Farrell’s trophy green-scores 141 inches
Chas Farrell of Lake Charles considers himself to be a novice hunter, only having hunted for the past five seasons — and never taking any deer except a few does and a couple of spikes.
But that all abruptly changed on Nov. 4 on a 4,000-acre private lease in Calcasieu Parish, when the ‘novice’ knocked down a 10-point trophy.
“I had put a trail camera out around my stand and had seen pictures of an 8-point buck I would have been happy to have a chance at,” he said.
Walking to his box stand as daylight was approaching that morning, Farrell put a few drops of estrus doe urine on three bushes, really to cover his scent more than to attract a buck. The stand overlooks three lanes, including the one he walked in on.
“I had hunted the stand the morning before and saw four does, but no sign of the 8-point I was hoping would show up. At least seeing some deer was an improvement over the first time I hunted five years ago. I sat all day and never saw the first deer, no does; no spike; no nothing. It’s a wonder I didn’t just give up,” he said.
After an hour passed without seeing anything, Farrell was texting and reading messages on his phone, then looked up to see something that almost took his breath away: At 75 yards stood the biggest buck he had ever seen.
“I really got excited and nervous as I looked at the buck sniffing a branch where I had put some doe estrus as I walked in. I was able to duck down slowly and watched the buck begin walking through the pines toward one of my other shooting lanes. This gave me time to shoulder my Savage .308 and try to follow him as he walked through the pines,” Farrell said.
When the buck reached the other lane and stepped 3 feet in, Farrell put the crosshairs on the buck’s shoulder, touched the trigger — and the big deer dropped in its tracks.
“I was just speechless as I texted my wife, my father-in-law and brother-in-law to tell them what I’d done. It took me a while to get my nerves under control and let my heart rate slow down before climbing down and walking up the put my hands on the buck I had never seen. I would have been thrilled if it had been the 8-point I had on my camera. I learned later that this buck I had shot was known to some other club members as they had him on their cameras,” he said.
The 175-pound deer sported 10 points, was aged at 4 ½ years old and had long main beams and tines, with an impressive 21 ½-inch inside spread. The green-score came out at 141 inches.
“I’m a novice, and my friends told me that it might be a long time – if ever – before I top this one,” he said. “I really feel blessed and fortunate.”