09/18/2026
Alright guys and girls, a true monarch was put down with the ol smokepole today. I have watched this deer since he was 2 years old and today he took the ol Dirt Nap. He grew up within a mile of the lodge until he was 4 and disappeared on me to only God's knows where or he dodged over 25 cameras surrounding his core area. I thought someone had killed him for sure. Much to my surprise, he showed up late summer this year and was on his backwards slide downhill for sure but is and will always be a magnificent whitetail. I couldn't believe it was him and had to wonder just where did he go, I'll never know probably but he came home finally and I watched him grow throughout the summer. He was taken by a gentleman hunter, we just call him Captain Bob, he passed him on Tuesday morning due to lighting and shooting hours. 4 minute's before shooting time ,he raised his head and disappeared into his bedroom and we thought we may never get a chance at him again this week with changing patterns and temperatures being in the 90s. But today as Captain Bob was sitting there he said he looked up and all he saw was the wide v framed rack coming out of the woods right in front of him at 100 yards. Bob said today was not his day and waited till he got broadside and made a perfect shot on the buck. Of course he couldn't see where the buck went with all the smoke from his shot. I got the call that the most wanted deer on my list has just been shot. I literally felt like I had just shot him for myself,pumped was an understatement lol. Told him I'd come get him and start the track in half hour. Longest 30 dang minutes of this season so far. All I can say is to walk up on this buck was one of the most surreal, exciting feelings I have ever experienced since we started this place. I literally had tears welling as I sat beside him and admired such an awesome animal to be able to be part of the first time he has ever had human hands on him. Congratulations to Captain Bob on the taking of this amazing animal.
