10-point buck was in full velvet
Mason Powell of Fayetteville, NC killed a 10-point hammer of a buck that weighed 200 pounds on Aug. 15, 2024 in Chesterfield County, SC. It was a buck that Powell was familiar with from last season, and from a handful of trail cam photos leading up to this year’s Opening Day. He shot the buck with a crossbow from 23 yards away while perched in an elevated stand. The buck, which was in full velvet, ran for a short distance before dropping for good.
“I’ve been watching this deer for the past two years, and had several encounters with him. But last season, I just felt like he needed another year,” said Powell. “As bad as I hated to let him go, I knew it was the right choice!”
After letting him walk last season, Powell did what he could to keep the buck coming back.
“I’ve been pouring the protein and minerals to them hard this year, along with running trail cameras since early summer. But I did not have many sightings of him,” he said. “Then with a week before the season opener, he started showing up regularly, and during daylight at that.”
Powell finally encountered the deer again the afternoon of South Carolina’s archery season opener in Game Zone 4.
“Opening afternoon, I was sitting in the stand as deer starting pouring into the food plot. And at 7:45 p.m., he stepped out and offered me an awesome shot at 23 yards. Needless to say, my Ravin R26 crossbow with Rage broadhead did the job. He ran about 45 yards and piled up!” he said.
Bag A Buck Contest
Congratulations to Powell, who is now in the running for our monthly prize of a free 1-year subscription to Carolina Sportsman Magazine, a Sportsman hat, a two-pack of Lowcountry Seasonings, as well as our Grand Prize, which includes a 1-year-subscription to Carolina Sportsman Magazine, a Sportsman hat, and a 2-day, two-person hunt at Cherokee Run Hunting Lodge in Chesterfield, SC.
See all the bucks entered so far, and upload yours at carolinasportsman.com/bag-a-buck-2024.
