Justin Threeton killed this 12-point on Jan. 22, 2024 while bowhunting in Richard K Yancey WMA.
“I knew the deer was in the area and I had the perfect wind to make a hunt. At around 4:30 I looked forward to see the deer traveling at about 100 down a ridge. With a few grunts and a few minutes which seemed like hours I managed to turn him and he made a straight line for my tree giving me a perfect 30 yard shot of a lifetime. As I released my arrow I watch it hit the deer further back than I liked. The deer then ran about 30 yards then stopped where he stood for about 20 minutes. He was still at only 40 yards but there was brush just perfect where I wasn’t able to get another shot at him. After a while he slowly started to walk off into a thicket to where I could only see his horns which he stood until it was dark. Knowing that the deer was still well within 100 yards of me I managed to slip out of my stand and walked away not knowing if he had heard me or not. Knowing I didn’t put the best shot on the deer I decided to let him lay overnight. A thousand thoughts went through my head that night. The next morning I woke up and made it back to the shot location after daylight. There was great blood where he had stood the afternoon before and a decent blood trail where he had left which I assume was when he heard me leaving out that night. I then proceeded to follow the blood trail through the open woods, which after about 100 yards I came upon a thicket. Knowing that I didn’t push the deer the night before I assumed that he shouldn’t be much further. As I approached the thicket I hear a noise so I look up to see the deer’s horns raise up above the grass. After watching him for a second I realized that he was actually dying and could only pick up his head and would immediately put his head back on the ground. I then managed to slowly creep up to 10 or 15 yards where I was able to see his front shoulder and finish the job. I hit him perfectly and he let out a growl like I had never heard a deer do before. I immediately ran up to him and grabbed him by the horns in total disbelief that I was holding a mature buck of that caliber in my hands. FaceTiming my friends and family, and soaking in what seemed like a miracle.”