Hunter: Kelly Stanfill
Points: 10 (5L, 5R)
County: Macon
Season: 2018-2019
Hunt Story
I own a 26 ½ acre parcel in Macon County, 5 miles from Ideal, GA. I was in a box stand I constructed several years ago that has been a very successful stand through the years. I usually put a lot of time and effort into my hunting. This year however I have not been able to do much in the way of preparation. Friends of mine that own adjoining property planted my small food plot for me. I just got my camera out two weeks prior before the hunt. No one was able to go this weekend, so I went by myself. I got in my stand before daylight. My expectations were low because of a lack of effort on my part. I was in the stand for a little of 45 minutes when I spotted a deer through the woods. It was a big body deer, however I couldn’t determine the sex of the animal because its head was down eating acorns. The deer passed through my shooting lane and was gone. About 30 minutes later, I looked to my left in the edge of the food plot and there he stood checking a scrape. There were a lot of trees between me and him, even though he standing in a clearing. I picked my spot through the scope and shot. I was very confident in the shot I made. When I got out of the stand and checked the spot where he stood, I was sickened when I saw white hair and mushed corn and acorns. Gut shot, not good. I am not the best tracker in the best circumstances due to some color blindness. I searched around a little and decided to call for a tracking dog. I searched the internet and found Outer Banks Deer Tracking. I phoned Timmy Oller and introduced myself and I told him my situation. He informed me the best thing to do was wait at least 6 hours and he would come by after church to track the deer. It was a long six hours to wait and not try to think about it! I kept going over in my head what I could have done differently for a better outcome. Timmy finally showed up as promised, and we put the dog on the scent. She went into the thickest briar patch I’ve ever seen! My thoughts were “On no – we’ll never find it!” It didn’t take that dog more than 15 minutes, and Timmy said “I’m on him!” That was the best $100 I ever spent! Thank you Lord for giving me this opportunity and thank you for Timmy at Outer Banks Deer Tracking. Kelly Stanfill
