Against The Odds Limestone County Bowhunting
I started bowhunting Limestone County seriously circa 2005. Two words that most hunters didn't know in that area were protein and mature. I continued the quest for arrowing a mature buck throughout college but never was presented the opportunity. Working out of state limited the time I spent there for a few years along with joining some bow only leases in the panhandle and West Texas. However, after several years of antler restrictions being in place the results started to show. I started to get serious again in 2020 and built a feeder pen keeping corn and protein out year-round. I played cat and mouse with one particular 8 point from 2022 and 2023 but never got the opportunity to draw my bow. Besides Coues deer, these are the hardest deer I’ve bowhunted anywhere. This summer he failed to show up but that’s when the story of a new 8 starts.
I started getting velvet pictures of a nice 8 point in May of this year. I wasn’t super impressed with him initially but as summer went along, he continued to grow. I reviewed previous years photos but couldn’t identify this particular deer. After reviewing trail cam pictures of him in August I decided I’d focus on hunting him opening weekend as he was very frequent. September finally gets here and I’m gaining confidence that I’ll get an opportunity at him opening weekend. Then 10 days before opening weekend I had two bulls break into my feeder pen. I made the 6-hour drive Wednesday evening and repaired the fence first thing Thursday morning. Here’s a free plug for cell cameras folks they’re worth every penny. The week of opening weekend decided to throw another curve ball. Acorns started dropping and deer activity on camera slowed to nocturnal only. I elected not to make the long drive to Limestone and stay in West Texas and hunt a management buck at my lease. This ended up being a wise decision as I got my target management buck and the Limestone 8 never showed himself in daylight. I continued to watch the Stealth Cam cell camera throughout October. Knowing rifle started November 2nd I knew I wanted to try and get one hunt before it opened. Finally on the morning of October 30th he made his first appearance in day light. I would have left that day to hunt him but had family obligations with my wife and son for trick-or-treating Thursday evening.
Friday morning November 1st I was scrambling trying send some last-minute emails and finally got on the road headed East at 10 am. As I made the drive, I knew I would arrive later than I wanted to. I had two options: 1. Drive straight to the property and change in the back of my truck with no scent free shower and risk scent or 2. Swing by my parent’s house and shower but risk getting there even later and bumping deer. As I got about 30 minutes out, I decided to drive straight to the property, change in the back of my truck and hose down with Dead Down Wind. As another scent precaution I stepped in as much cow crap as I could walking to the elevated Krivo blind. Fortunately, I was able to sneak in undetected not bumping any deer. I got settled, turned on the ozonics unit and waited eagerly. It was one of those evenings that felt good, overcast and cool with a light Northeast wind. I wasn’t too concerned about a Northeast wind as long as deer didn’t come from behind me. Time went by slowly but about 6:00 I caught movement to the South. I grabbed my binoculars and to my disbelief it was him! As I watched him, I could tell something behind me was bothering him. I figured it was cows and I’m about to get choused again by them. The buck walked out of my view to the West leaving me guessing if he would come in or not. By this time the wind had died down and it was very quiet. The feeder went off at 6:15 and I grabbed my bow and positioned myself as quietly as I could. About 6:20 he appeared to the South at the edge of the feeder pen. He methodically checked the wind and took several steps before jumping in. Knowing the rare opportunity that was possibly going to take place I knew I needed to take the first opportunity I had. As he got within sight of my shooting window, I waited for the right opportunity to draw. Finally, he gave me a chance. I slowly came to full draw as he looked right into my window! I quickly anchored, aimed and squeezed off the Scott Little Goose watching the FMJ tipped with a 125 G5 Megameat find its mark in the lower pocket of the Deadly-V. The buck ran hard and jumped the fence and immediately started to run wobbly making it about another 20 yards going down! I couldn’t believe what had just transpired! I’ve killed several deer much bigger than this one but this one is very special as I grew up deer hunting on this property since I was a kid. Thanks for reading, God bless!
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I started getting velvet pictures of a nice 8 point in May of this year. I wasn’t super impressed with him initially but as summer went along, he continued to grow. I reviewed previous years photos but couldn’t identify this particular deer. After reviewing trail cam pictures of him in August I decided I’d focus on hunting him opening weekend as he was very frequent. September finally gets here and I’m gaining confidence that I’ll get an opportunity at him opening weekend. Then 10 days before opening weekend I had two bulls break into my feeder pen. I made the 6-hour drive Wednesday evening and repaired the fence first thing Thursday morning. Here’s a free plug for cell cameras folks they’re worth every penny. The week of opening weekend decided to throw another curve ball. Acorns started dropping and deer activity on camera slowed to nocturnal only. I elected not to make the long drive to Limestone and stay in West Texas and hunt a management buck at my lease. This ended up being a wise decision as I got my target management buck and the Limestone 8 never showed himself in daylight. I continued to watch the Stealth Cam cell camera throughout October. Knowing rifle started November 2nd I knew I wanted to try and get one hunt before it opened. Finally on the morning of October 30th he made his first appearance in day light. I would have left that day to hunt him but had family obligations with my wife and son for trick-or-treating Thursday evening.
Friday morning November 1st I was scrambling trying send some last-minute emails and finally got on the road headed East at 10 am. As I made the drive, I knew I would arrive later than I wanted to. I had two options: 1. Drive straight to the property and change in the back of my truck with no scent free shower and risk scent or 2. Swing by my parent’s house and shower but risk getting there even later and bumping deer. As I got about 30 minutes out, I decided to drive straight to the property, change in the back of my truck and hose down with Dead Down Wind. As another scent precaution I stepped in as much cow crap as I could walking to the elevated Krivo blind. Fortunately, I was able to sneak in undetected not bumping any deer. I got settled, turned on the ozonics unit and waited eagerly. It was one of those evenings that felt good, overcast and cool with a light Northeast wind. I wasn’t too concerned about a Northeast wind as long as deer didn’t come from behind me. Time went by slowly but about 6:00 I caught movement to the South. I grabbed my binoculars and to my disbelief it was him! As I watched him, I could tell something behind me was bothering him. I figured it was cows and I’m about to get choused again by them. The buck walked out of my view to the West leaving me guessing if he would come in or not. By this time the wind had died down and it was very quiet. The feeder went off at 6:15 and I grabbed my bow and positioned myself as quietly as I could. About 6:20 he appeared to the South at the edge of the feeder pen. He methodically checked the wind and took several steps before jumping in. Knowing the rare opportunity that was possibly going to take place I knew I needed to take the first opportunity I had. As he got within sight of my shooting window, I waited for the right opportunity to draw. Finally, he gave me a chance. I slowly came to full draw as he looked right into my window! I quickly anchored, aimed and squeezed off the Scott Little Goose watching the FMJ tipped with a 125 G5 Megameat find its mark in the lower pocket of the Deadly-V. The buck ran hard and jumped the fence and immediately started to run wobbly making it about another 20 yards going down! I couldn’t believe what had just transpired! I’ve killed several deer much bigger than this one but this one is very special as I grew up deer hunting on this property since I was a kid. Thanks for reading, God bless!
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