Hunter: David Crider
Points: 9 (5L, 4R)
County: Whitfield
Season: 2018-2019
Hunt Story
I got this deer on trail cam earlier on in velvet, so we (son) knew where we would be in archery season. I had been getting his picture early morning before daylight and in the evening, so we hunted every evening when the season opened. Opening evening, I saw small bucks. My son hunted Monday evening saw him at 70 yards that was as close as he would get. I hunted Tuesday evening 63 yards still not in range. So Wednesday morning I go in and fix up a ground blind closer to where we had been seeing him. I go back that evening get settled in the ground blind thank goodness for thermocells they work. Around 7:50 p.m. a nice 8-point walks out then a little 4-point, so they feed around acorns, grass and brose this pasture has not been bush hogged yet, so it's grown up. I'm set up just inside the hardwoods. So I'm sitting there watching these 2 deer, and out of nowhere, he is standing there close to the 8 pointer. This is 20 yards away, so here I am getting ready. My movement or heartbeat made them turn and run a few feet. Then they stop and waiting for him to turn. When he did, I pull the trigger (crossbow). I saw him kick so pretty sure I hit him. I texted my son and told him I think I shot him. He was just getting off work. He said I'm on my way. Here I am looking for blood or arrow till he shows up. I found blood then followed it to the fence where he went back in hardwoods. So I waited on help, then he shows up. It's been about an hour by now, so we start inside the hardwoods. Following the blood trail about 100 yards or so, we find him, and the hi-fives kick in, and we couldn't believe the size of this deer. Both of us were pumped. My son and I have had some good hunts over the years.
