Brandon Arrington And Jacob Kruger's Story

December 19-21, 2003

 

Friday PM

I arrived at the Duncan Ranch around 7:00 PM. After saying hi to everybody and grabbing a bite to eat it was off to bed.

Saturday AM

Oleman woke me up at 5:00.  After getting dressed it was time to wake Jacob. After much shaking he finally arose.

With coffee in hand it was off to the stand. While driving in we ran a hog out off the food plot we would be hunting.
Oleman gave us a general idea of what we would be looking at and how the deer would come in.
Shortly after sun up I saw the first deer it was a buck.
As the morning got brighter I could tell he was a young ten. After a few minutes he disappeared into the brush.
Around 7:40 the first group of does came in with a young buck following. T
his buck had broken off on side so he was not in any danger.  Around 8:00 I saw a large body deer working in the brush.
I got my binos and took a look. It was a buck and a nice one at that - 8points,
approximately 16 inch spread and good tines.  
Jacob and I discussed shooting this buck but decided that he was to young and we thought we
would see something better. After a few minutes he leaves and Jacob asks if he can shoot one
of the does. I told him to wait until a little later, that a good buck could show up anytime.
We still had over an hour of hunting left. Around 9:00 I told Jacob to get ready to shoot a big doe that was within 100 yds.  As he was getting ready the doe turned and followed three other does out of the food plot.

Strike one for us but still a great hunt.

Saturday P.M.

After a wonderful lunch, a little fishing and bull riding off to the Samples ranch. After being given an explanation
of  what we can and can't shoot off to the stand we go. On the way out I told Jacob that I have never hunted exotics. He looked at me and said " Heck I have never even seen an exotic!!! " So together we would experience a first.

Once we pulled up to the stand I knew we were in for a tough hunt. The stand was located in a creek bottom
with very limited visibility. Any animals would be in our lap so to speak as soon as they came out.
The stand was also located 30 yards from the feeder and sitting out in the open.
Shortly after getting situated we saw movement in the brush. A couple of Axis and a fallow.
They stayed in brush until the feeder went off.  After the feeder went off they started coming in.
The first two that stepped out were Axis Bucks, including a big one.
After seeing the box stand back into the brush they go. The third deer was an Axis doe.  
As soon as she came out she had us pegged. We were in a stare down and Jacob couldn't get into position.
She turned and disappeared. We sat until dark and as the sun disappeared we saw a huge fallow buck,
a fallow spike and some other kind of animal which neither one of us knew. Again close but no cigar.

Strike Two

Sunday P.M.

The morning found us up with anticipation and feeling a little fourth quarter pressure.  
Off to the stand we go.
After finding the stand we get settled in. Within minutes we have two does about ten yards from us.
They watch stand and watch us until the feeder went. As soon as the feeder went off,
they ran off snorting and blowing. They did this for about 30 minutes. Jacob asked me if I thought they
would be back and I said not likely but there are more deer out there. As soon as the does settled down another blow.
The window of the stand blew shut, sounding as if someone beat the stand with a sledge hammer.
When this happened Jacob just bowed his head in disappointment.  I really wanted him to get a deer but
I told him that hunting was more than killing something. It was about being out enjoying what mother
nature has to offer. He nodded in agreement and said that he really wanted to shoot something.  
Now I was wishing I would have let him shoot that buck Saturday morning. But hindsight is 20/20.
Anyways about this time I see a young doe coming in from I believe the west.  
Jacob asked if he could shoot and I gave the green light, there was no way I was going to say no.
As he is getting ready for the shot we realize he is to short and needs to sit on my lap.
The doe is now 50 yards and after a few moments the doe turns broadside. Jacob takes aim and fires.
He made a perfect shot and the doe goes 25 yards and piles up.  As we celebrate and high five
we get settled back down. Jacob wants to go see his "trophy" immediately but I suggested we wait
30 minutes to see what else comes in.  Jacob agreed and after about 3 minutes he asked if we
could go see his doe. Now this is where it gets interesting.  After we climb out of the stand and start
walking toward his doe I se another one coming up from behind us and to our right. I tell Jacob to
get back in the stand. So there we are in race with this doe crawling back to our stand.
Once inside we get situated and ready for the shot. When the doe turned side ways Jacob shot
and I knew immediately he gut shot her.  I grabbed the rifle from Jacob and reloaded and waited
hoped the doe would give me a shot.  At about 140 yards , at a walk, I fire a shot and the doe
drops in her tracks. We wait few minutes and get out to find Jacob's deer. The first deer was easy.
As we walked to the second deer, the doe threw her head up and acted as though she was fixing to bolt.
I shoulder the rifle and fire. Clean miss. I fumble in my pockets for another shell and realize they are
in the deer blind. Dang it!! I sent Jacob running back to the deer stand for the bullets.
When he returned one shot through the neck finished her off.
My first shot actually broke her back and paralyzed her. After high fives we walk over to see her.
WOW!
 What a doe, she is by far one off the largest does that I have ever seen.
As we were dragging Jacob looked at me and said with all the seriousness in the world
" Brandon, you know... you really aren't that good a shot "
That almost floored we, I started laughing....  Heck I thought I did pretty good, shot a doe walking at
140 yards with a unfamiliar rifle, did miss her but she was moving then to and I was
shooting freehand, then followed it up with a shoot through the neck!!!!
What fun. Who would have though we went from no deer to two deer down within five minutes.

After cleaning back to camp we go. This will always be a hunt I will cherish.
Dan & Jen, Mr. Samples....thanks for inviting us down and allowing these kids a wonderful opportunity.

Oleman, Shirley, Tammy, Donnie thanks for all the hard work.
To all the hunters and guides/parents enjoyed sharing camp with ya'

Jacob can't wait to hunt with you again.