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Terry McCormack is not new to the sport of hunting, but to hear him describe his hunt for this buck there is no doubt that he is as passionate about hunting at the age of 46 as he was when he was introduced to hunting by his father at the age of 12.
Terry can remeber it like it was yesterday as he tagged along with his father through the Virginia mountains carrying his BB gun and getting acclimated to this great sport of hunting.
Since that time Terry has continued to pursue this passion and in the 2014-15 deer hunting season he had his sights set on a nice buck that he had a few trail cam pictures of from both 2013 and 2014, but had never laid eyes on the buck in live action.
Unlike the smaller bucks in the area this buck was much more camera shy, matter of fact Terry had 5 different trail camera's set up and only had 1 picture of him in 2014 from late August. Terry's confidence never wained that this buck would be in the area, especially given the mast crop that was available to him and low hunting pressure.
Terry is a state employee and was fortunate enough to be able to take 3 straight weeks off to pursue this buck. He decided to take off October 24th through November 15th so that he could get some archery season in as well as being able to experience the affects of the rut. Terry's season started off similar to many of us, in that he saw more deer earlier in the season then the sightings became less and less.
Terry even contemplated going back to work the first week of November due to no activity in the woods, but some good friends reminded him that the rut should kick things up a notch and to just stay after it.
On the morning of November 9th Terry woke up early and almost didn't go hunting because he was going to have to give his step son a ride to work later that morning, but he remembered what one friend in particular has always said "the best days to hunt are November 8th, 9th & 10th". As he layed in bed trying decide what to do he kept thinking of what his friend said and decided to head out to a stand where he took a nice buck 7 years ago.
He arrived at the stand well before daylight and around 7:15 a.m. a lone doe strolled by which quickly got his adrenaline going in hopes that something may be following her. An hour went by and the woods were completely quiet with no action so Terry decided he would walk toward a rye field on the property where he had been seeing does earlier in the season.
The rye field was in a bottom on the property and Terry decided to approach it from an upper vantage point. As he quietly crested the surrounding hillside and peeked down into the rye field he immediately saw a nice buck bedded down in some weeds adjacent to the field.
At about that very same time the buck stood up and Terry knew it was now or never so he went to one knee and tried to steady his 50 caliber White muzzleloader for a shot. Even with years of hunting experience under his belt buck fever was running high so he took a deep breath and gently squeezed the trigger. At the crack of the weapon the buck hit the ground and then a doe popped up that was bedded down just yards away, undoubtedly the buck had been tending her.
As Terry approached the buck to his surprise he had hit the deer in the neck with the shot even though he had been aiming behind the front shoulder. Terry made his first call to tell his wife and could barely speak due to his excitement.
It wasn't till later the next day when comparing trail cam pictures that Terry realized that indeed it was the buck that he was in pursuit of.
This story hits home with me because I am just a year older than Terry and I also began hunting at the age of 12 alongside my grandfather. I know that I speak on behalf of Terry and all the other genuine hunters reading this article. In a world that is ever changing and things becoming quickly outdated, the love, anticipation and excitement we get from hunting has never changed and is re-newed with each hunt. We all share a very special bond and for that we all should be eternally grateful!
I hope that everyone will join in congratulating Terry McCormack on his harvest and having won Star City Whitetails 3rd annual Big Buck Contest. Terry received over 100 votes from the community!
On behalf of Star City Whitetails and Terry McCormack we want to thank all the folks that particpated in the voting process. There is no doubt that the particpation level has increased over the last 3 years and for that we again say thanks!
Jeff Phillips
Terry McCormack is not new to the sport of hunting, but to hear him describe his hunt for this buck there is no doubt that he is as passionate about hunting at the age of 46 as he was when he was introduced to hunting by his father at the age of 12.
Terry can remeber it like it was yesterday as he tagged along with his father through the Virginia mountains carrying his BB gun and getting acclimated to this great sport of hunting.
Since that time Terry has continued to pursue this passion and in the 2014-15 deer hunting season he had his sights set on a nice buck that he had a few trail cam pictures of from both 2013 and 2014, but had never laid eyes on the buck in live action.
Unlike the smaller bucks in the area this buck was much more camera shy, matter of fact Terry had 5 different trail camera's set up and only had 1 picture of him in 2014 from late August. Terry's confidence never wained that this buck would be in the area, especially given the mast crop that was available to him and low hunting pressure.
Terry is a state employee and was fortunate enough to be able to take 3 straight weeks off to pursue this buck. He decided to take off October 24th through November 15th so that he could get some archery season in as well as being able to experience the affects of the rut. Terry's season started off similar to many of us, in that he saw more deer earlier in the season then the sightings became less and less.
Terry even contemplated going back to work the first week of November due to no activity in the woods, but some good friends reminded him that the rut should kick things up a notch and to just stay after it.
On the morning of November 9th Terry woke up early and almost didn't go hunting because he was going to have to give his step son a ride to work later that morning, but he remembered what one friend in particular has always said "the best days to hunt are November 8th, 9th & 10th". As he layed in bed trying decide what to do he kept thinking of what his friend said and decided to head out to a stand where he took a nice buck 7 years ago.
He arrived at the stand well before daylight and around 7:15 a.m. a lone doe strolled by which quickly got his adrenaline going in hopes that something may be following her. An hour went by and the woods were completely quiet with no action so Terry decided he would walk toward a rye field on the property where he had been seeing does earlier in the season.
