Eight Point to be exact. Not a wall hanger, but still a nice buck for Southern Alabama. I really didn't think I was even going to make it to the woods in time, but low and behold my timing really couldn't have been better.

The place was Spring Lake Lodge, located just outside of Citronelle, Alabama. Running late, I wasted no time unpacking the truck for the weekend and went directly to the stand. My best friend and eternal hunting buddy Dave and his boy arrived maybe and hour earlier and were already in their stands. The digital clock in the Montero read 4:47 as I push my weight against the car door trying to be as quite as possible.

First stop, field #1 (or #3 if you ask us after 2 or 3 beers). I figured that there was a good chance of stalking right into the field and finding a least a doe there. NOPE! How much time do I have? The cellphone said 5:05pm as turned around and quickly crept back down the sandy path toward the #2 field (we still haven't named the fields yet).

Five minutes later I am silently peering into the beautiful luscious green patch though my Bushnell scope remembering that I've snuck in on deer in this field twice already this season. Not this time.

So now the fun begins. I already knew that the deer would be moving by now. The temperature has been dropping since noon and we are expecting below thirty tonight. Somehow I knew I would have to get in that stand without spooking the deer that could very easily be right off the edge of the field.

Slowly I crept...pretty quiet like, until the last 15 yards or so to and then crunch, crunch, crunch, right up to the base of the stand. Oh well...you were the dummy who couldn't get here in time. Maybe it will be alright, I thought, it was quite windy and blowing almost strait out of the North, maybe a 10 to 15 knot wind. I know I was having a hard time hearing anything except the occational big truck or ambulance of in the distance.

Well, finally I get settled in and think to myself that even if I don't get another deer this season (I've already bagged one doe in this same field) that I can't complain because life is good and I have wonderful friends, an incredible fiance and a really beautiful place to come and enjoy nature.

Recent memories of all the work that David and I put into getting this property ready for this hunting season have paid off. His 10yr old son Lil'D (actually he's graduated to just "D") bagged his first deer! A nice healthy 4 point buck just three weeks into the season. Man was that exciting... there was just nothing neater than watching the joy on David's face when I was taking pictures of D's first buck.

And then, all of a sudden I saw a glimpse of movement to the right, maybe 70 yards or so, on the edge of the field. The sun had already set and with the low clouds overhead the light was already getting dim. But there it was... I just knew from the size and color of the body that it had to be a buck. My heart quickly sped up! Okay I'm thinking, let's take a look at him.

His head was down and obstructed by some small trees when my scope finally found him slowly feeding toward the middle of the field. Just a couple more steps there buddy... and "Whoah!" there's horns...NO, there's a RACK! Kick Ass!!! There goes that heart thing again...smile! Okay, breath... think... I'll take a picture since I'm sitting all cozy up here in this tree stand. Yeah right!

That nearly blew it for me. The digital camera I use has this little red auto-focus light that now I know needs to be disabled before attempting any more wildlife photography. All of a sudden there he is just staring me down as I am trying to position the camera for a shot. Freeze you fool! At this point I hadn't yet figured out about the light and I just thought that he somehow must have seen me move.

But damn, how could that be? I was very well camoflaged and we even sit behind camo fabric to mask our movement. Frozen I sit and as I prayed (literally) his head went back down...phewww, that was close. I still wanted a picture, so I ever-so-lightly push on the shutter, and there it was...holy s#@t that stupid little red light! Damn, damn, damn...I wasn't breathing. I suddenly started cursing myself for not remembering about that damn light. I just knew this buck with a now clearly visible rack was getting ready to bolt out of that field and I may never see him again.

Then to my surprise he put his head back down and began grazing again. WOW! How close was that, I thought? And just as I'm thinking it he turns around and starts walking back toward the edge of the field. Okay buddy...there is no more time for pictures. The camera went right on to the seat next to me and I ever so carefully slid my .30-06 Remington Sportsman 76 Pump into position and settled the crosshairs on his right front shoulder and ROAR!!!

As the echo receeds and I recover from the recoil I am acutely aware of the fact that he jumped out of my view and that I heard a crashing sound and then silence. He's Down! Wahooee! I Love Hunting In The South! I check my cellphone for the time and it was 5:19pm.

Weighing in at 132 pounds, my first Citronelle buck was the perfect ending to the perfect day after all. Especially now as I right and it dawns on me... My first deer ever was a nice little 8-point buck shot in Bibb County with this very same gun 20 years ago almost to the day. And who was with me but my eternal hunting buddy Dave while we were attending Alabama together. I guess it's true what they say... Timing is everything!

Our hunting pictures can be seen at the PlanetWebSite Photo Gallery.