Calhoun County hunter kills 2nd chance trophy buck

Calhoun County buck offers second chance to hunter

Lawton J. Robinson of St. Matthews, S.C. killed a big Calhoun County buck on Sept. 9. It’s a deer he’d watched for several years through trail cam photos. But the day he killed it wasn’t the first time he’d shot at the deer. It wasn’t even the first time he’d hit the deer.

“For a few years, he was a complete ghost. He was entirely nocturnal. I’ve been watching this brute for at least 4 years now. He came out 3 weeks ago around 220 yards. I took the shot, but never found any sign of him being hit,” said Robinson.

He put in a lot of thought about what went wrong on the hunt. And he spent time on the range practicing with his rifles and shotguns. And he kept after the elusive buck.

“Patience and hot pursuit finally came together”

On Sept. 7, Robinson saw a lot of action from his stand. And just before dark, the buck stepped out, offering him a shot. But this time, he didn’t take it.

“My stand is on top of a hill and I had him broadside. He was 215 yards away in a bottom. Well, I had to work that night at 11 p.m., and I didn’t want to chance a bloody shot with no time to trail the deer. Especially when I thought I’d missed a few weeks before,” he said.

It wasn’t an easy decision for Robinson, but he felt confident he was doing the right thing. And he had high hopes of seeing the deer again. And he did see it again, just two days later.

“On Sept. 9, the deer were moving again and it all came together. After watching 10 does, including one with her twin fawns, the big buck’s traveling companion, a 6-point, stepped out. Soon afterward, my target buck made his way into the lane at 185 yards broadside. I waited until he walked farther out in the open. After a few deep breaths to calm my heart rate, I took the shot,” he said.

The buck kicked up, then disappeared.

Lack of blood leads to temporary discouragement

“I went to look for any sign to see if I hit him. Nothing. Not a drop of blood. Not even where he kicked up or anything. Discouraged once again, I looked around with my flashlight. And at the edge of the woods, there he was, 20 yards from where he ran off. He was down!” he said.

The date, Sept. 9, was significant for the hunter. He killed his first ever buck on Sept. 9, 1999. So he found it a nice coincidence to take this buck on the same date so many years later, especially during a year such as this one.

“2020 ain’t so bad after all. I completed my journey of getting “The ghost” and I couldn’t be more ecstatic.

And that first shot Robinson took at the deer? It wasn’t as far off as he’d thought.

“He had three holes in him. Entry and exit holes, and a hit from when I thought I’d missed. Turns out I did hit him 3 weeks ago, but I just grazed him 1 inch from his windpipe.

_______________

Congratulations to Robinson, who is now entered in our Bag-A-Buck contest, making him eligible for a number of great prizes, including the grand prize which includes a 2-day, two-man hunt at Cherokee Run Hunting Lodge. Click here to view the Bag-A-Buck gallery or to enter the contest yourself.