Hunter killed Craven County 8-point buck
Elizabeth Fornes of Vanceboro, NC killed an 8-point buck in Craven County, NC on Sept. 12, 2026.
She shot the buck with a Mathews Arc compound bow during an evening hunt while sitting in an elevated stand from 19 yards away.
Fornes summed up the hunt with these words:
“I had seen this buck earlier in the year in the area. He and several other bucks were traveling together. He would come to the cameras and was stunning to say the least.
After he lost his velvet, I knew this was the buck I wanted to hunt, and I was able to pattern his coming and going.
The morning of Opening Day of Archery, I did not see him or any bucks. Only does and fawns showed up.
I planned on getting my stand that afternoon at 4 pm. It was hot and windy and rain was expected.
Within minutes of getting settled in for the hunt, it began to rain to my dismay, however I decided to tough it out. The rain stopped within 25 minutes and the sun came out and in 2 hours here come the does and fawns, and a young spike.
Around 7:15 the spike gave me an indication that a bigger buck than he was coming in, and sure enough here was my target buck 19 yards away.
I waited for him to settle in the bait area and drew back my Mathews and let an arrow fly. It was a great shot. I was surprised when he went down.
I am thankful to God above for blessing me in this hunt with the 8-point buck like He did!”
Fornes is now entered in our Bag-A-Buck Contest, and is eligible to win our monthly prize pack, which includes a set of Ultimate Eyes & Ears Combo from ShellShock Pro, a YETI Rambler bottle, a prize package from Buck Commander and Duck Commander, and a Carolina Sportsman hat, as well as our Grand Prize, a 2-day hunt for two to Cherokee Run Hunting Lodge in Chesterfield County, SC.
