When HuntStand helps ambush a newcomer buck on a familiar lease, our Week 8 winner is crowned.
There’s nothing quite like a trail camera check that turns up an impressive newcomer buck, and South Carolina’s Brian Ford can relate. Even better is when it appears the newcomer is sticking around—and moving consistently in daylight. For sending in photos and the HuntStand success story of a beauty SC buck taken with his rifle on Oct. 2, Ford is the Week 8 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 Ford eligible for our Grand Prize drawing in late November (more on that below). We’re still looking for two more weekly winners so enter today! 
“I have used the HuntStand app for several years and harvested several deer with its help, but none quite like this one—I harvested the attached 8-point on the evening of Friday, October 2nd, 2020,” Ford wrote.
“This buck started showing up on a lease my brother and I have in the Low Country of South Carolina; I live in Columbia; we have several cameras out to monitor the activity. The lease has very little pressure, but I know from experience that all bets are off once hunting activity picks up and the rut kicks in.
“The buck made his first appearance on September 21st. From then on, he made several appearances in daytime hours—both morning and evening. The stand faces to the east and my approach was from the west, so I needed something resembling an eastern wind to approach undetected. Surrounding the stand is a large, thick palmetto swamp. I checked the HuntStand app wind forecast and new that I would have the right wind that Friday. The app was dead on the money as it usually is.
“I got in the stand at approximately 5:30 pm. I had a few does and smaller bucks working the field in front of the stand (some chasing was going on). As dark approached, every deer in the field looked to the back of the field and sure enough, this buck was making his way into the field. He walked straight to me and began feeding—pointed directly at me. I had no shot. He stayed in this position for about 10 minutes (it seemed like 10 years!). All of sudden, without ever providing a broadside shot, he bolted to run a smaller buck off and disappeared into the palmettos. My heart sank—I started thinking I had blown it. Fortunately, I had not. About five minutes later he returned and gave me a broadside shot with my Christensen Arms Ridgeline .300 WSM, at 125 yards. It was an experience I will never forget, and I have to give credit to the HuntStand app.
“The buck grossed 134 1/8, and netted 127 3/8 inches. The buck had a live weight of 186.5 pounds. Thanks for making a great product; I’m looking forward to more e-mails like this because of it!”
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!
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