10-year-old kills 8-point buck in velvet

8-point buck was in full velvet

On Aug. 14, 2021, 10-year-old Tanner Peeples killed an 8-point buck in full velvet to start his 2021 hunting season off on the right foot. He woke up at 4:30 a.m. to make the trek along with his brother and dad to their grandfather’s farm in Cope, S.C. Tanner and his brother have been hunting with their dad and granddad since they were little boys. They have sat in the stand on youth hunting day, waiting to bag that first buck of the season.

That morning, Tanner and his Paw Paw slipped into the epic stand they call the Tree House way before the sun came up. The stand somewhat resembles an enclosed bridge. It’s about 16 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 10 feet high. It spans the distance across the road so Paw Paw can get his tractor down the road.

Tanner patiently watched the sunlight break and the road become evermore visible as night turns into morning. A little after 7 a.m., a nice buck stepped out about 60 yards away.

Tanner, being so short for the window on the stand, slips into Paw Paw’s lap and steadies the .270. Paw Paw reassures him and whispers “squeeze the trigger real slow.” Then, BOOM! the shot rings out. The deer shoots into the woods.

Short search comes up with big prize

By now, Tanner’s adrenaline is pumping and he starts to breath really heavy with all the excitement. At this point, old memories of last season creep into Tanner’s head of how he shot at two deer and could never find a blood trail. He’s eager to get down, but has to wait until enough time goes by before getting down to start his search.

Tanner and Paw Paw finally exit the stand and rush down the road, eagerly awaiting what they might find. Tanner cautiously steps around the area looking for that single spot of blood before starting his search deeper in the woods. Finally, he spots something —  a single blood spot that leads to another, then another, and then to a smear on the branches of a nearby tree.

Confidence and excitement has been restored. About 40 yards away, Paw Paw finds the nice 8-point buck in velvet. It’s the first buck in velvet to come off his property in 15 years. Tanner helps Paw Paw get the buck back to the road, and the celebration continues.

A very proud day for a dad, Paw Paw, and his grandson. By the way…the story continues. Look for his brother Hunter’s story that help put a bow on a very special youth hunt day.

Bag-A-Buck

Tanner is now entered in our Bag-A-Buck contest. Click here to enter your buck in the Carolina Sportsman Bag-A-Buck contest. We’re giving away some great monthly prizes, as well as a Grand Prize that includes a Millennium M25 hang-on deer stand and a 2-man, 2-day hunt for deer and hogs at Cherokee Run Hunting Lodge in Chesterfield, S.C.