A familiar, longtime hunting lease. A well-known buck making a huge growth leap. When HuntStand is added to the mix, our Week 2 winner is crowned.
Early deer season openers are special for many reasons, with one of the finest being the fact they can offer the opportunity at a velvet buck. Tennessee’s Daniel Blevins, 26, knows exactly what that feels like—and how. For sending in photos and the HuntStand success story of a jaw-dropping Tennessee 12-point in velvet, taken with his Ravin crossbow, Blevins is the Week 2 winner in the 2020 HuntStand Big Buck ALERT contest that earns him a sweet pack from ALPS OutdoorZ: The Quickdraw 2.0 Sling Pack (see below). The weekly win also makes Blevins eligible for our Grand Prize drawing in late November (more on that below). We’re still looking for eight more weekly winners so enter today! 
“I killed this big Tennessee 12-pointer during our state’s three-day archery velvet hunt in late August,” Blevins wrote. “I’ve had two years of history with this buck, and the HuntStand app was a major factor in allowing me to harvest this deer. The app is so helpful in so many ways; still, the
ENTER THE 2020 HUNTSTAND SWEEPSTAKES NOW!
primary reason I killed this deer is because HuntStand accurately predicted the wind direction for my evening hunt on Aug. 29. I had two stands set for different wind directions; HuntStand led me to the right choice, the pattern held true, and I was able to kill him.”
“I was hunting a 500-acre parcel that my dad has leased for the past 26 years, beginning the year I was born,” Blevins continued. “I patterned this deer over the summer; I’ve actually captured hundreds of trail camera photos of him over the past two years, and he put on an estimated 30 to 40 inches from 2019. The very first trail camera photo I captured in 2020 was this buck.
“Where this deer was coming out to a field, there were no good stand trees; he was coming off a big hill that severely limited where I could put a treestand. An old hay barn sits 60 yards from the trail he was using, so I built a blind in the barn’s rafters. I put two pieces of OSB down and used a SkilSaw to cut a shooting window out of the barn.
“HuntStand showed the wind was perfect for the barn blind on Aug. 29. There were 7 bucks in the field that evening and he was the last one to come out. At one point six of the bucks were within 30-40 yards of me, and the big deer was feeding toward them. Suddenly one of the smaller bucks got spooked by something across the field, and the big buck turned around and acted like he was going to leave. At that point I ranged him at 63 yards and felt confident in the shot, because of all the practice I did over the summer.
“After the shot a pouring rain began almost instantly; the flood gates opened and my heart sank. The temperature had dropped about 10 to 15 degrees during the last hour before dark, because a hurricane had blown in; with the storm raging I could locate no blood where I had shot him, and could not locate the arrow. I decided to let him lay all night, and of course it rained most of the night.
“The next morning me and two buddies began the search; my buddy (Jesse West) found him after about three hours, as we were grid-searching, because the hurricane had completely washed away the blood trail. My uncle Matt (Shaner) also helped recover the deer; the buck ran about 200 yards after the shot, and we found him in a thicket. Then the party was on, and we are still celebrating! Thank you HuntStand!”
To enter the HuntStand 2020 Big Buck ALERT contest, simply send us a few clear, high-res. digital photos (three to five) of your 2020 buck bagged after Aug. 20 (Entries accepted NOW THROUGH NOV. 26) along with a brief story of your hunt that explains how the HuntStand app played a part. Be sure to tell us if your buck was known to you or a newcomer, then describe the area where your stand sits, or where the encounter took place, as well as the fateful day’s wind and weather conditions, and of course, the blow-by-blow account of the exciting action as it unfolded. Include your full name, age, successful hunt date and state, weapon used, and also be sure to include your mailing address. Your e-mail subject line should read: Big Buck Alert! Send your photo(s) and requested info to: [email protected]
Team HuntStand will choose 10 weekly winners that we began sharing with the extensive HuntStand community Sept. 25; EACH weekly winner will receive the Quickdraw 2.0 Sling Pack (valued at $79.99) from ALPS OutdoorZ (see above). This unique single-sling daypack offers quick and easy swing-around access to gear compartments. Unlike traditional shoulder straps, the single sling allows free range of motion. You’ll also find a drop-down pocket that securely carries a bow or gun, MOLLE webbing with bungee system for toting a quiver or extra gear, and a 2L water reservoir to keep you hydrated. 
In addition, at the end of the 10 weeks, all weekly winners will be placed in a drawing for our Grand Prize: an ALPS OutdoorZ Contender X pack (valued at $229.99; image above).
Pack specialist ALPS is calling this feature-packed design the ultimate whitetail day pack; the coolness of the Contender X begins with its innovative self-standing L-shape frame, which allows you to set your pack on any flat surface. The unique U-shaped zipper provides extra-large, flip-down top access to the main compartment—ideal for easy gear access while hanging in your stand or sitting on the ground, without losing precious pack contents. The Lycra covered molded foam suspension ensures carrying comfort even when fully loaded with hunting necessities.
Good luck out there this fall from all of us here at Team HuntStand and let us know when (and how) you score with HuntStand!
