Hunter: Dalton McMahan
Points: 7 (3L, 4R)
County: Putnam
Season: 2015-2016
Hunt Story
On my last day to hunt this season, I sat on a food plot that I have been seeing several bucks in the past few weeks. Most of the bucks were spikes and small basket rack bucks, but in hopes of seeing a good buck, I took one last chance at this spot. At first, a small spike stepped out and fed for about 5 minutes, but he turned and went back into the woods. I wondered if this would be my last chance at a deer this season. My dad said he would like one more deer for the freezer. Then, about 15 minutes later this 7-pointer walked out with a spike with tall tines. This was my first time seeing the 7-pointer, and he was much bigger than the spike. Before I raised my rifle, another basket rack 6-pointer came out, but I had already decided on the 7-pointer. I made the shot and called my dad to come help look for him because the deer spun and ran off. My dad didn't get to me for about 30 minutes, and it had started to rain and drizzle off and on. I had found blood on the food plot when my dad arrived. Tracking was difficult due to the onset of darkness and the rain. We would track and lose track several times during the first 100 yards. Plus, our lights had too be recharged several times during the track. Finally, after about 2 hours and 30 minutes, we started finding good blood, and the rain set in. We tracked the last 50 to 75 yards very fast and found my buck at the edge of a creek just below my neighbor's pond. Luckily, the pond was only about 100 yards from my neighbor's barn, and he got his golf cart and came to help us carry the deer. We took the deer back to my house where my dad and I began skinning and quartering the deer. What a great last hunt for the season!
