Big Buck 411 Blog

Mother Lode

Mother Lode

By Mike Handley

West Virginia coal miner Brandon Duncan found the mother lode of antler last December, more than a year after he first tried to kill the then-smaller buck.

In 2014, despite what should've been a 20-yard chip shot, Brandon's arrow barely penetrated the Logan County whitetail.

"As I was squeezing the release, a doe spooked and caused the buck to jerk its head up and spin. My arrow struck its shoulder, and not very deep," he told Ed Waite, who penned his story for Rack magazine.

The wound bled, but not for long.

The buck walked in front of Brandon's trail camera later that night, the arrow still protruding from its shoulder. Three days passed before the shaft worked itself free.

Brandon didn't see his target buck again until November 2015.

"It bedded down about 170 yards away from me," he said. "It actually laid its head on the ground for about 90 minutes. And all I could do was watch."

That same month, he saw it with a couple more bucks from 70 yards.

Brandon's time afield was limited in December because his wife was pregnant with their first child. But he did manage to go to his deer stand on Dec. 23.

"I was in my tree by about 5:00, waiting for the 7:40 sunrise. This hillside lights up early, so I anticipated shooting light shortly after 7:00," he said. "Soon after daybreak, I saw movement on a nearby logging road and raised my glasses to peer into the shadows. A big buck was traveling from my right to my left, not fast, but not slow either."

That gave Brandon just enough time to stand, draw and shoot.

The buck jumped and tore off downhill for about 60 yards. Brandon could see the glowing nock, but the deer seemed no worse for wear.

When he released a second arrow, the buck must have heard the bow and had time to react.

"My (second) arrow penetrated the right antler," he added. "The shaft shattered upon impact, but the broadhead buried into the rack.

"I sat stunned as the buck bounded down into the holler and out of sight," he continued.

Forty-five minutes later, he and a buddy discovered the deer at the bottom of the hollow. With a BTR composite score of 215 5/8 inches, the 16-pointer is the new runner-up to the West Virginia state bow record.

Brandon and Taylor's son, by the way, was born Dec. 26.

— Read Recent Blog!
That Smell: Tim Davis / BTR Composite Score: 185 7/8

Copyright 2024 by Buckmasters, Ltd.

Copyright 2020 by Buckmasters, Ltd