Jack Jr

I got in my lucky stand (ole #3) on Aug 16 about 615pm, I saw a small buck & a doe early then at around 8:20, he stepped out with his bruiser buddy (also a hit-lister). Both broadside in the food plot,I was presented with a dilemma that a hunter can only dream of; which velvet-clad trophy buck to harvest?! I had been dreaming of this one buck for some time so it wasn’t a hard decision for me. Within seconds of him emerging from the Orangeburg county swamp,I had him in my sights & dropped the hammer. Waiting for the smoke to clear,I anxiously try to find him in the scope to see if he’s down,running,or still there. He is still there, standing, approximately 5 ft from where he was just was, looking very confused & his buddy has since bolted. I get him in the scope again, squeeze the trigger, and nothing! My 20+ yr old semi-auto rifle dad handed down to me has jammed returning a bullet to the chamber. I rammed it in with the heel of my palm, go to find big boy again, & he’s gone.

Immediately I get a text from my dad who’s working a field down the road “that you?” he asked. “Yeah. Please tell me it sounded good” I replied. He responded with “it didn’t sound good at all” & my heart sank. Immediately started regretting my shot choice,timing,etc. It had been raining off & on that whole evening so I knew I better hurry to check for blood before it was potentially washed away with the next passing shower. I get to the general vicinity where is saw him standing & I see a small pool of blood,simultaneously I hear him fumbling around 40-50yds in the swamp bottom. I ran back up to the hill & called my wife with excitement,waited for dad to come get me and we sat around for about 30min waiting for Jack Jr to expire. We made our way back down into the swamp to check for blood & after unsuccessfully doing so,I just pushed into the woods where I heard him at. There he laid,exactly where I heard him last. My shot placement was perfect,he just had that adrenaline & desire to escape. I will cherish this hunt as long as I live!

Andy Till
8/16/2021
Orangeburg County
8pts, 175lbs