Melissa Sanderson of Ruffin, NC killed a 9-point buck in Rockingham County, NC on Nov. 7, 2026.
She shot the buck with a CVA Wolf black powder .50 cal during an evening hunt while sitting in an elevated stand from 50 yards away.
Sanderson summed up the hunt with these words:
“First hunt of the year, got in a little late around 4. About 10 minutes into the hunt, I had a small 6 pointer chasing a doe. Seen a few more does and then a white cat walked in front of me and turned and walked all the way up the field and I could hear a few deer blowing. Something told me get ready and a big nanny doe walked out about 15 yards from me and hit a scrape and I put the crosshairs on her and then I heard something stomping behind her and waited a couple more minutes and all I could see was a neck and rack. Didn’t really have a shot on the front shoulder, so I did what I thought was best and traced the neck down to where I thought was right behind the shoulder and took the shot. He dropped and then got up and stumbled into the woods about 20-30 feet and that’s where we found him. Perfect heart shot!”
Sanderson 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.
