After watching “Bucky” since June, often from my back porch, and praying that I would get a chance to see him during a hunting opportunity, my dreams came to reality about five minutes after legal shooting light on the opening morning of black powder season, Oct. 28, 2023 in Orange County, NC.
After watching a group of does through my binoculars since well before shooting time, I saw a quick glimpse of a big buck chasing a doe. I thought it was Bucky, but I couldn’t hold the binoculars still when he stepped back out of the woods. It was too big to be any other deer around! I took the shot at about 100 yards with my father’s TC Omega .50 caliber muzzleloader.
I was hunting from a 15-foot tall tripod, and the smoke lingered in front of me so much that I couldn’t see where any of the deer went, except one. There was a wide 8-pointer only 50 yards away, looking confused. He waited around long enough for me to reload and fire again. I watched the 8-point run into the woods where I found him just a step inside. Now to look for the first buck.
I found blood fairly soon after taking up the track. It was still early enough that I used my headlamp to look for the blood trail in the woods. The deer made a u-turn and headed the opposite direction. I was able to locate the buck approximately 50 yards from where he started. It was Bucky!
I’m a well-seasoned hunter, but the emotions were overwhelming when I realized that I had taken such a magnificent animal that I had watched for so long with such anticipation. The size of his antlers are impressive. But the double main beam is what makes him special. I don’t care about the “score” but I’m sure I’ll find out. This is just such a special deer for me and I feel truly blessed!
–Alan Webb; Mebane, NC
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Bag A Buck Contest
Congratulations to Webb, 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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