By Cliff Smallwood

-- In November 1997, while I was in Brady, Texas on business, I had the opportunity to run out to the hunting lease with Jeff Cox for a while. We were going to Jeff’s blind to do a little fix-up, and I just happened to take my gun along.

When we walked up to his stand, I heard a grunting noise nearby. I thought it was hogs, but Jeff happened to look over a ridge and see a deer standing there. I decided to take it, since I didn’t know whether I would have an opportunity to hunt any more that season.

I was able to walk about 15 yards to the edge of the ridge without the deer spotting me. When it started to walk away, I made a mewing sound to stop it and fired a single shot from my .270 rifle, dropping the animal. Jeff continued to work on his stand, and when he finished, we walked across a small valley to where the deer had piled up.

To both of our amazement, it was a true 9-point that had two tines broken off. The tips of the main beams were covered in blood from what I presume was a brutal fight with another buck. Then we noticed something not quite right about the deer. The musk glands on its hind legs were snow-white. When we lifted its back leg, we were shocked to find that it was a doe!

This has to be better than any trophy buck I will ever take. We did not score the deer, but I am having it mounted.

--Cliff Smallwood