October 18 - Britney Edney

Hunter: Britney Edney
Animal: 145" Whitetail
Location: Kentucky
Weapon: Thompson Center Omega

Very rarely do I get a chance to get Jason to stop on our trips back and forth between NC to NE. He always seems to pass the many tourist traps during the ~1000 mile trip but wouldn't you know it mention hunting and off he pulls!

This trip starts just like many of our adventures, you have to throw in a little problem, this one could not be any different. We got loaded up, headed to KY/NE and we get approximately a hour away AND the truck breaks down. Well it could not be anything simple. Luckily after about 6 hours on the side of the interstate we finally got towed to the local dealership and got the motor unlocked and back to running. We pulled into KY about 12 hrs later than we planned but still in plenty of time to jump in a tree for the first evening of the early muzzleloader season.

The farm we were hunting has a very strict management plan established that has produced some incredible deer. It is no longer a secret what Western KY can produce and add a little management to a place in that area, well the results speak for themselves. During all the summer trail camera pictures a very good, mature 8 kept popping up. This was the deer we were going to target during this early season muzzleloader hunt. With this deer in our target for the evening hunt we really didn't expect much due to the huge mast crop. Food and cover is everywhere right know in KY so it makes for a difficult time pattering a specific deer. Still though we headed to a alfalfa plot up on a ridge with some white oaks scattered through it.

The evening hunt progressed nicely with deer movement starting early and continuing through the evening. Like always the does and young bucks came out first with a parade of deer to follow. One thing was evident in the fact they all were coming to a few different Oak trees scattered around the stand. About 30 minutes before dark guess who steps out the mature 8. When he first came out he was approximately 250 yards out and was just standing there taking everything in. I never dreamed that he would turn and come our way, well he did! On his march down the hill he put on a show displaying his dominance several times to smaller bucks, and just putting on a show. When he reached 60 yds he turned broadside just like on cue and the T/C BARKED!

This was my first muzzleloader hunt so I was not really ready for what follows pulling the trigger, A LOT of WHITE SMOKE! The shot was perfect and after getting down my deer made it to the bottom of a huge hollow which made it a little interesting getting him out. Looking back at the hunt everything came together perfect this time, just like it was planned! All I can say about that is its about time a plan came together and I'll take it! Because its just a matter of time before "Murphy's law" pops his ugly head back out!