Some prayers leave you wondering if they were answered, while others just fall into your lap.(Photo courtesy of Hayden Billing)
December 08, 2021
By Sam Forbes
Breaking News Bucks 2021 Hayden Billing first spotted this particular buck during the 2020 hunting season.
“I first got pictures of the drop-tine buck just after the shotgun season in 2020,” says Hayden. “I didn’t hunt him last year any, but I’ve hunted him all during the 2021 season with my Bowtech Releam SR6 from my lone wolf tree stands.”
Because Hayden knew the buck was in the area, he opted to pass on a handful of other mature bucks. Hayden says that some of the deer he was passing on were great bucks.
“Some of those deer were really good bucks,” says Hayden. “Some were pushing the 150-inch mark.”
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Finally, on Nov. 30, 2021, Hayden hit the woods for the fall evening he wouldn’t forget.
“When he stepped out at 500 yards, I instantly called my dad and asked him to say a prayer for me that the buck would come into shooting range,” remembers Hayden. “And that I would make a great shot on him.”
The prayers must have been received because the buck and a group of deer seemed safe at home in the field in front of Hayden.
“There were 10 does and another 10-point buck standing alongside the drop-tine buck,” recalls Hayden.
Drop-tine bucks are a real trophy, but double drop-tine bucks are one-in-a-lifetime! (Photo courtesy of Hayden Billing) The drop-tine buck fed in the field in front of Hayden for an hour and 20 minutes. Finally, the buck moved within 100 yards of Hayden’s tree stand and gave him an opportunity.
“I took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger,” says Hayden. “And I hit my mark perfectly!”
After the shot, Hayden sent up a prayer of thankfulness and soaked up the moment. The buck was lying dead in the field just 150 yards from Hayden’s tree stand.
