Jonathan Morris is all smiles with his big Illinois buck.
September 11, 2024
By Josh Honeycutt
A lot of deer hunters are introduced by their father, or another family member. In large part, Jonathan Morris was self-taught.
“I grew up in North Carolina, and hunting since I was a teenager,” he said. “But, when I was 5, my father passed away in a drowning accident. So, I did not have a father figure to take me in the outdoors.”
While recovering, he went deer hunting.
“I stayed home from school and slipped behind my mom’s house,” he said. “I missed my first buck with a shotgun that evening. I fell in love with it, though. I later found out through trial and error that I was closing the wrong eye to make an accurate shot.”
Eventually, his passion for deer hunting led him to the Midwest. He’s been hunting there for more than 20 years now. During the 2023 deer season, Morris accomplished a bowhunting feat he was incredibly proud of. He shot a great surprise buck that showed up out of the blue, completely unexpected.
“I began to get pictures of this mature deer in October,” Morris said. “He was a pleasant surprise. This farm holds a pile of does every summer, and it’s not unusual to not get many buck pictures throughout the summer months. But I made three mock scrapes along field edges. Once October got here, I was getting frequent pictures of this buck.”
Morris had a few bucks he was targeting, and this was one of them. (Photo courtesy of Jonathan Morris) On November 4, 2023, the day brought low winds at 2-4 mph out of the northwest. It was slightly warmer than hoped for, though, with highs reaching into the low 60s.
It’s a great farm, though, and hunts well. It consists of 70% agriculture. The remainder is thick cover with good bedding areas. Some standing corn give deer increased comfort to move around the timber edge during daylight.
The afternoon hunt started off quite slowly, though. Eventually, six does worked out of the bedding area. Unfortunately, the afternoon thermals were already falling, and they caught some of his scent. The biggest doe blew, but they didn’t run off.
“I was on pins and needles for 20 minutes, because I believed he was close,” Morris said. “Years ago, I learned that sometimes, in certain phases of rut, a blowing doe can be a good thing. I would have chosen not to have her blow, but she did.”
As the does left, he ranged where the does crossed in the timber. Within a few minutes, he spotted the big deer. The deer followed the doe’s trail, and made it through each shooting lane before Morris could squeeze off the shot.
“I rolled the dice that he would work out into the cornfield, and he eventually did,” Morris said.
(Photo courtesy of Jonathan Morris) The buck was within 30 yards in the timber for 10 minutes. After deciding it was safe, he entered the field and worked away from Morris’ stand location. The deer made it to 52 yards before stopping and turning broadside. He released the arrow and it connected. The green lighted nock disappeared through the vitals.
“My hunting buddy, Justin Barefoot, was hunting on the west side of the farm, and heard the shot as well as the arrow hitting the buck,” Morris said. “He saw him run across the field. We felt like our target deer could hit the field that night, and I happened to be the lucky one.”
They gave the buck a little time, and then started the blood-trailing process. Within a short time, they walked up on the deer. Morris dropped to his knees and prayed a thankful prayer.
“God is so good man. He is so gracious,” Morris said to his friend.
Reflecting on the hunt, this buck means far more than the 163 3/8 inches it scored. It’s about a lifestyle, a journey, and getting to where you are now because of where you came from and what you went through.
“At an early age, deer hunting started off as an escape for me,” Morris said. “Losing my father at the age of 5 had a lot of unanswered questions for my young mind. I felt a sense of peace, and I realized quickly I was born to hunt. I was born to chase mature whitetails. I played sports throughout my school years, and the only thing that compared to scoring a touchdown or hitting a homerun was shooting a mature whitetail with a bow. I live for that moment. I’m just a blessed man that has been through some adversity that truly appreciates what the good Lord has put in front of us.”
