Hunter: Heath McGuire
Points: 11 (6L, 5R)
County: Hancock
Season: 2015-2016
Hunt Story
I had my wife sitting with me for this hunt, so we were limited to just a couple of stands that we could both sit comfortably in. The stand she chose for us looks down a 200-yard food plot surrounded by planted pines and is a spot that we’ve had a stand in for more than 25 years. This is a great spot during the rut, but I’ve never seen a buck from it after Thanksgiving. So I wasn’t really expecting more than just spending time with her. At 5 p.m. a young 8-point walked through a small opening beyond the food plot at about 220 yards and stopped just once to look out into the food plot before moving on. He was followed by a small fork horn that came from the opening out to feed in the food plot. While glassing the fork horn and looking for the original 8-point, I spotted a third buck entering the same opening and could tell he was much larger. He entered the opening walking with his head down and did not appear interested in the food plot or the other bucks, just passing by. I knew from watching the 8-point cross that I only had small window before he would re-enter cover and be out of sight. I already had a solid rest, so I lined up my shot for a high shoulder shot and fired at 5:05 p.m. The buck disappeared! I watched one buck run left, the fork horn cross the food plot to the right, but I couldn’t see the buck I had shot. Afraid to push him if the shot had not connected perfectly, I waited 45 minutes before beginning the track. I quietly made my way down to where he was standing when I fired, hoping to find a good blood trail to follow. As I crested a small rise at the end of the food plot, I noticed something white behind a waist high cluster of broom sedge but still couldn’t clearly make out what it was. As I moved closer I started to make out antlers. My buck! My shot had been true and he dropped where he was standing. With 11 points, 6 left and 5 right, this was the best buck I’ve taken. After getting him back to camp, one my friends recognized him as buck he had on camera only one time back in August. Comparing the pictures to the buck now in front of us it was clear the rut had been tough. Gone was the sagging belly from the summer and also most of his right brow tine. Hopefully he was the victor in his conquest and spread his genes for future generations.
