February 2011

This month’s featured buck was shot by Derek Grant of Standish, Maine. Derek told me he didn’t have much experience and it was only his second year of deer hunting. After getting familiar with his story and learning more about Derek, I realized he developed a passion for hunting and the outdoors very quickly. That fact coupled with his willingness to learn and apply sound advice from his hunting partners who had more experience helped him read, interpret the sign he encountered, pick an ambush point, stay motivated even when he wasn’t feeling up to par and execute when his adrenaline rush was at its highest. Even for some of the more experienced hunters afield, that is a lot to keep together. Because he realized he had only 6 days to hunt, he chose to maximize his chances and be out in the woods and it paid off for him. He killed a huge 8 pt. buck chasing a doe that dressed out at 255 lbs. The BWB team congratulates him for killing a hog of a buck. We also would like to give you a pat on the back for sticking it out. You never know when the 2 points are going to connect.     

I would like to start by telling you that this is my second year in the woods. With that said, I am not an experienced hunter but I can say I am focused on constantly learning and taking in as much information as possible. This is a story to be heard by all hunters out there that are just starting out because yes this can happen to you!
    I decided to pick up the amazing sport of hunting (that I fell in love with) not only to be active in the outdoors but also to get together with friends and hopefully share time and stories for the rest our lives. A great friend of mine, Jeremy Hamblen, had recently built a camp that we would retreat to for one week in November. Not only did I get to take a week’s vacation from the real world, but also I would get to hunt everyday for a week!!
    Ok, let’s get to the hunt. My experienced friend Jeremy and his brother Mark had found a piece of woods that was loaded with sign. I believe we counted somewhere in the area of 13 scrapes. It was Tuesday morning the 16^th and we decided to hunt this area. Jeremy and Mark sent me down a well worn game trail and I found an old scrap that I decided to freshened up. In my travels, I also found some fairly fresh droppings. I approached a ridge that the game trail followed and I decided to stake it out the rest of the day. On Wednesday morning, the 17^th, we awoke to the sound of rain that really wasn’t going to help the cold I had been fighting all week. I was really feeling under the weather that morning. My motivation was not very high. While I was in the shower, Jeremy and Mark headed out and got about a half hour head start on me. When I reached the stand I had selected the day before and settled in on the stump for the long days hunt, I decided to blow my grunt call a couple times. A brief minute or two later a large doe came down over the ridge and crossed out in front of me about 60 to 70 yards away. “Wow!!” My first deer I had seen in the woods and she had no idea I was there! My heart was pumping but what happened next was unbelievable. It took less than a minute and I saw this big boys legs coming through the woods hot on that doe's trail. Just as he came into view, he let out two grunts and I said to myself that has to be a buck! This would be my first deer so I decided I was going to shoot anything that had one antler or fourteen of them. I wanted my first deer! He came down the ridge in a trot. For a split second I put my scope on his head and saw an antler. I lowered my .30-06 to his body and let a 180 grain rocket go. I pumped it again, adrenaline flowing through me, and touched it off once more. This deer left my field of view and I thought to myself did I hit him? I made my way down and discovered this beautiful beast not more than 20 yards from where I shot him. My first shot got him in the right side shoulder blade. The buck dressed at 255 pounds and he was a beautiful 8 pointer! I do want to thank Jeremy and Mark Hamblen for everything. Remember, whether you are fighting a cold or its raining out, get out in the woods because you never know what's going to happen out there!!