Hunter: Nate King
Points: 9 (4L, 5R)
County: Gordon
Season: 2023-2024
Hunt Story
I’ve hunted the neighboring 100 acres for the past 4-5 years, but when it sold this past August I began knocking on some doors. Luckily, I was able to get permission right next door on a small 7 acres. I was excited to be able to chase some of the familiar bucks I have had my eye on for the past couple of seasons. The land was mostly hardwoods and had a long ridge running through it. To call this spot a honey hole would be selling it short. Only once out of 21 sits did I not see a deer this season. I had already taken an older 7-pointer on December 1st that I had been hunting and getting pictures of since 2020, so the plan for January 13th was to further fill the freezer. I got in the saddle around 3:30 this afternoon. It was cold, the wind was swirling and the deer movement was nonexistent until a little after 5 p.m. A small 6-pointer came down the ridge around 5:15 and had every intention of shooting him, but he never came closer than 60 yards before heading to the clear-cut next door. Around 5:30 I saw a spike coming down the ridge and took a trail that I knew would come by within bow range. The spike wasn’t alone. There were at least 3 more deer behind him. I knew from trail cams that a lot of the bucks had gathered back into bachelor groups, so I hoped that one of the bigger bucks I had on camera would be in the group. Two spikes, a 4-pointer and another small 6-pointer came down the trail, and then, finally, a 9-pointer with tall brow tines that I have had 2 previous encounters with came trailing behind. They were all headed for the clear cut, but the 9-point stopped in an opening 24 yards away. I was able to draw back and get a shot off before he started moving again. The arrow went through and through and I was confident I had made a good shot. He only ended up going about 80-100 yards. Next came my favorite part of hunting. FaceTiming my wife, son (2) and daughter (1) and getting to share the moment with them.
