I’ve hunted the same private land for almost 10 years. Six years ago I was after a buck that was rarely seen on camera in daylight. Adjacent property hunters were calling him Crabclaw. He was shot in 2018 by another hunter and I honestly never dreamed I would have a chance at such a nice buck again. But Crabclaw II was born. And so the story begins.
I first had Crabclaw II on camera in 2020 slightly smaller than in 2024 when I harvested him. This buck was smart and managed to elude me many times. In 2022, I shot at this buck twice embarrassingly missing him clean both times. Turned out I had a bad box of ammo that I mistakenly grabbed from the gun safe. That was on opening day. I watched him bounce across the food plot from 60 yards away head held high. I didn’t change anything other than the box of ammo once I realized I grabbed the bad box. Two days later I shot a hog in almost the same location and with a shot placement exactly where I aimed.
In 2023, I climbed into my stand early one afternoon and Crabclaw II came out early right behind 2 does. I didn’t even have a chance to get my rifle up before he disappeared into a low spot and I never saw him again in daylight that season.
In 2024, I was excited to see Crabclaw II show up again on camera although he was coming in late at night. In October I shot a nice 8 pt from another food plot on the property and actually decided I really liked hunting that area as there was a nice stand of hardwoods alongside a creek and the food plot.
I was home early from work on November 12 and decided to go hunt the food plot by the creek. I had been in the stand for about 20 mins when I saw 2 does cross the old road bed leading into the food plot and disappear into the hardwoods to the left of the food plot and near the creek. About 15 mins later I could make out a large bodied deer moving slowly towards the food plot. It stopped about 150 yards out. I could see antlers and I knew it was a good buck. He was standing facing me. As he stepped into the edge of the old roadbed, he stopped to rub a tree. I picked my binoculars up to get a better look. By now he was staring straight towards the food plot and if I moved, he was going to see me. But I could clearly see that this was Crabclaw II and he was out in daylight. I had never had him on my camera in that foodplot. I watched him walk into some thick pines and I could only hope and pray he would come back out during legal shooting hours.
A short time later the does reappeared this time in the food plot and were about 70 yards away. They were jumpy so I knew he had to be nearby. They continued to watch the woods and about 30 mins later they started jumping as if something was spooking them. They were watching the woods now near the creek. They left and Crabclaw II came walking in from the back left of the foodplot. He must have circled behind me and walked up the edge of the creek to the other end of the food plot. He was walking directly to me and at about 65 yards he went into the thick pines on the right. I had no shot on him bc he had his neck stuck out and down trying to smell the does. But I had a feeling he would be back out so I set up and got ready and he came back out broadside at about 50 yards and stopped! I shot him and he didn’t take a step. 2024 has been a season to remember. He scored 134 2/8. I was very happy to be blessed with such a fine buck and a freezer full of venison!
Hunter’s name: Stacy Mitchell
Blythewood South Carolina
Kershaw County, SC
11/12/2024
9-point buck
