Thomas Williams

Opening night of 2024 is definitely one for the memory bank.
Last season, late in the year I found a spot that had some awesome buck sign. There were rubs everywhere right on the edge of some pretty thick bedding and a nice oak ridge. I knew it was spot that needed to be hunted, unfortunately by the time I found it, I hardly had the time to hunt and in one sit in this area in 2023 I only saw a spike and a doe.
This spring and summer I combed over that area as best I could and tightened in on the sign I saw from last year. Finally finding what I believed to be his travel route out of the bedding area to feed.
When September rolled in and the velvet came off, some fresh rubs opened up and I noticed a small scrape started to get hit as well, so the camera went up and a target was acquired.
This particular buck was extremely regular through that spot and would often just quickly check that scrape, before moving off towards the oaks to feed.
Yesterday, we’d have a great day for deer movement according to the HuntWise app, with a north wind to boot. So I got out of work an hour or so early and headed in.
At around 6:00pm I watched a doe and another deer work past my saddle set at about 80 yards. I was nervous I’d picked the wrong tree, but remained hopeful that things would work out. With the wind whipping and squirrels bounding around like crazy I was having a hard time hearing much of anything.
Then it all happened, I saw him right at the tree line at 25 yards facing towards me. I grabbed my bow slowly and drew when I had a chance. He took a few more steps and ended up broadside at 20 yards, just like I’d literally dreamt he would.
My arrow found its mark, maybe a couple inches back, but I took out both lungs and clipped his liver and thankfully he died very quickly.
Thank you to God for these amazing creatures and for the sustenance they provide us. Thank you to my wife for encouraging me and supporting me in this passion of mine. Thank you to my dad for starting me in hunting and taking me out when I was younger. I’m beyond blessed and feeling so grateful.