Hunter: Matthew Harris
Points: 13 (6L, 7R)
County: Fulton
Season: 2017-2018
Hunt Story
I first got pictures on my Moultrie Trail Cam at a Feeder back in August. I knew they used our property as a travel corridor. I removed all unnatural food sources 10 days prior to season start. I moved my camera onto the most traveled corridor and was getting pictures of a bachelor group moving through at night only. Tuesday evening after Irma I was wanting to sit in my blind but my daughter wanted me to come have dinner with her before returning to college so I went home. After sitting the next morning and only seeing Does I checked the camera to find that They had came through at 7:35 and the big one I named Al was about 15 yards from my blind. I sat Thursday morning and no show. I checked camera and saw they came through again but it was now after 9P.M. and again on Friday morning at 6A.M. After conversing with my cousin Johnny Harris about how to maybe pattern the group he advised me to just sit every morning and evening I could and they would maybe slip up. So with that encouragement I had decided to start that evening and not miss a sit starting that evening. I got in my blind around 6 p.m. It was not long until a small 6-point and four does showed up and played peek-a-boo with me for about an hour while grazing on privet. Suddenly they all cleared out of Dodge. It was getting late and I just felt something was going on. I got ready. Clipped on and full alert. That's when the first buck came in, an older 8-point. He stopped behind a pair of pines and was nibbling on some Virginia Creeper. But i could tell he was watching behind him. Within another minute two more came in and one was Big Al. Big Al was right at 30 yards but was facing away not giving me a shot. The third Buck was a perfect big 8. They were all nibbling on the shoots of weeds growing around the trees. When they were all finally looking down at the same time I drew back and got my 30-yard pin on Al. I held it for what seemed an hour when he finally turned broadside. I wasted no time getting on him, breathed out and gently touched my release. I immediately heard that beautiful whack of a broadhead hitting its target. They all immediately bolted back in the direction they came from but not before I could spot the large blood spot on the side of Al right where I had aimed. I immediately called my wife to give her the news and then began that hour long wait which takes an eternity. At 8:45 I walked to the spot where i had shot at him and began looking. I found a short blood trail and then nothing. But I used my experience from years of hunting and followed the trail which was the path of least resistance. After a careful, cautious 80-yard search I spotted my arrow and a crime scene of blood and then 20 yards from that he was piled up in the middle of the trail. He was the most splendid site. I thanked the lord for this long sought after accomplishment and the rest was game check, phone calls and getting him home.
