Hunter: Blake Floyd
Points: 9 (5L, 4R)
County: Twiggs
Season: 2016-2017
Hunt Story
The evening on 9/14/16 was the first time I had been in the stand for the season. I chose to hunt this stand which was on a food plot with clover and oats, and there is also a persimmon tree in the corner that had fruit on it earlier in the year. When I got to the plot, I was a little disappointed to find the persimmons still yellow and not quite ready to drop. I climbed up the stand anyway because I knew the trail along the edge of the swamp was well used. I was settled in by 6, and the next 1 1/2 hours were pretty slow. About 7:30 I heard some limbs snap and could hear something heavy walking through the cane thicket in front of me about 80 yards. I stood up and got ready. For the next 20 minutes it was all quiet and still slow, so I sat back down figuring the hunt would be over because it was down to about the last 10 minutes of shooting light. About 5 til 8, a small 6-point stepped out in the plot at 25 yards and I couldn't move. Right behind him was the 9-point, and his body was much bigger than the 6-point. The 6-point fed to my left and wound up easing back behind me on the trail. I took that opportunity to stand up.The 9-point went to my right directly into my wind. I knew for sure he would wind me. I stood there for what seemed like forever. Finally, I caught movement feeding back down to me. He was about to step into my shooting lane, and I came to full draw. When he stepped out, I saw the tines on his left side, stopped him, and eased the shot. The shot was good, he kicked and ran out down the trail behind and crashed about 75 yards. Awesome hunt for the first time in the stand.
