Hunter: Claudia Wilson
Points: 11 (6L, 5R)
County: Meriwether
Season: 2015-2016
Hunt Story
My oldest daughter, Claudia, decided at the last minute that she wanted to go hunting with me on Saturday morning (October 31st). I woke her up at 5 am and really thought that she wouldn't want to go. I was so sure she wasn't going that I didn't even bother to get the .243 out of the safe. To my surprise she was eager to go, so we loaded up and headed to the farm. We met up with my brother, Jeff, before heading to the woods. I knew that Claudia probably didn't dress as warmly as she should have, so instead of hunting the ladder stand I was planning to hunt, we decided to hunt one of the Redneck Blinds that we put up this year. We got in the stand, and I realized that we had really gotten there too early. We would have about an hour wait until daylight. Daylight finally arrived, and I was a little disappointed that we didn't see anything right away. We didn't have to wait long, though. We saw a doe and two fawns early, and then we were seeing deer the rest of the morning. We saw a total of 12 deer, all does or fawns, before 9 am. I kept telling Claudia that she needed to pay really close attention to where the does had come from because a big buck might slip up on us. All of a sudden, a doe slips across the field and I remind Claudia again to pay attention because a buck may be chasing her. Claudia replied, "There's one!" I turned and saw what appeared at first glance to be a nice buck, but not a shooter. I put my Vortex binoculars on him and began to wonder if maybe this was one of the bucks that we had on trail cam pics. He basically skirted the stand, staying at about 200 yards, and we were getting glimpses of him here and there. He got to about 150 yards, and I was able to get a really good look at him, and I told Claudia to get the gun ready, that he was a shooter. He seemed to know where to stop moving every time. He was chasing a doe and was not going to let her get far. I grunted to try to bring him closer and all he would do is just stare in our direction. The only thing he was interested in was that doe. She was staying in an area that was behind some overhanging pine limbs, offering glimpses here and there. The edge of the field was really close to some big woods. I knew if she decided to go into the woods, our chances for this buck were gone. All we could do was wait and see. This seemed to go on for an eternity, but the whole episode was less than 30 minutes. The doe moved further onto the food plot for a bite to eat, and the big buck wasted no time in joining her. He stopped broadside at 200 yards. I asked Claudia if she was on him, and she said she was. I asked if she was sure she was on him, wishing now that I had gotten that .243 out of the safe. Should I tell her this rifle kicks a lot harder? Is she too close to the scope? All these things are running through my mind while glassing this beautiful buck and then "BAAAAAMMMM." The buck turns and trots off the food plot. An obvious clean miss. How was this possible? Is she ok from the recoil? I still have the binoculars up glassing. Where did the doe go? WAIT! He is back. The doe didn't move far and he is back to keep her close. Same thing again, broadside at 200 yards! I told Claudia to bolt another round, slightly worried that she was shaken from the previous shot. After overcoming a little trouble in chambering the round, she placed the rifle on him and squeezed off another round. The big buck dropped in his tracks! Certainly a morning I will never forget. Now to get our three other daughters on one!
