It was October 18th, a crisp Saturday morning that carried the kind of stillness only the woods can hold. I’d been watching this buck all offseason tracking his movement, studying his habits, trying to pattern him for months. He’d disappeared completely during archery season, almost like he knew I was after him. But once the pre-rut kicked in, everything changed.
At around 9 a.m., there he was my trophy buck stepping out at about 35 yards. My heart was pounding, but I knew exactly who he was the moment I saw those antlers glint through the trees. He paused, locked eyes with me for a second, then went back to feeding. I could tell he was cautious, so I waited. When he moved behind a tree, I seized my chance, raised my .30-06, and squeezed the trigger.
Hunter’s name: Anthony Waters
Union South Carolina
Union south carolina
10/18/25
10-point buck