Grown 8-point shedding velvet / 2012 Opening Days success story

Blair Williams and his opening day buck in shredded velvet

Wonderful buck caught shining his antlers

Close-up view of 18-inch spread with dripping velvet

Side view of antlers

Seasoned hunter Blair Williams of Beaufort put it all together on opening day of deer season to harvest a once-in-a-lifetime buck that was caught in the act of scraping velvet from his antlers in the last light of day. Hunting near Yemassee with friends, Williams' morning still hunt did not fare as well. After he climbed in his treestand at first light, he paused for a moment of prayer, giving thanks for another deer season. When he opened his eyes a buck with a decent rack was within view, however it kept moving away and did not offer a shot. Property manager Comer Morrison collected the morning hunters and they elected to move one of the deerstands, giving it a quick coating of camo paint in the process. The friends took a break from the woods through the middle of the hot and sunny day, and returned to their stands at 7 p.m., with Williams climbing into the relocated stand at Morrison's request. The stand was in mature woods with a mix of pines and hardwoods, that lies between a cornfield and the bottomland running alongside it. Williams reports that the conditions were hot and that his Thermacell worked overtime on the bugs. After seeing no deer by 8:30 he began to pack his gear to leave - and then he heard one twig snap behind him! No less than four bucks emerged with a small 8-point passing very near to his stand, with two more bucks behind him. Then a thrashing noise startled those three bucks, causing them to scamper off, and when Williams' raised his .260-caliber rifle to look through the woods at the last light of day, he saw a mature 8-point buck lifting his head up from a large fallen limb being used to 'shine up' his antlers. The buck was about 30-yards and quartering away when Williams' made the decision to shoot, and the buck dropped down into the dwarf palmettos. When his friends arrived to view the buck, the tale of the tape revealed an 18-inch inside spread, and the fine buck was weighed to be 195-pounds, which is the heaviest buck Williams has ever harvested. "It was just an awesome hunt," said Williams. "The best part was hunting with friends on quality deer management land, and I am very grateful for that opportunity."

For past blog entries about bucks in velvet antlers click here.