I closed a chapter to a 3-year quest on Nov. 7, 2020 when I killed this buck in Wayne County. There’s a lot I could say about the hunt for this particular deer, but to put it short, the last three years have been an emotional rollercoaster. I’ve never been so determined in my life.
I wasn’t planning on hunting the morning I shot him, but something told me to get up and go. It was a cool 50-degree, foggy morning near the swamp where I was sitting. This was his spot, where I knew he loved to roam. I hoped I would see him.
After about an hour on stand, I heard something directly to my right, in thick cover. Then, a few seconds later, out he steps in front of me at twenty yards. We had about a 4-second stare down in which I strongly felt like it was meant for me and this deer to meet.
I raised my rifle and was able to get a shot off into his shoulder where he took it like any mature swamp buck would. He went about 40 yards and piled up in the edge of the swamp. All of my emotions caught up to me as soon as I saw him. I dropped to my knees 20 yards from where he laid, called my buddy and said, “It’s over.”
Phillip Lee — Goldsboro, N.C.
Be the first to comment