Hunter: Ethan Lodge
Points: 12 (6L, 6R)
County: Taliaferro
Season: 2015-2016
Hunt Story
We’d hunted the white oak hollow for years (been going with dad since I was 4) but this year the deer had seemed change their habits, and we weren’t seeing as many from our set stand location. With the great weather conditions and perfect moon phase that Saturday provided, my dad went with a hunch and set me up in a climber 200 yards down from where our set stand is located. The morning was cold, and I was in place at 6:30, but nothing really happened until a huge buck trotted across about 50 yards away, farther down the hollow from me and crossed the creek at 10:03. It was only a quick sight, but he was massive. I texted dad what had happened, and he told me to stay alert in case he jumped up doe and the buck might chase it back in my direction. For 45 minutes nothing happened (except squirrels). Then, just as dad and I were texting and discussing when to call it quits for the morning, I spotted another buck. He was edging his way toward me on the opposite side of the creek, staying close to the edge of the planted pines. The only way I could see him was if he moved. When he was still he’d vanish it seemed. Finally he came a little closer and stood looking left and right but looked relaxed. That’s when I leveled the crosshairs on his shoulder and fired. His entire body came up, and he arched his back and turned back to the pines running. My dad said after he heard the shot he was on his way to me (he was hunting the next creek bottom over from me), but he texted telling me to stay put. He got to me in about 15 minutes and said we needed to be patient and allow enough time for the deer to lay down and expire. The planted pines are about 13 years old, and it’s thick in there, so he didn’t want the deer to run again. I’m a good shot, so he was confident that I hit the mark. Funny thing is, he’s color blind and can’t see blood on the ground, so as I searched for blood he began looking in the pines by walking the lanes between the trees. After a short time he whistled for me, so I headed his was and he pointed 20 feet beyond where he was and said, “I think your deer is over there.” And there he was. It’s my second deer, and he’s my first buck. Dad believes he’s an older deer. Maybe 6 1/2 years old. Craziest thing though. The one I saw an hour before was monster big. He’s still out there. 🙂