The rye field was in a bottom on the property and Terry decided to approach it from an upper vantage point. As he quietly crested the surrounding hillside and peeked down into the rye field he immediately saw a nice buck bedded down in some weeds adjacent to the field.
At about that very same time the buck stood up and Terry knew it was now or never so he went to one knee and tried to steady his 50 caliber White muzzleloader for a shot. Even with years of hunting experience under his belt buck fever was running high so he took a deep breath and gently squeezed the trigger. At the crack of the weapon the buck hit the ground and then a doe popped up that was bedded down just yards away, undoubtedly the buck had been tending her.
As Terry approached the buck to his surprise he had hit the deer in the neck with the shot even though he had been aiming behind the front shoulder. Terry made his first call to tell his wife and could barely speak due to his excitement.
It wasn't till later the next day when comparing trail cam pictures that Terry realized that indeed it was the buck that he was in pursuit of.
This story hits home with me because I am just a year older than Terry and I also began hunting at the age of 12 alongside my grandfather. I know that I speak on behalf of Terry and all the other genuine hunters reading this article. In a world that is ever changing and things becoming quickly outdated, the love, anticipation and excitement we get from hunting has never changed and is re-newed with each hunt. We all share a very special bond and for that we all should be eternally grateful!
I hope that everyone will join in congratulating Terry McCormack on his harvest and having won Star City Whitetails 3rd annual Big Buck Contest. Terry received over 100 votes from the community!
On behalf of Star City Whitetails and Terry McCormack we want to thank all the folks that particpated in the voting process. There is no doubt that the particpation level has increased over the last 3 years and for that we again say thanks!
Jeff Phillips
Terry McCormack is not new to the sport of hunting, but to hear him describe his hunt for this buck there is no doubt that he is as passionate about hunting at the age of 46 as he was when he was introduced to hunting by his father at the age of 12.
Terry can remeber it like it was yesterday as he tagged along with his father through the Virginia mountains carrying his BB gun and getting acclimated to this great sport of hunting.
Since that time Terry has continued to pursue this passion and in the 2014-15 deer hunting season he had his sights set on a nice buck that he had a few trail cam pictures of from both 2013 and 2014, but had never laid eyes on the buck in live action.
Unlike the smaller bucks in the area this buck was much more camera shy, matter of fact Terry had 5 different trail camera's set up and only had 1 picture of him in 2014 from late August. Terry's confidence never wained that this buck would be in the area, especially given the mast crop that was available to him and low hunting pressure.
Terry is a state employee and was fortunate enough to be able to take 3 straight weeks off to pursue this buck. He decided to take off October 24th through November 15th so that he could get some archery season in as well as being able to experience the affects of the rut. Terry's season started off similar to many of us, in that he saw more deer earlier in the season then the sightings became less and less.
Terry even contemplated going back to work the first week of November due to no activity in the woods, but some good friends reminded him that the rut should kick things up a notch and to just stay after it.
On the morning of November 9th Terry woke up early and almost didn't go hunting because he was going to have to give his step son a ride to work later that morning, but he remembered what one friend in particular has always said "the best days to hunt are November 8th, 9th & 10th". As he layed in bed trying decide what to do he kept thinking of what his friend said and decided to head out to a stand where he took a nice buck 7 years ago.
He arrived at the stand well before daylight and around 7:15 a.m. a lone doe strolled by which quickly got his adrenaline going in hopes that something may be following her. An hour went by and the woods were completely quiet with no action so Terry decided he would walk toward a rye field on the property where he had been seeing does earlier in the season.
The rye field was in a bottom on the property and Terry decided to approach it from an upper vantage point. As he quietly crested the surrounding hillside and peeked down into the rye field he immediately saw a nice buck bedded down in some weeds adjacent to the field.
At about that very same time the buck stood up and Terry knew it was now or never so he went to one knee and tried to steady his 50 caliber White muzzleloader for a shot. Even with years of hunting experience under his belt buck fever was running high so he took a deep breath and gently squeezed the trigger. At the crack of the weapon the buck hit the ground and then a doe popped up that was bedded down just yards away, undoubtedly the buck had been tending her.
As Terry approached the buck to his surprise he had hit the deer in the neck with the shot even though he had been aiming behind the front shoulder. Terry made his first call to tell his wife and could barely speak due to his excitement.
It wasn't till later the next day when comparing trail cam pictures that Terry realized that indeed it was the buck that he was in pursuit of.
This story hits home with me because I am just a year older than Terry and I also began hunting at the age of 12 alongside my grandfather. I know that I speak on behalf of Terry and all the other genuine hunters reading this article. In a world that is ever changing and things becoming quickly outdated, the love, anticipation and excitement we get from hunting has never changed and is re-newed with each hunt. We all share a very special bond and for that we all should be eternally grateful!
I hope that everyone will join in congratulating Terry McCormack on his harvest and having won Star City Whitetails 3rd annual Big Buck Contest. Terry received over 100 votes from the community!
On behalf of Star City Whitetails and Terry McCormack we want to thank all the folks that particpated in the voting process. There is no doubt that the particpation level has increased over the last 3 years and for that we again say thanks!
Jeff Phillips
