Heather Corley with the big buck she dropped on Nov. 30, 2025 in Bienville Parish (Saline).
“My boyfriend has been hunting this buck for four years, along with several others around the property he hunts. But this stand was off-limits to everyone in our household. Honestly, I didn’t even know where it was until about three weeks ago, when he had to drop me a pin so I could go feed for him. He even had a separate trail camera just for this stand.
Then on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, he told me to go sit in his stand. I truly thought he was joking. I was on the phone with my brother and told him, “Watch, I’ll go sit in it and that buck he’s been after for years will walk out.” I asked Richie several times if he was serious. When I finally realized he wasn’t joking, I went.
SEVEN minutes after sitting in that stand for the first time, the buck stepped out about 225–230 yards away, trailing a doe. He paused before following her into the woods, and I knew it was a long shot, but I might never get another chance. I took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger.
I called Richie immediately and told him I’d shot, but the deer didn’t fall. He said, “I’m on my way.” I climbed down and called my oldest son to tell him Richie let me hunt his stand and I’d shot the big buck—of course he thought I was lying. More so about Richie letting me hunt that stand than anything. I kept him on the phone while I walked to look for blood.
The farther I went, the more discouraged I got. That’s when it really hit me just how long the shot was—and I still couldn’t find a single drop of blood. Richie and our youngest son showed up, and still nothing: no blood, no sign I’d hit him. Richie kept walking, and about 50 yards away I heard him whistle for me.
When I got to him and saw the buck lying there, the excitement was unreal. And even though Richie probably deep down wanted to cry, he smiled, acted happy for me, and said he was proud anyway.
This was one of the fastest and most exciting hunts I’ve ever experienced for myself.
God truly blessed me.”