John and Nancy Williams take nice bucks
By By Mike Giles / outdoors writer
Nov. 21, 2003
Six-year-old Nancy Williams has been going to the woods with her dad John since she was in diapers. The Southeast Lauderdale kindergarten student hadnt taken a gun with her until this year, however. Saturday afternoon the deer hunting partners carried a Browning A-bolt in .223 caliber along for Nancy to shoot.
They took a stand along an old logging road on top of a ridge. The logging trail had been planted with rye, wheat and clover. Oak bottoms were located on both sides of the ridge, making this a prime location to see deer. They didnt have to wait too long to see a little action either. They arrived at the stand at about 3 p.m. and a short time later a few does started coming into the patch.
Six does and a cow horn spike came in and started grazing hungrily. They fed on the green salad for about twenty minutes before leaving for even greener pastures. In the process, they just didn't know how close they had come to getting some hot lead slung their way.
Later on, four more does came in together and milled around a few minutes before taking a nip or two and heading off for some acorns. Around about 4:30 two young bucks came in together and began feeding also. Williams had already spotted them before they made it to the patch. In the process, he got Nancy up on his lap and in position to shoot.
As soon as the deer settled down at a range of about 70 yards, the young Annie Oakley centered the crosshairs on the unwary buck and touched off the trigger. Jumping at the sound of the shot, the nice buck went about 40 yards and piled up in a heap! Excitement filled the air as they got down from the stand and searched for the deer. Of course, once they got to the deer the celebration started for the young hunter and her proud dad. Not only had they had a good hunting trip, but they had shared in the making of a lifetime memory.
Dad scores, too
Earlier in the week, John Williams and Tony Creel had gone up to the Circle M Ranch for a bow hunt. John had won the hunt during an auction at a National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) banquet back in the spring. Each year Lanier Long of the Circle M donates a hunt to be auctioned off for the benefit of the NWTF. Williams and Creel arrived at noon on one day and had four hunts before leaving at noon on the third day.
On the first afternoon they saw several does but nothing that they were interested in shooting. Williams also observed a small seven point during that afternoon hunt. While hunting the next morning Williams watched a funnel of oaks that were positioned between a hay field and bird course that was planted in millet, milo and sorghum. The oaks were dropping acorns like crazy and the deer came to them like magnets. One spike and about a dozen or so does came by during the morning, which made for an exciting morning of hunting.
Moment of truth
Later that afternoon Williams hunted across the creek from the morning stand on top of a ridge. The ridge had pines along the top and was flanked by oak bottoms on either side. There were also a lot of rubs and scrapes along that portion of the ridge. The deer were obviously traveling a natural crossing that was formed along a saddle portion of the ridge. It didn't take long before a sassy six point sporting a 12-inch basket rack came by looking for an easy meal.
A short time later the buck procession continued as a five point and a seven point also meandered by scrounging for acorns. Ten minutes later Williams heard another deer approaching from the rear. As the deer went behind some trees, he stood up, drew his bow back and waited. As the buck reappeared it was obvious that it was a shooter. In an instant he let an arrow fly towards the buck. The arrow flew true and sank deep into the deer's vitals.
After a short flight towards freedom the buck crashed in a heap. Turns out the buck was a nine point that weighed in at a hefty 225 pounds and was aged at three and one half years old! Not bad; not bad at all. While Williams collected on a nice buck to begin the week, his daughter Nancy finished the week on youth day with her very first buck. It just doesn't get any better than that.
