Big 8 sneaks in
On the morning of Oct. 17, the temps were supposed to be cool, so I decided to squeeze in a morning hunt before work in York County, SC. There was a spot on my farm where I didn’t have a stand and where there aren’t any trees to climb that I wanted to hunt. It’s a transition line between the swamp and hardwoods.
With the wind out of the west, I need to position myself in the swap area looking back toward the hardwoods. I decided to use my turkey chair and just find some cover or a tree to sit against. I actually moved to three different trees as the sun started to come up, realizing now that I could see, I wasn’t in the best spot.
Buck had an 18-inch spread
Once I got settled in, I started seeing deer almost immediately. I had five does come within 25 yards of me, sitting on the ground in the swamp. Then another two does showed up a little while later cruising through the hardwoods.
Then at around 8:30, I caught a glimpse of a deer off to my left about 125 yards away, walking the transition line coming my direction.
I looked through the scope and could tell he was a shooter, a Big 8, but I didn’t have a shot at that moment, and he was walking non-stop. I actually lost sight of him cutting in and out of brush for what seemed liked 5 minutes. And I thought he had gotten away at one point. Then to my surprise, I saw movement 40 yards directly in front. It was him. He had closed all that distance without me being able to see him, like big bucks do.
I had to make a quick shot with my .308 Bergara, and the buck dropped in his tracks. Going in late to work actually paid off big time! He had an 18-inch inside spread and will look good in the man cave.
–Chas Morton; Rock Hill, SC; 10/17/2023
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Bag A Buck Contest
Congratulations to Morton, who is now in the running for our monthly prize of a free 1-year subscription to Carolina Sportsman Magazine, a Mini Maglite, an 18-ounce Yeti Rambler, a two-pack of Lowcountry Seasonings, as well as our Grand Prize, which includes a 3-year-subscription to Carolina Sportsman Magazine, a 2-day two-person hunt at Cherokee Run Hunting Lodge in Chesterfield, SC, and other prizes to be determined.
See all the bucks entered so far, and upload yours at carolinasportsman.com/bag-a-buck-2023, or email photo and detailed info to images@carolinasportsman.com.
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