My First 10 Pointer

By: Cathryn Helmers

It all started in August when my Dad came home from our land one day with a picture of a 10 point buck in velvet from our cuddeback digital game camera; right from that very moment I knew that’s the buck I wanted to harvest. My Dad then said, “Easier said then done kiddo”. So the season started in mid September and my Dad had seen this 10 pointer many times. Finally it was the beginning of November and my Dad wanted me to sit in one of our box stands that sits 100 yards or so in the woods; away from the larger Big Rack Trophy Fall/Winter food plot. I was so thrilled to go sit alone and try and kill a buck all on my own, so there I was walking into my stand in November. This was probably one of the most exciting days of my life.

When I got in the stand I was sitting there reading my Whitetail Fanatic magazine, for about 30-40 minutes, hearing lots of action which included two bucks fighting down in the ravine, but staying patient and calm (which was hard to do). The first buck that stepped out was an 8 pointer, but only had half of his rack; following behind him was a 6 pointer. Before I knew it here come running in about 4 doe and a nice 8 pointer. Then the commotion starts and most of the bucks there started chasing the doe around. The 8 pointer went across my shooting lane a couple times but I couldn’t get a shot. He then left, when all the sudden I hear a noise about 10 yards away on the left side of my stand. So I look over and there is a 6 pointer and a really small 8 pointer fighting. WOW! It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. It only went on for a minute or two; then things settled down and the half a rack 8 pointer, 6 pointer, and a small doe starting feeding.

So I decide to take a look at the back side of my stand, I open the curtain and there on the side of the hill directly in front of me is a 10 pointer, standing there looking at me with his nose in the air, about 45-50 yards away. I can’t move a muscle; my heart starts racing with excitement. I start moving slowly to put my release on the string when I look down and then back up, and of course he’s gone. So I take a deep breath and tell myself that there’s still hope for this day because it’s not dark yet. Well I look back to the front of my stand, and by that time all the deer had left. Not before too long a little fawn comes in to feed on the Big Rack Fall/Winter Food Plot about 2 minutes later a mom doe comes in.As I’m thinking to myself that this is starting to work out; I have a nice big doe in here feeding and the sun is starting to set before dark, when the buck steps in. I take one look at his rack and say “he’s a shooter, like my Dad was sitting right next to me. Then all I do is focus in on the shot. So I pull back on my Hoyt Banshee bow and take my best shot. The buck darts off, and so do all the other deer, my heart is beating faster than I imagined it would. So I go get my dad, who’s sitting in his box stand by the large food plot. I tell him about my hunt and we decide that my dad will go look for him in the morning.

When I finally saw my buck the next day after school I was so happy and so was my Dad. I will never forget that day or that hunting season. I had so much fun being out there in the woods, and I have my dad to thank for part of my success.