During the 2024 season, I had several pictures of this same buck. During the muzzleloading season I encountered him twice, with hopes he would survive another year to 5.5.
Put the camera 3rd week of June, with hopes to get pictures, as I knew he survived 2024 based off pictures of him in January. July 1st was the first time I saw him come in, then watched him almost daily grow and shed his velvet on 9/9. Once his velvet was shed, as always, he changed up and came less frequently. I maintained my same routine, ensuring to only bait when the wind was good, during the proper time.
Based on his location in some hardwoods on a field edge, I decided to only hunt him during the evenings. I hunted Saturday, Sunday, and Monday evening, seeing all his former buddies, but not him. Tuesday night, I skipped as the wind was a ENE, that wasn’t favorable. At 715P on Tuesday, he walked in and I had skipped. Seeing that, I knew he must have me patterned, or I am doing something that is alerting him that I am there.
Wednesday 17th when I went in at 5PM, I changed up my routine of parking and entering. Around 7PM, an 8pt, smaller buck, and some does came into the area, but would not come in. I kept watching where I knew he consistently entered the woods from the thicket, and sure enough at around 730P he started making his way in. By this time, light was getting dim with the overcast and heavy hardwood coverage, I was down to minutes. As he was coming in, he paused broadside at what I knew was a 20-21 yard tree. With light diminishing, I didn’t want to take a chance and wait for him to come in, so I decided that was the moment to send it. I held steady and let it the arrow fly, watching my green nock disappear on its mark! He ran about 80 yards and that was it, my year long journey with the “Mayor” was over.
Most will tell you, “If you don’t kill him, your neighbor will.” I counter with that statement, “if you do, you’ve guaranteed his fate!” This is proof, if you want to kill a mature deer, let them go and grow, the neighbor is not always successful.
Hunter’s name: Mitch Gaines
Goldston NC
Chatham County, NC
9/17/2025
9-point buck
