Hunter: Tripp Williams
Points: 8 (4L, 4R)
County: Lincoln
Season: 2016-2017
Hunt Story
Slipped away from work early and got in the stand at 5 p.m. Does started to filter into the field around 6:30 p.m. in groups of threes. By 6:55 there were 16 antlerless deer in the field. A buck enter the field grunting and chasing does. He checked several does and came within 15 yards of my stand. At that time, I was able to see he was a young up-and-coming buck. A very nice 8-point but not what I was looking for. As the buck passed my stand he went on high alert. Ears out and walking very stiffly. I surveyed the pines just beyond the field to find a deer. Could not tell if it was a buck or doe due to low light conditions. The 8-point went straight to the deer standing in the pines. As the 8-point approached the deer in the pines, the deer stepped out and came nose to nose with the 8-point. Then the deer from the pines pawed the ground, eased over the pawed out spot and squatted to pee. I knew then that the deer in the pines was a buck. The 8-point turned and walked to within 10 yards of my stand. Followed closely by the buck from the pines. As the two bucks went by, I could see that this was a deer we had named Sky High from the trail-camera survey. Both deer walked straight away from me heading back to the pines. They both went 25 yards away and circled a sweetgum tree in the food plot. With no shot, I thought my hunt was over with both deer walking away and darkness creeping in fast. To my excitement the deer circled the sweetgum and started coming back in my direction. The 8-point walked within 10 yards of my stand with Sky High about 5 yards behind him. I opened the window on the box stand and got ready. As Sky High approached, I struggled to get him in focus. I turned the scope power to its lowest setting and was able to find him. Sky High got within 10 yards and stopped. I took aim and squeezed the trigger. When the rifle went off and I looked up to see where the deer had gone, Sky High had bolted 15 yards and stopped broadside in front of me. I opened the bolt action and loaded another round. Before I took aim again, he dropped. I waited about 5 minutes and got down to take in the deer we named Sky High.
