It was December 23, 2024, and I had been relentlessly hunting a six-point buck that was bigger than most mature bucks I had ever captured on camera. This deer was very mature, which made him extremely smart. Day after day, the big six would play tricks on me, constantly switching up feeding and bedding areas.
After extensive scouting, I thought I had him figured out—until he threw a curveball at me. He started appearing at a feeder on the opposite side of the property and began showing up there regularly late at night.
On the night of December 22, 2024, I decided not to hunt the next morning because I was exhausted from the previous days’ Christmas activities. As soon as I woke up on December 23, I immediately checked my Reveal Trail Cameras. The first thing I saw was the huge six-point standing at my feeder at 8:28—in broad daylight. I was beyond upset. Based on how smart this deer was, I figured that had been my only chance at harvesting him.
Even though I highly doubted he would appear in daylight twice in one day, at the same spot, I decided to sit in that location for the evening hunt.
Not long after settling into the stand around 4:05, a decent buck made his way out, chasing after a doe. I threw my rifle up, attempting to take a shot, but I couldn’t—he was running too fast after the doe. It felt like another lost opportunity, but little did I know, it was a blessing from God that I hadn’t gotten a shot off at that deer.
That blessing was revealed to me at 4:56 when the massive six-point stepped into the plot, moving broadside at 184 yards. Before even picking up my rifle, I could tell it was him. His massive 21-inch-wide rack gleamed in the sunlight, and I became overwhelmed with excitement.
I picked up my Remington 7 Mag, zoomed in with my Leupold scope, and fired a shot right behind his shoulder. The buck dropped to the ground instantly, and I celebrated my hard-earned victory.
After calling my family and letting the buck lie for a bit, I made my way down the plot to get a closer look at the deer I had hunted so hard for. As I approached, I was shocked by how much mass and width he had. When I finally laid my hands on this incredible buck, I took a moment to thank the Lord for allowing me to hunt these beautiful animals.
Even though I have harvested several good bucks in my lifetime, this one remains my favorite to this day!
