October means roaring reds and I was able to sneak out to the ranch and catch up to this awesome stag.







I actually passed him in 2022 as a 6x6 thinking he was still on the younger side of mature and was confident of seeing him the next year. He had been on camera in 2021 in a pretty defined territory and had stuck to that range the year I passed him so I felt pretty good about those odds. Well we didn’t get a single pic of him in 2023 so I assumed a neighbor had shot him or he had just moved off the ranch and I was kicking myself for passing on what would be my first stag. Summer 2024 rolls around and believe it or not he was back in his old stomping grounds. I saw a glimpse of him in early September dove hunting and the cameras showed he was much more daylight active, particular in a 300 acre or so area which is a pretty small range for a mature stag.

This specific trip I had a friend with me and wanted to be close to him so set up at a feeder that had been seeing a lot of mature whitetail and morning pigs. Little did I know this stag had been at the feeder with a couple hinds the last week prior. I walk up to the blind and somehow slipped in with the stag and his cows bedded down 50yds away. I start noticing them as the darkness fades and recognize the stag right away. Some pigs started making noise and the herd stood up and started moving off. Knowing this was my chance, I put a 180gr accubond behind the shoulder and quickly lost sight of him as he went down a thick draw. I text my buddy, get my tracking dog, and find him piled up 40yds down the draw. Couldn’t be any happier and thankful to have a friend around who could help me drag him out to the trailer

Man that is a nice Stag and story, congrats What county?

Very nice!!!!

Congrats on a very nice bull! Going to be some really good eating!

Awesome ,congratulations

Beautiful animal! Congratulations!!

Great Stag , congratulations sir.

Congratulation on a very fine Stag.

Well done!