Michael Brooks killed a 10-point buck in Guilford County, NC on Sept. 15, 2026.
He shot the buck with a Ten point crossbow during an evening hunt while sitting in an elevated stand from 25 yards away.
Brooks summed up the hunt with these words:
“Opening afternoon, Saturday Sept. 12, I got in my stand at 4 pm. It was a while before the deer started coming in. From around 5:45 till about 7:30 I had seen most of the does and smaller bucks. One buck was tough to pass but you can’t kill a big buck shooting 120-inch deer.
Around 7:40 I heard a deer walking to me and looked and saw a tall wide 7-point still in full velvet. I knew the deer I was after, the 10-point, was usually with that deer. Not far behind him I saw another deer walking in. It was the 10, still in full velvet coming right to the corn pile and Grainiac mineral blocks I put out. He walked 10 yards from my right to left before coming to a stop quartering to me, but it was so dark, all I could see was his ears when he would raise and lower his head.
I had to sit there the last 8 minutes of legal shooting light disappointed. Sunday I was in the stand again for the afternoon hunt. I saw plenty of other deer but he did not show up. Monday came and I did not hunt, but around 4:50 I checked my camera and there he was, the 10-point in the corn pile with his velvet gone.
I decided Tuesday I was going to hunt no matter what. I got into the stand at 4 pm, the weather was perfect for early bow season, not too hot and it wasn’t long before the deer started moving. A fawn walked in followed by her mom with a young 8-point buck in her tail like he was checking her during the rut. They fed for a short time and walked off. Then came the nice 8-point by himself that a lot of people would shoot but I decided to let him go. He started looking to my left while eating corn. He gave away that something was coming in. Soon it was clear, the 10 I was after walked in. He went straight to the mineral block facing me. Fifteen minutes seemed like an eternity, but he finally turned around 7:25 pm and I took the shot. He ran out, slow and tail tucked. I knew it was a lethal hit.
I got down and checked the bolt, blood covered and one of the fletchings was torn, less than 80 yds he was laying there expired from the shot. My heart was about to beat out of my chest. Last year that same deer I let walk 5 times became my biggest bow buck to date.”
Brooks 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.
