The Ashley Small Buck

Livingston County 8-Point Piebald

As told by Ashley Small

The day started off with my husband shooting a big bodied 8-point buck in the morning. I was so proud of him. I had told him that I wanted to try and go get the buck I saw the weekend prior, a beautiful 8-point piebald. We got to the stand a little late, around 3:30 pm, so there was only about an hour and a half of sunlight left. At about 3:00 pm two small does came running in to my left. They lingered in the woods behind me. I sat like a statue hoping they did not smell or see me.

My husband was sitting in another stand overlooking both fields. He sent me a text saying that the piebald was in the field that I was unable to see and he was coming my way around 4:25 pm. I watch him cross the hedgerow and into the field at about 300 yards. A little back story... I saw this beautiful buck about a week prior lingering in the corner of the property about 100-120 yards chasing a doe and he never came close enough for a shot. So when I saw him step into the field and start walking towards that same corner, I was worried he was going to go linger there again.

I decided to hit a grunt call. I have never used any sort of calls so I just let it rip. He stoppped and stared at me then walked towards me a bit. He quickly started heading towards the corner again. So I grunt again. He stopped and trottted a little towards me. Then again, he headed towards the corner. I hit that grunt one more time and he ran right towards me. As he entered the woods, I quickly got my range finder and hit a tree to where he would be walking in, it was 25 yards.

He walked into the woods. I saw his antlers so I drew back. He took another step and my pin is right on the kill zone. I gave a little “meh” and he stopped. The arrow goes flying and he takes off. I watch and listen and hear what I thought was a crash. I texted my husband that I just shot the beautiful deer I was after. Now remember those doe I was telling you about, they hung out the entire time this was going on. Even after I shot him. The doe wandered away just before it was too dark to see and I got down about 45 minutes after I shot that buck.

I went over to the spot where I hit him. No blood? No arrow? My heart sank. Did I miss him? Please tell me I didn’t accidentally get a gut shot. I start walking in the direction where I thought I heard him crash. About 40 yards from where I shot him I found a ton of blood. I started getting really excited. I kept following the blood trail and then it stopped. Where did he go? I immediately looked to my right and there he was! I called my husband and told him I found him... right where I had heard him crash.

I am so grateful for this opportunity and I can’t wait to have this beautiful deer mounted and the hide tanned to be hung on our wall. What an honor.

I’ve been hunting since I was a kid with my dad and just the last couple of years I’ve had some luck. My dad passed away in 2020 and I truly believe he’s the reason I’m having all this luck. I got my first deer ever that same year he passed. He’s my hunting angel.

I can’t thank my husband and my dad enough for teaching me everything I know about hunting. I can’t wait to get back out in the woods, it’s a place I love to be.