Central Texas 21 Point

by Jeff Bradley
(DFW Texas)

I shot this deer opening morning 2008, he walked directly beside my stand on an established deer trail chasing a doe. He was too close for me to get a shot and when I saw the rack I made too much noise and he heard me. This guy was old, 8 years at least, and he was small 165 lbs and covered with fighting scars, he was old and smart. This guy took off into the woods and when I came to the realization I missed my chance at a "21 point" I knew I would never tell a soul. I then, fueled with adrenalin and regret, glued my eye to the scope and stood up into a crouched position with my gun out the window. I scanned the forest with my finger on the trigger, safety off and I was going to shoot the first piece of fur I saw. It's a crazy memory, it seemed surreal, and I seemed to see lots of deer during this time. I think the funniest part of the story is that I could not tell you whether it was 10 minutes or 30 seconds in which everything happened. So there I was, heart pounding out of my chest and not breathing, shaking like a leaf, and holding that gun like it was part of my body. I saw him, those antlers gave him away among the thickest bush you can imagine, the stuff hunters and explorers hate. The bush and grass came off the ground about 4 feet, the branches on all the trees started about 8 feet and the space in between-sticker vines! Solid, but he needed a place to turn around and check me out, so he did and only leaving his neck and face exposed I shot him right under the chin. I remember the very last thing in my mind was, "why are my crosshairs not moving?!" I'm no sniper, just a country boy who was not leaving those woods without THAT deer! And he was a free range deer!