Let them walk for later success
Colton Cates killed a familiar buck in Durham County, NC on Oct 27, 2023, with his crossbow. The 10-year-old hunter had an opportunity in 2022 to harvest the same deer but decided to let him walk to get bigger.
In 2023 Colton’s dad had multiple trail cam pictures of the deer and could tell the deer had put on several more inches of antler mass.
During the 2023 bow season Colton encountered the deer on two different hunts within 20 yards, but it was too dark to take an ethical shot with the crossbow. Colton and his dad knew as the rut got closer the deer would be moving earlier in the day.
On Oct. 27, 2023 (pre rut) the big buck came into the food plot earlier in the evening and Cates made a 20-yard double lung shot with his crossbow. The deer ran about 50 yards.
The buck had put on about 10 to 15 more inches of antler length and mass since the 2022 season.
Cates was very happy and glad that he let the buck walk in 2022.
–Ricky Cates
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Bag A Buck Contest
Congratulations to Cates, 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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