By B Dewberry

June 17, 2019

Although I hunted as mush as I could the past season, I didn't have much luck on any bucks. Seen plenty doe but I was really looking for a wall hanger. I decided the last day 1 January 2019 to go out for a final hunt with my Savage 110 in 308 loaded with Hornady ELD-X. I normally hunt with my Win 30-06 with the same brand Hornady load but that morning I grabbed the 308. I decided that if I don't see a buck, I would still harvest a doe to fill the freezer with.

I made my way to my stand around 5:30 and settled in for a long morning. It was unseasonably warm (55 degrees) even for NC. I was sitting contemplating what 2019 would bring and a few hours passed. 6:30,7:30,8:30 and finally 9:15. My legs were falling asleep so I stood up to wiggle and to stretch. I wear electronic ears, so usually I can hear a squirrel 100 yards away sounding like a Boone and Crockett 10 pointer. Not this time though I was standing in my stand which is 22 feet high and I see movement to my right. It was still in the thick stuff so I just stood still expecting a Doe to step out.

Lo and behold at 9:30 a.m. and this beast of a 10 pointer came out into the opening and stood 70 yards away in a perfect broadside pose. I slowly sat down and it moved forward slowly looking at something to the left over the berm. I grabbed my rifle ever so slowly and took the safety off. The deer snapped it head around in my direction and I froze. It looked right at me but did not see me up in my stand and continued to starred at whatever was to the left. I slowly put the crosshairs on it and took a deep breath. I exhale and squeezed the round off. The deer dropped right there where I shot it.

I mean the ELD-X dropped it like a bad habit. I stayed seated being over satisfied with myself. I didn't even load another round in my rifle because I knew this baby was down for good. After 10 minutes of sitting and watching hoping another come out. This damn buck stood up shook the shock off and ran into the woods. I didn't have a round loaded, my rifle was resting on the rest and my mouth was wide opened when he stood up and ran. 4 hours of searching never found it. Judging by the picture I hit it above the vitals. I am still pissed at myself for wounding that animal and hopefully it survived. Look at the exit wound that the bullet left. Hornady are the best hands down!