Hunter: Kennedy Griffin
Points: 8 (4L, 4R)
County: Douglas
Season: 2022-2023
Hunt Story
We have been seeing this buck on camera and out of range for two years. We started calling him Crab Claw because of his left main beam having a little crab claw look. On 10-18-22 the temperature dropped 10 degrees and the wind was blowing like crazy all day. I hunted the morning and saw nothing. When I picked Kennedy up I said this will be a good evening to hunt if the wind dies down. She was in on chasing down her first opportunity for a buck. She has taken two does with perfect shot placement with her Excalibur 308 Short crossbow over the past two years. Sitting in the ground blind we noticed the wind start to lay down. Ten minutes later at 6:44 pm I catch movement and whisper 'Deer.... it's him, it's Crab Claw! Get ready!' She leans up clicks the safety of and waits trembling with buck fever. I tell her to take deep breaths and wait for a good shot. He steps into an opening and I told her when you're ready shoot.... 20 seconds passes that feels like an eternity with a perfect broadside shot. I whisper shoot... shoot... shoot him! (She later told me she was calming herself down so she wouldn't miss). Thump! she sails a beautiful double lung shot through him and begins to hyperventilate while I am cheering and shaking her repeating over and over "YOU GOT HIM!!!" It did not take long to find the trail that led 50 yards to this beautiful old man "Crab Claw." I immediately picked her up and started jumping up and down in circles while we were both yelling like we just won a championship. Undoubtedly one of the best moments of both our lives!
