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Little did John Whitlock and his 10 year old son Fisher know what the Henry County Virginia woods had in store for them when they sat out on their November 11, 2014 muzzleloader hunt.
John took his son to a piece of private property that he and a handful of members have leased for the past 20 years in the Horsepasture community area of Henry County. The father and son duo got settled in for their evening hunt around 3pm the old fashoined way, right on the ground behind a big oak tree.
An hour had passed when they heard something moving in the leaves through a thick clear cut area that they had set up near. To their amazement when the noise maker finally appeared it was a buck. John told me that they both knew it was a nice buck, but couldn't tell just how nice. As the buck continued walking toward the hunters John told his son to get prepared to shoot. Fisher deployed the bi-pod attached to his 50 caliber Knight muzzleloader and anxiously watched the buck as he closed the distance.
When the buck was approximately 30 yards away it stopped and presented Fisher with a broadside shot. His father quitely asked him to take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger. Fisher followed his fathers directions to a T and when the smoke cleared the buck hit the ground.
Patience was running thin at this point so the hunters decided to approach the buck. It was at this moment as they came upon the animal as it layed in the leaves, that they both knew this was no ordinary buck. Although deer hunting has been in John and his wife Cristy's families for more than 70 years, John immediately knew that this buck that his 10 year old son had just harvested was by far the greatest buck in family history!
As a hunter and father I can only imagine the happiness and memories that John and Fisher will share from this hunt the rest of their lives. There is no doubt that "divine intervention" played a role that November evening. This great buck had never been seen before on the the lease property nor on any trail cam photo's. All the property that surrounds their lease is hunted heavily and no one had knowledge of this bucks existence.
Fisher is just 10 years old, but the legend of this 15 point buck that scores 227 5/16 is sure to grow with him. In speaking to John over the phone I could really sense the excitement the family has for this remarkable happening. It will be interesting to see what the Whitlock family will come up with in years to come, but for now they all have a lot to be proud of.
Congratulations Fisher!
* Since this story was written Fisher entered his buck in the Western Region Big Game Show and it won the Youth division and the top muzzleloading division for bucks 12 points and above. Fisher's buck also qulaified for the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association record book and was "Best in the Show" at the Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina, where 385 deer entered in competition.*
The Whitlock buck scored 222 15/16 under the Virginia scoring system. It just missed the National Boone & Crockett North American Record Book score of 180 3/8 non-typical.
Jeff Phillips
Little did John Whitlock and his 10 year old son Fisher know what the Henry County Virginia woods had in store for them when they sat out on their November 11, 2014 muzzleloader hunt.
John took his son to a piece of private property that he and a handful of members have leased for the past 20 years in the Horsepasture community area of Henry County. The father and son duo got settled in for their evening hunt around 3pm the old fashoined way, right on the ground behind a big oak tree.
An hour had passed when they heard something moving in the leaves through a thick clear cut area that they had set up near. To their amazement when the noise maker finally appeared it was a buck. John told me that they both knew it was a nice buck, but couldn't tell just how nice. As the buck continued walking toward the hunters John told his son to get prepared to shoot. Fisher deployed the bi-pod attached to his 50 caliber Knight muzzleloader and anxiously watched the buck as he closed the distance.
When the buck was approximately 30 yards away it stopped and presented Fisher with a broadside shot. His father quitely asked him to take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger. Fisher followed his fathers directions to a T and when the smoke cleared the buck hit the ground.
Patience was running thin at this point so the hunters decided to approach the buck. It was at this moment as they came upon the animal as it layed in the leaves, that they both knew this was no ordinary buck. Although deer hunting has been in John and his wife Cristy's families for more than 70 years, John immediately knew that this buck that his 10 year old son had just harvested was by far the greatest buck in family history!
As a hunter and father I can only imagine the happiness and memories that John and Fisher will share from this hunt the rest of their lives. There is no doubt that "divine intervention" played a role that November evening. This great buck had never been seen before on the the lease property nor on any trail cam photo's. All the property that surrounds their lease is hunted heavily and no one had knowledge of this bucks existence.
Fisher is just 10 years old, but the legend of this 15 point buck that scores 227 5/16 is sure to grow with him. In speaking to John over the phone I could really sense the excitement the family has for this remarkable happening. It will be interesting to see what the Whitlock family will come up with in years to come, but for now they all have a lot to be proud of.
Congratulations Fisher!
* Since this story was written Fisher entered his buck in the Western Region Big Game Show and it won the Youth division and the top muzzleloading division for bucks 12 points and above. Fisher's buck also qulaified for the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association record book and was "Best in the Show" at the Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina, where 385 deer entered in competition.*
The Whitlock buck scored 222 15/16 under the Virginia scoring system. It just missed the National Boone & Crockett North American Record Book score of 180 3/8 non-typical.
