Eleven-year-old Lane Sansing has been deer hunting most of his life. In fact, the young hunter killed his first deer at the age of seven. Since that time he has been highly successful as he honed his woodsmanship skills while hunting with his father, Dal. This year they bought a game camera and set it up in the woods behind their house. While they had harvested quite a few deer from the area, they weren’t quite prepared for what they saw after the first few days that the camera was out.
The trail camera had captured a monster buck. The deer was coming out between 11 and 1 a.m. Lane was really charged up and excited when he saw the deer. He even called the deer “my deer”, he was so revved up and confident that he would get him. Dal, however, tried to temper Lane’s enthusiasm somewhat due to his own lifetime of hunting experience.
“Lane, you may never see that deer again,” advised the cautious dad. Dal knew that they only had 200 acres of land and therefore there was a good chance that someone else, even a neighbor, might get the monster buck. That didn’t deter Lane’s youthful exuberance and determination that the deer would be his.
Big Buck country
The Sansing’s plot of land is located near Macon, right on the edge of the famous Black Prairie. The prairie is well known for producing trophy bucks, but none had been harvested close to their home.
Back in 1998 Dal had planted the area in CRP pines. One area just wouldn’t grow pines so he made a food plot. All around the food plot was pine plantation, which served as a good bedding ground for the deer. Dal was willing to try for the big buck, but knew that it would be a rare feat for Lane to harvest the buck of a lifetime, after capturing him on film. The buck might not have even stayed in the area for that matter.
Dal and Lane decided to hunt the big bruiser’s area again a couple days before Christmas. Though they didn’t have a stand there, Sansing did construct a blind for concealment while they watched the food plot. As it turned out the blind was just the ticket.
During the afternoon several does appeared and started feeding on the green field. Before long a frisky spike joined the does. The spike chased the does back and forth around the field. Since they had somewhere to be that night the father and son discussed shooting the young buck. However, Dal advised Lane that he wouldn’t ever kill a big deer if he kept shooting the smaller ones.
Waiting longer
Lane relented and continued to watch the show. Since he had gotten his limit last year and had killed twenty something deer up until then, Lane decided to hold out on the chance that the monster might show up.
With daylight fading fast Dal spotted movement in the edge of the woods. Almost instantly the buck charged into the middle of the does scattering the herd. As the buck stopped in the middle of the field he was facing away from the hunters. When he turned broadside they realized that this was a trophy deer.
Lane slowly raised his .243 rifle, centered the crosshairs on the buck and squeezed the trigger. At the crack of the rifle shot the buck crumpled to the ground in a heap. The monster buck never knew what hit him and the celebration began for the proud father and young “Daniel Boone”!
The 205-pound buck sported 15 massive points and scored 156 2/8 points on the Buckmaster’s scoring system. This buck would provide the family with succulent venison, as well as a lifetime memory. Big rack, fine food, and a lifetime memory for father and son; it just doesn’t get any better than that!
Features
Related Photos
Discussion
February 8, 2007
Sansing harvests buck of a lifetime
- Features
-
-
Oil Prices
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices continued their two-week slide on Wednesday after a government report showed demand for crude products dropped even further from the weak levels of a year ago when the recession's grip on the economy was strongest.
-
God's Encounter With Man
Retired Pastor Thomas Wood wrote a book about a divine encounter with God. That was back in 1976, and at the time, Wood says he was unable to find a publisher.
-
Religion News
You can submit your religion briefs to blockridge@themeridianstar.com. The briefs are published every Saturday, and must be received every Monday by 5 p.m. in order to be published that Saturday. You may also fax briefs to (601) 485-1275.
-
We apologize
I had a conversation with a friend the other day. They recounted an experience they had where a driver cut them off, then gave them "hand signals."
- Being missions minded The earthquake in Haiti has turned a lot of people to those in need, but there are some who still feel like Americans should put forth more effort in aiding those in need.
-
For Haiti
- Whose mission? The great theologian Paul Hewson once said "I had a mentor that once told me that I should stop praying for God to bless all the things I was involved in and find out what God was doing.
- Religion News
- (10:16 a.m.) Economy December wholesale prices edge up 0.2 percent
- Business Beat
- More Features Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
