I first got this deer on camera in mid July of this year, 2025. After several pictures he quickly gained the name “Sandspur”. I hunted this deer 14 times in the first 16 days of rifle season. I had one encounter the Friday before harvest 09/12/2025 at 5:57 AM and could see him in clear moonlight but shooting time wasn’t until 5 minutes later… 6:02 AM. He left the food plot at 5:59 am after several hunts with no encounters. He was on camera nearly everyday/every other day between 9:30 pm-4am but would not daylight…
On 09/16/2025 he finally gave me a clear opportunity to get a shot and I took it and the Good Lord put this trophy together for me. Sandspur ended up being 20-25 points (depending on how small you call a point) and 189 poundsThe joy and excitement was something you cannot put a price tag on. My first phone call was to my wife who was thrilled followed by my dad who may have been more excited for me than I was for myself. I then called a close buddy of mine who also hunts with me who helped me load the deer and was there within a matter of minutes. After that of course the pictures quickly got sent to several buddies who celebrated with me and shared their excitement throughout calls and texts.
I shot it with a Ruger American Hunter 308. I hunted this specific deer and passed on some great bucks with the hopes I would be able to harvest Sandspur.
All of my hunts start with a word of prayer in the woods which this one did also. I typically read some scripture when I get into the stand and this year I began writing down all the weather factors (Temp, pressure, humidity, wind, Etc) also followed by a bible verse and on that hunt it was Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”.
These worldly trophies are great and bring much joy but without God I am nothing. This hunt was truly a hunt of a lifetime and one I will always treasure but all the praise and glory to God.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and hope you enjoy Sandspur as much as I have.
Hunter’s name: Kevin Smith
McBee South Carolina
Kershaw County, SC
09/16/2025
20+ point buck