Jeff Phillips
Little did John Whitlock and his 10 year old son Fisher know what the Henry County Virginia woods had in store for them when they sat out on their November 11, 2014 muzzleloader hunt.
John took his son to a piece of private property that he and a handful of members have leased for the past 20 years in the Horsepasture community area of Henry County. The father and son duo got settled in for their evening hunt around 3pm the old fashoined way, right on the ground behind a big oak tree.
An hour had passed when they heard something moving in the leaves through a thick clear cut area that they had set up near. To their amazement when the noise maker finally appeared it was a buck. John told me that they both knew it was a nice buck, but couldn't tell just how nice. As the buck continued walking toward the hunters John told his son to get prepared to shoot. Fisher deployed the bi-pod attached to his 50 caliber Knight muzzleloader and anxiously watched the buck as he closed the distance.
When the buck was approximately 30 yards away it stopped and presented Fisher with a broadside shot. His father quitely asked him to take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger. Fisher followed his fathers directions to a T and when the smoke cleared the buck hit the ground.
Patience was running thin at this point so the hunters decided to approach the buck. It was at this moment as they came upon the animal as it layed in the leaves, that they both knew this was no ordinary buck. Although deer hunting has been in John and his wife Cristy's families for more than 70 years, John immediately knew that this buck that his 10 year old son had just harvested was by far the greatest buck in family history!
As a hunter and father I can only imagine the happiness and memories that John and Fisher will share from this hunt the rest of their lives. There is no doubt that "divine intervention" played a role that November evening. This great buck had never been seen before on the the lease property nor on any trail cam photo's. All the property that surrounds their lease is hunted heavily and no one had knowledge of this bucks existence.
Fisher is just 10 years old, but the legend of this 15 point buck that scores 227 5/16 is sure to grow with him. In speaking to John over the phone I could really sense the excitement the family has for this remarkable happening. It will be interesting to see what the Whitlock family will come up with in years to come, but for now they all have a lot to be proud of.
Congratulations Fisher!
* Since this story was written Fisher entered his buck in the Western Region Big Game Show and it won the Youth division and the top muzzleloading division for bucks 12 points and above. Fisher's buck also qulaified for the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association record book and was "Best in the Show" at the Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina, where 385 deer entered in competition.*
The Whitlock buck scored 222 15/16 under the Virginia scoring system. It just missed the National Boone & Crockett North American Record Book score of 180 3/8 non-typical.
Jeff Phillips
Little did John Whitlock and his 10 year old son Fisher know what the Henry County Virginia woods had in store for them when they sat out on their November 11, 2014 muzzleloader hunt.
John took his son to a piece of private property that he and a handful of members have leased for the past 20 years in the Horsepasture community area of Henry County. The father and son duo got settled in for their evening hunt around 3pm the old fashoined way, right on the ground behind a big oak tree.
An hour had passed when they heard something moving in the leaves through a thick clear cut area that they had set up near. To their amazement when the noise maker finally appeared it was a buck. John told me that they both knew it was a nice buck, but couldn't tell just how nice. As the buck continued walking toward the hunters John told his son to get prepared to shoot. Fisher deployed the bi-pod attached to his 50 caliber Knight muzzleloader and anxiously watched the buck as he closed the distance.
When the buck was approximately 30 yards away it stopped and presented Fisher with a broadside shot. His father quitely asked him to take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger. Fisher followed his fathers directions to a T and when the smoke cleared the buck hit the ground.
Patience was running thin at this point so the hunters decided to approach the buck. It was at this moment as they came upon the animal as it layed in the leaves, that they both knew this was no ordinary buck. Although deer hunting has been in John and his wife Cristy's families for more than 70 years, John immediately knew that this buck that his 10 year old son had just harvested was by far the greatest buck in family history!
As a hunter and father I can only imagine the happiness and memories that John and Fisher will share from this hunt the rest of their lives. There is no doubt that "divine intervention" played a role that November evening. This great buck had never been seen before on the the lease property nor on any trail cam photo's. All the property that surrounds their lease is hunted heavily and no one had knowledge of this bucks existence.
Fisher is just 10 years old, but the legend of this 15 point buck that scores 227 5/16 is sure to grow with him. In speaking to John over the phone I could really sense the excitement the family has for this remarkable happening. It will be interesting to see what the Whitlock family will come up with in years to come, but for now they all have a lot to be proud of.
Congratulations Fisher!
* Since this story was written Fisher entered his buck in the Western Region Big Game Show and it won the Youth division and the top muzzleloading division for bucks 12 points and above. Fisher's buck also qulaified for the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association record book and was "Best in the Show" at the Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina, where 385 deer entered in competition.*
The Whitlock buck scored 222 15/16 under the Virginia scoring system. It just missed the National Boone & Crockett North American Record Book score of 180 3/8 non-typical.
