Hunter: Jo Ann Bickley
Points: 8 (4L, 4R)
County: Worth
Season: 2017-2018
Hunt Story
I was blessed with an invite to a friend's family farm near Sylvester, Georgia over this past weekend. I knew that there would be nice bucks, but I was not prepared for what I saw. I had passed on several bucks Friday and Saturday and had one more opportunity to bag a nice buck on Sunday morning. My son had suggested I take the 7mag instead of my little 308. I found out why when the full sun uncovered the 300-yard break in the pines that stretched before me. I was using my ranger with minor magnification to scan the area, when this buck stepped out at the end of the break. The wind had been blowing a gale, but had softened at that time down to about 15. I grabbed my rifle and knowing the drop at that yardage, I touched off a shot. He dropped, but was still moving. I had shot too high. I am embarrassed to admit, but I had to shoot a couple extra times to hit this moving target at 300 yards. Finally, he stopped and I put a round at the base of his head. I reloaded my rifle to prepare for a hog. To my surprise, I soon saw a deer much larger than the one I killed. A beautiful 12-point with 10-inch tines strolled out at 84 yards and proceeded to walk away and not leave the lane until he was at the 230-yard mark. If that is not enough, a large 10 slightly smaller than the eight I had taken, followed the path of the 12. I have hunted a lifetime, but never have I experienced a greater excitement. I was reduced to tears as I knew that I will never encounter a more perfect day of hunting.
