8-point trophy was in full velvet
Andy Till of Orangeburg, S.C. killed an 8-point trophy buck in Orangeburg County on Aug. 16, 2021. It’s a buck he’s kept watch over with the use of trail cameras for the past 3 years. He named the buck “Jack Jr.” based on the similarities between it and “One Eyed Jack,” a buck he killed in 2019.
Despite years of trail cam photos, Till had never laid eyes on the buck in the flesh until his hunt this week.
“I still can’t believe last night really happened! It’s my third year of having Jack Jr. on trail cams, and my first time actually seeing him in person. I killed him less than 100 yards from where I killed One Eyed Jack two years ago,” said Till. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sprinted home with SD cards in hand, just hoping the camera caught a glimpse of ole boy.”
Till got in the stand around 6:15 p.m. and saw a small buck and a doe early. Then at 8:20, something magical happened. Out stepped not just one, but two trophy bucks, both in full velvet. And both were in range and offering Till a broadside shot.
“He stepped out with his bruiser buddy, who is also on my hit list. I was presented with a dilemma that a hunter can only dream of: which velvet-clad trophy buck to harvest?” he said.
But the decision was an easy one for Till
“I had been dreaming of this one buck for some time. So it wasn’t a hard decision for me. Within seconds of him emerging from the Orangeburg County swamp, I had him in my sights and dropped the hammer,” he said.
After the shot, the hunter realized the 8-point trophy was still standing.
“He’s still there, standing, approximately 5 feet from where he just was, looking very confused. His buddy had since bolted,” he said.
The hunter brought his gun back up, put the crosshairs on the deer, and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened.
“I squeezed the trigger, and nothing!” he said. “My 20+ year old semi-auto rifle had jammed returning a bullet to the chamber. I rammed it in with the heel of my palm, go to find the big boy again. And he’s gone.”
Doubts creep in
Just then, he got a text from his dad, who was working in a field down the road. His dad asked if the shot he’d heard was from him.
“I replied, ‘yeah, please tell me it sounded good,’” Till said. “And he said ‘it didn’t sound good at all.’ My heart sank.”
Rain had fallen off and on all evening, so Till knew he needed to check for blood before another shower cropped up.
“I got to the general vicinity where I’d seen him standing. I saw a small pool of blood, and simultaneously heard him fumbling around 40 or 50 yards in the swamp bottom. Then I ran back up the hill and called my wife with excitement and waited for my dad to come get me,” he said.
They waited 30 minutes, giving the 8-point trophy time to expire. Then they searched for blood but didn’t find any. Till went to the spot he’d heard the deer fumbling around, and there it was.
“There he laid, exactly where I heard him last. My shot placement was perfect. He just had that adrenaline and desire to escape. I will cherish this hunt as long as I live!” he said.
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