Jason Roberts of Irmo, SC killed a 12-point buck in Newberry County, SC on Oct. 18, 2026.
He shot the buck with a Browning 270 during an afternoon hunt while sitting on the ground from 35 yards away.
Roberts summed up the hunt with these words:
“It was one of those cool, windy October afternoons in Newberry County, South Carolina. The northeast wind had been blowing a steady 10–20 mph all afternoon, keeping the woods restless and the treetops swaying. I slipped into my stand around 4:30 p.m., hoping to catch a glimpse of a big buck I’d been dreaming about all season.
As the evening wore on, the wind continued to howl through the hardwoods. But just after 7:00 p.m., something changed. The wind began to die down, and the woods fell almost completely silent. It was one of those moments when you just had a feeling something was about to happen.
Around 7:15, I caught movement along the creek bottom. A doe was making her way through the woods at a pretty good pace, moving with a purpose. As she passed my stand, I heard leaves crunching and branches breaking behind her. Something was coming, and it wasn’t wasting any time.
Then he stepped out.
A massive 12-point buck, wide and heavy, with a thick neck and an impressive rack. He was locked in on that doe, following her every move. At just 30 yards away, he stopped along the edge of the creek, working the air and picking up her scent.
My heart was pounding so hard I thought he might hear it. After dreaming about this deer all season, there he was, standing right in front of me.
I slowly raised my rifle, settled the crosshairs just behind his shoulder, took a steady breath, and squeezed the trigger.
BOOM!
The buck kicked hard, took off running, and made it about 15 yards before crashing to the ground along the edge of the creek bottom.
I sat there for a few minutes, trying to take in what had just happened. From my stand, I could see exactly where he had fallen. After gathering myself, I climbed down and made my way toward him.
There he was, piled up beside a big oak tree, just a few feet from the creek’s edge.
I stood there in disbelief, staring at a deer I’d spent so much time thinking about. Twelve beautiful points, thick bases, incredible mass, and a rack that somehow looked even bigger lying there in front of me.
All those hours in the stand, checking cameras, watching the weather, and wondering if I’d ever get my chance had finally paid off.”
Roberts is now entered in our Bag-A-Buck Contest, and is eligible to win our monthly prize pack, which includes a set of Ultimate Eyes & Ears Combo from ShellShock Pro, a YETI Rambler bottle, a prize package from Buck Commander and Duck Commander, and a Carolina Sportsman hat, as well as our Grand Prize, a 2-day hunt for two to Cherokee Run Hunting Lodge in Chesterfield County, SC.
