"Grandpa"

Hunting the week of Halloween has always held a special place in my heart. As hunters, we look forward to this time of year when temperatures drop, bucks start moving more often in the daylight, checking scrapes and waiting for the first does to come into heat.

This story begins in 2022. I was granted permission to set up cameras on a smaller acreage property. I had already taken my Kansas buck in September of that year, so I put out a non-cellular camera and left it unchecked for months. I’d completely forgotten about it until my dad asked where his camera was—the one he had loaned me. That’s when I remembered I’d put it out on this property. In late December, I finally checked it, and to my shock, there were photos of a 5.5-year-old giant with extraordinary brow tines.

The 2023 season rolled around, and there was really only one deer on my mind: that buck with the remarkable brow tines. I asked the landowners for permission to hunt again, but my heart sank when I found out they had already promised it to a close friend. There wasn’t much I could do, so I continued hunting elsewhere that season and had a successful year. In late November, I reached out to the landowner to see if his friend had any luck. He replied that his friend hadn’t but was hunting a “real big one.” I immediately knew which deer he was talking about. The landowner sent me several trail camera photos his friend had shared, and sure enough, it was the big brow tine buck. The season ended without the friend harvesting the deer.

As the 2024 season approached, I once again asked for permission, only to be told no. But on September 3rd, while at my favorite Mexican restaurant, I got a text from the landowner. He asked if I was still interested in hunting the property, as his friend wouldn’t be able to hunt that year. I quickly responded yes and had cameras set up the next day.

I didn’t see any sign of the buck throughout September, which worried me. I knew there was a lot of hunting pressure in the area, but I had a gut feeling he was still alive, even at his age. Then, on October 11th at 3:39 a.m., I got a photo of a very familiar face. It was him—bigger than ever. When I told the landowner where I’d be hunting, he said, “I hope you get that Grandpa buck. He’s a big one!” For the next two and a half weeks, I could hardly sleep. The buck was constantly on my mind as I reviewed maps, studied two years of trail camera history, and scouted, all to figure out how to take this deer. I knew he was probably the smartest, oldest deer I’d ever had the chance to hunt.

With a cold front and the perfect wind on Halloween morning, I had a feeling that October 31st was going to be the day. At 7:30 a.m., I came to full draw on the deer of a lifetime. I settled the pin, squeezed my release, and let the arrow fly. He only made it about 80 yards before going down. The story was over. I had done it.

“Grandpa” is my biggest deer to date and a memory I will cherish forever. Scoring 202 3/8, he’s my first buck to reach that special number. I’m incredibly grateful to the family who allowed me to hunt, and to my dad and friends who helped me bring him out. It’s been an unforgettable year so far.