For the afternoon hunt, I was placed in a stand properly called “L”, overlooking a big field with opportunities for shots over 200 yards in both directions. As I was walking to the stand, a young fawn stood up from her bed not 15 yards from me. To my surprise she didn’t run and after a stare down which seemed like an eternity she gracefully walked off never spooked. As I continue my slip to the stand I see there are already some deer in the field. Two young fawns not 50 yards from the stand and a young 8pt around 150 yards down the way. I was planning on waiting them out so I could slide up in the stand unnoticed. As I tried to conceal my body behind a young pine, I hear some activity to my left, sure enough another 3 does walk out in the field not 50 yards from my position. One of the three was obviously old and weary. I was certain that I would be busted, as she began feeding right towards me! As she closed the distance and got within 30 yards all I could think about was man I wish I had my bow. As the standoff commenced another young buck joined the 8pt and they began to spar. I realized that they were moving and my ass needed to be in that stand. Finally the old doe began to feed quartering away from me and I knew a move had to be made. Knowing the odds of slipping in a stand with 7 deer in the field, I slipped ever so cautiously. I arrived to the base of the ladder undetected. I began inching my way up the ladder one step at a time. The deer would look up, I would pause, and unbelievably I climbed up all 16 feet without spooking a deer.
What happened in the next three hours could only be described as epic. Deer began pouring in the field, nice young bucks sparing, grunting and chasing everywhere. Pigs the size of the Volkswagens were enjoying the nice fall evening in the field as well. I lost count somewhere around 20 deer and I knew that it was hunts like this that mature bucks were harvested. Sure enough, as the sun went down past the trees something caught the attention of all the deer in the field. It was another deer, a buck, and his body dwarfed the other bucks. It was obvious he was mature, and he carried an impressive unique rack. It didn’t take long for me to realize that this was the buck that other hunters, including my dad, have seen previously, and appropriately nicknamed “fifty-three”. He had a nice 10pt frame on his left, but only a slick three on his right. I observed him for minutes as I tried to regain my nerve. I wanted to wait until the last minute of legal daylight to harvest him in hopes that something bigger may step out. I decided that I should get a look at him in the scope, and I couldn’t resist the quartering away shot he was presenting.
The shot was true, as it penetrated his high shoulder, instantaneously disabling his nervous system. The bullet exited the base of his neck, as the deer lay motionless where he took his last step. I got on the phone and sent my dad a text message. In the past when we harvest bucks we always send the acronym BBD, for “big buck down.” I typed “53D BABY!!!!” The solo walk back to get the truck was as peaceful as I could have ever dreamed. I gave my thanks to the big man upstairs, and realized how fortunate I was to harvest such an impressive animal, especially on my first hunt of the year. Dad met me at the truck and we drove to the field to load up the buck and take pictures. It was then that I realized what I thought was an 8pt, was actually a 9pt with a kicker off his g2. So “Mr. Fifty-three” turned into “Mr. Sixty-three.”
A special thanks goes out my dad, Major Harding, who invited me on this hunt, and of course Don Braddock, the landowner who has done a marvelous job managing the land making it a deer hunters dream. This will be a hunt that I will never forget, and a great way to kick off the season.
Next I’ll be traveling to Alabama for some doe management, and then off to South Texas for some big buck action, then I’ll finish up the season hunting the rut in Alabama. Oh life is sooo good. As always, I’m living the hunt life….are you???
