Hunter: Charlie Mathis
Points: 6 (3L, 3R)
County: Taylor
Season: 2022-2023
Hunt Story
This buck that we named "Rocket" has been around our property since 2017. I videoed him and a buck that I killed last year as young bucks, and they stayed around since then. He has always had a unique rack, and this years was probably his smallest in his life. Last year Charlie had a chance at him and had taken his safety off ready to shoot. Right as he was about to shoot him a doe took off running and spooked all the deer away. Rocket followed them, and we never got another chance at him then. Anyway, Charlie only had one buck in mind this season, and Rocket was it. We went morning and evening on the opening day of youth season, and we saw him on one of the cameras we have on trails and lanes that he uses, but he never came out in front of us. I knew that Tuesday the weather would be right if the wind would lay down some, and we went in early. We got a picture of him on one of those trails and knew he was going to come in. He stayed around on that trail for about five minutes, and then he walked our way. He walked into the food plot, we waited to get everything situated, and let him stop broadside. He finally did, and Charlie made a perfect shot and Rocket dropped right there. It's always bittersweet to kill a buck on your home property that you've known that long. His body was very run down, and he did not look very healthy at all. As we were heading down the steps of our stand Charlie was walking in front of me. My feet slipped out from under me and kicked him right in the back. He flew off of the steps straight to the ground. Luckily we had harrowed up that ground for easy access to the stand, so he landed soft. It could've been a lot worse for sure. Anyway, our whole family came out to celebrate with us. The video will be live very soon on YouTube- Out There Outdoors
