Trophy Buck Profile

By Owen Campitelli

BLACK BUCK GOES DOWN!

     Finally archery season approaches and its time to get all the tree stands up.  As I recall, it was hot and it took us a while to get all the stands separated and all the ladders put together.   We had been scouting out two bucks, one was a decent 10 point which was an option.  The other deer was a big 8 that had been sticking around for the last 2yrs.  We called that deer Black Buck because he had really dark legs. After scouting deer on the cameras and putting all the stands up it was time to practice with the crossbow. We practiced hard and I was hitting the bull’s-eye every time. I can’t pull 40lbs on my compound yet, but it won’t be long! Dad and I decided Black Buck would be a good buck for me to take.

     Around the beginning of October, I went out for my first hunt with dad. The wind finally was blowing the right way.  We got in the stand shortly after I got home from school and sat in the stand for a few hours watching does and morning doves.  A little while later the big 10 walked out with a few smaller bucks.  I asked my dad if I could take him, he said OK.  So I got comfortable and set my crosshairs right on the spot.  I relaxed and took the shot.  We watched the deer run off, Dad said “clean miss right, under him”.  We waited a little while longer for our ride to come and get us (my mom).  We got out of the stand. I walked over to the ground and found the bolt sticking in the mud… I missed.  I was pretty frustrated but it was the first time I had ever missed a deer.  I was confused because I thought I had made a good shot.  So we practiced some more and instead of using a field point we used a practice broadhead.  Sure enough the crossbow was shooting 3 inches low.  A few days later we went out again to hopefully tag a good buck. 

     We sat for what seemed like forever before any deer showed up.  Finally, we had some does show up and look around.  But after 20 minutes they left and it was a ghost town again.  My dad was just mentioning that we should get out of the stand when I heard something big coming.  Sure enough, Black Buck came walking in from our right.  I waited for him to stop and turn broadside.  I got my crosshairs right on him, clicked the safety off, and took the shot… Swack!   I knew instantly that I hit him and he ranabout 30 yards and dropped down a small slope.  When he crashed we heard his rack hit a tree.  I was very excited and anxious to get out of the stand.  We gave him some time then we got out.  We walked over to wear he dropped and sure enough Black Buck was down!