him time. I got down and looked for blood, no blood for about 50 yards. I then decided to back out not wanting to spook the deer. I went home, got my lights and called a few friends. Two of the guys said they had a friend that had a young dog he was training to track deer, we got him to bring the dog. I had shot the deer about two o'clock. We met there at 6:30 and as we started to track, we found blood. The deer was bleeding good, we found him about 25 yards away at 7 o'clock. The dog done a great job, never did the dog bark she was the hero of the night. I was glad to get this deer with my bow. I had a stroke last year Aug the 4th, my life changed. But thanks to God I had made a come back. It has been a hard road but all worth it. As they say never give up, God will help you all the way. Thank you God.