Jeff Phillips
Little did John Whitlock and his 10 year old son Fisher know what the Henry County Virginia woods had in store for them when they sat out on their November 11, 2014 muzzleloader hunt.
John took his son to a piece of private property that he and a handful of members have leased for the past 20 years in the Horsepasture community area of Henry County. The father and son duo got settled in for their evening hunt around 3pm the old fashoined way, right on the ground behind a big oak tree.
An hour had passed when they heard something moving in the leaves through a thick clear cut area that they had set up near. To their amazement when the noise maker finally appeared it was a buck. John told me that they both knew it was a nice buck, but couldn't tell just how nice. As the buck continued walking toward the hunters John told his son to get prepared to shoot. Fisher deployed the bi-pod attached to his 50 caliber Knight muzzleloader and anxiously watched the buck as he closed the distance.
When the buck was approximately 30 yards away it stopped and presented Fisher with a broadside shot. His father quitely asked him to take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger. Fisher followed his fathers directions to a T and when the smoke cleared the buck hit the ground.
Patience was running thin at this point so the hunters decided to approach the buck. It was at this moment as they came upon the animal as it layed in the leaves, that they both knew this was no ordinary buck. Although deer hunting has been in John and his wife Cristy's families for more than 70 years, John immediately knew that this buck that his 10 year old son had just harvested was by far the greatest buck in family history!
As a hunter and father I can only imagine the happiness and memories that John and Fisher will share from this hunt the rest of their lives. There is no doubt that "divine intervention" played a role that November evening. This great buck had never been seen before on the the lease property nor on any trail cam photo's. All the property that surrounds their lease is hunted heavily and no one had knowledge of this bucks existence.
Fisher is just 10 years old, but the legend of this 15 point buck that scores 227 5/16 is sure to grow with him. In speaking to John over the phone I could really sense the excitement the family has for this remarkable happening. It will be interesting to see what the Whitlock family will come up with in years to come, but for now they all have a lot to be proud of.
Congratulations Fisher!
* Since this story was written Fisher entered his buck in the Western Region Big Game Show and it won the Youth division and the top muzzleloading division for bucks 12 points and above. Fisher's buck also qulaified for the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association record book and was "Best in the Show" at the Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina, where 385 deer entered in competition.*
The Whitlock buck scored 222 15/16 under the Virginia scoring system. It just missed the National Boone & Crockett North American Record Book score of 180 3/8 non-typical.
Jeff Phillips
Little did John Whitlock and his 10 year old son Fisher know what the Henry County Virginia woods had in store for them when they sat out on their November 11, 2014 muzzleloader hunt.
John took his son to a piece of private property that he and a handful of members have leased for the past 20 years in the Horsepasture community area of Henry County. The father and son duo got settled in for their evening hunt around 3pm the old fashoined way, right on the ground behind a big oak tree.
An hour had passed when they heard something moving in the leaves through a thick clear cut area that they had set up near. To their amazement when the noise maker finally appeared it was a buck. John told me that they both knew it was a nice buck, but couldn't tell just how nice. As the buck continued walking toward the hunters John told his son to get prepared to shoot. Fisher deployed the bi-pod attached to his 50 caliber Knight muzzleloader and anxiously watched the buck as he closed the distance.
When the buck was approximately 30 yards away it stopped and presented Fisher with a broadside shot. His father quitely asked him to take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger. Fisher followed his fathers directions to a T and when the smoke cleared the buck hit the ground.
Patience was running thin at this point so the hunters decided to approach the buck. It was at this moment as they came upon the animal as it layed in the leaves, that they both knew this was no ordinary buck. Although deer hunting has been in John and his wife Cristy's families for more than 70 years, John immediately knew that this buck that his 10 year old son had just harvested was by far the greatest buck in family history!
As a hunter and father I can only imagine the happiness and memories that John and Fisher will share from this hunt the rest of their lives. There is no doubt that "divine intervention" played a role that November evening. This great buck had never been seen before on the the lease property nor on any trail cam photo's. All the property that surrounds their lease is hunted heavily and no one had knowledge of this bucks existence.
Fisher is just 10 years old, but the legend of this 15 point buck that scores 227 5/16 is sure to grow with him. In speaking to John over the phone I could really sense the excitement the family has for this remarkable happening. It will be interesting to see what the Whitlock family will come up with in years to come, but for now they all have a lot to be proud of.
Congratulations Fisher!
* Since this story was written Fisher entered his buck in the Western Region Big Game Show and it won the Youth division and the top muzzleloading division for bucks 12 points and above. Fisher's buck also qulaified for the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association record book and was "Best in the Show" at the Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina, where 385 deer entered in competition.*
The Whitlock buck scored 222 15/16 under the Virginia scoring system. It just missed the National Boone & Crockett North American Record Book score of 180 3/8 non-typical.
Jeff Phillips
