Hunter: Phil Davis
Points: 16 (9L, 7R)
County: Jasper
Season: 2023-2024
Hunt Story
I went to the stand a little early because it was such a beautiful day and I was getting mis day pics of deer movement on the cell cam. I settled into my box stand overlooking my 1-acre food plot. I had several does and a young 3-point buck come out between 3 and 5. Around 6 p.m. they all spooked for some reason and the plot cleared. Thirty minutes later the little 3-point and a small yearling doe came back out and started feeding on the oats. As I watched them feed and with the light fading from the woods, I caught movement on the other end of the plot, I raised my binos and could tell it was a big, bodied deer and caught a glimpse of antler. As light faded, he walked out onto the plot and I noticed he had a good rack and thought he was a big short-tined 8 I've had on cam. He walked out to about 50 yards and started feeding, and the little 3-pointer walked over to him and they touched noses. Then the bigger buck saw the small doe on my end of the plot and started walking my way. At 30 yards he turned quartering to and I took the shot, I aimed at the left front shoulder and squeezed the trigger on the centerpoint crossbow. Upon impact he dropped down in the front end and plowed out of the plot into the young, planted pines bordering My plot. I went back to my camp and waited an hour and a half before going to look for him. I found the bolt lying in the plot broken and covered in blood, within a few yards I was following ample amounts of bright red artery blood into the young pines, 50 yards later I was amazed to find it wasn't the 8-point I thought he was, Hes a main frame 11-point with good mass and six kickers off his bases. He was huge!!!! I'm guessing well over 250 pounds!! I called a good friend who lives a few miles away and he came over to help drag him out.
