THE BRIAN STEPHENS BUCK
Scorable points....16(10R,6L)
Tip-to-tip spread.... 14 4/8
Greatest spread..... 22 2/8
Inside Spread..... 20 2/8
Total length of abnormal points: 24 7/8
Areas Measured	Right	Left	Difference
	24 6/8	25 3/8	5/8
1st point (G-1)	8 3/8	8 5/8	2/8
2nd point (G-2)	13 5/8	12 6/8	7/8
3rd point (G-3)	10 7/8	8 5/8	2 2/8
4th point (G-4)	1 3/8	--	1 3/8
1st circ. (H-1)	5 0/8	5 0/8	--
2nd circ. (H-2)	4 0/8	4 0/8	--
3rd circ. (H-3)	4 7/8	4 2/8	5/8
4th circ. (H-4)	3 4/8	3 1/8	3/8
Totals	76 3/8	71 6/8	6 3/8
Gross typical score.........................168 3/8
Subtract side to side differences........... -6 3/8
Add abnormal points......................... +24 7/8
FINAL NET NON-TYPICAL SCORE..................186 7/8
Taken by: Brian Stephens
Date: Sept.19 2007
Location: Forsyth County, Georgia

EARLY-SEASON ADVANTAGE
While many people do not like to hunt the early season because of the heat and mosquitoes, I love it because mature bucks are still maintaining their summer patterns. Once October arrives, these same deer could be long gone. To help manage the heat and the bugs, I wear Under Armour heat gear, light 3-D leafy pullover and pants, and LaCrosse rubber boots. Most importantly, I use a ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent unit (vital for hunting in the South).

Last year I was able to hunt the opening weekend of archery season (Sept. 15). I prepared for my hunt by doing what I always do. I had all my cloths washed and placed into a Hunter's Specialties travel bag with earth scent wafers. (I keep my carbon cloths in a separate bag.) Before going into the woods, I took a shower and then sprayed down my clothes, my Mathews Switchback XT and my Lone Wolf Alpha Climber with Scent-Away scent killer. After I'm up in the tree, I also like to use Hunter's Specialties wash towels to wipe away any sweat on my head, hands or neck.

Around 6:30 p.m., I saw two bucks walking toward me. One of them was the awesome 140-class buck I had seen earlier. Unfortunately, I could not get a shot at him. Although he got within 15 yards of me, he was standing in very thick brush and he never presented a shot. He hung out for a few minutes and then decided to walk away. Naturally, that encounter was very disappointing at the time, even though it's always exciting to get that close to a 140-class buck!

A SPECIAL AFTERNOON
The next opportunity for me to hunt was on Wednesday, Sept. 19. I was very excited about the chance to see either of the two big bucks I had seen earlier. I went through my normal routine of preparing for the hunt. I got in the stand around 4:30 p.m. to ensure time for the woods to settle down. The major feeding time that day had been around 6:30 a.m., so I figured that if I was going to see anything, it would be right before dark at around 6:30 p.m. (the minor feeding time).

I hoped the deer would still be following a trail that paralleled a small creek with cover on both sides. This area has a number of hardwoods with pockets of thick cover. I had a good ambush spot where I could hopefully catch the deer coming in and have cover to draw back my bow. As the afternoon passed, I didn't see anything. I kept checking the wind -- most of the time it was in my favor. Ten minutes before shooting light would be gone for good, I started thinking, Come on, big boy. Show yourself!

As luck would have it, a large body suddenly caught my eye. All at once, there he was, walking down the trail at 40 yards! I immediately knew that it was the large buck I had seen before the season started. Knowing this, I told myself not to look at his horns and to try to focus on the shot.

Two years earlier, I had shot a mid-130-class buck that I never found. I was devastated. I learned many things from that experience. Now this buck was walking slowly down the trail, checking out the situation as he went, and I was determined not to make the same mistake again. I kept telling myself, "Don't rush this shot! Wait, wait, wait!"

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