Start off by thanking my dad, for his patience with me since I can remember, teaching me everything he knows. I have been in the woods my whole life thank to him , which has rubbed off onto a countless number of close friends and family to pick up hunting and the newfound outlook of the outdoors. My dad has always done food plots with my help. I've learned it's a LOT of work since I've tried my best to do the work now. We put in some fields that turned out beautifully despite the drought. We planted in first week of November. Before bow season i got a few pics of a 8 point with a messed up side that I really wanted to kill . I passed on a nice deer in muzzleloader holding out for this fella figuring I'd never see him again which would be fine too , well walking out I was thinking man I'll never figure out where that dudes at , then there he was. Standing out in the middle of the field dead in front of my box stand. I hit the deck and lay out in the wet grass for about 30 minutes waiting on him to leave. Praying he didn't see me . As I ease up I'm standing there . I see the most vivid shooting star , it shot down right towards this deep thicket ditch he was headed for. I said to myself , thank you pawpaw . I think he showed me where that buck lives with that hint. Fast forward to last night. Had not gotten any more pictures of him but I'm not giving up . We have a 7 year old nephew that will not let me give up either, (ronnie) . I got in the box at 230 after work yesterday. Finally saw a few pop out at dusk , but not him . It was getting at that point to start packing and I glance over and squint my eyes the best I can for one more look , oh MY GOD. I saw something dark and I saw antler. About 150 yards. Get the rifle up , got on him , and I got the shakes coming on . I raise up to catch my composure , lower down . Scope is now fogged from my breath ! Well I raise up and my whole childhood was raising through my head, and ronnie at home waiting on me to come home probably empty handed ! Derek , breathe and shoot this deer. I get on him , can't see much but the thick bars on the zeiss scope and his perfect broad outline. Not sure what deer it even is , I saw enough. Safety off , i squeeze... Now my ears are ringing and damn was that a fireball I just saw come out the barrel!!? I just shot a deer , I think ! I call my dad on the way back to the truck , he told me we'll I bet that buck is dead ! When I shot white tails went every direction. I had my Dewalt light , I went and struggled to find blood , then It hit me like a train . What have I done , I can't see, it's dark , I messed up. I look up and get a good breathe of cold air and told myself don't give up. Then like a glowing light .BLOOD . I hit that dude ! Bright blood, more and more ! I see a trail in the frosty grass , shine the light . What I saw made me collapse , completely deflated me . I had a hard hard cry . I Thanked the lord , and everyone else that loves me . There he is , all I could think about was surprising ronnie when I got home.
