Choosing the right stand area. Navigating to the stand. Helping find a downed buck in darkness. Our Week 8 winner used HuntStand for all of it.
How versatile is the HuntStand Hunting app? Wisconsin’s Jackson Nelson, 18, found out this fall on a bowhunt he (and his father) won’t soon forget. Not only did Nelson use his HuntStand app to pinpoint a successful stand site, he also used the app to help navigate to his public-land hunt area, and then, leaned on it even more to help guide him to his downed buck, after disorienting darkness had closed in. For his efforts Nelson scores an ALPS OutdoorZ Bino Harness X with Vital X rangefinder pocket; the weekly win also makes him eligible for our Grand Prize Drawing: A choice of either a sweet new binocular, OR a cutting-edge riflescope, from hunting optics specialist Leupold (contest details below).
Here’s Nelson’s amazing story in his own words:
“I have had the buck I named ‘Kicker’ on trail camera about three times this year, and he was a newcomer to the area this year,” Nelson wrote. “HuntStandallowed me to find my successful treestand location by showing me ridges and valleys leading to good-looking funnels. To capture the images of this buck I placed my trail camera in a funnel deep on a tract of public land near Brodhead, WI. The buck was unofficially scored by Nature’s Touch Taxidermy at 153 1/8.
“On Nov. 8, 2018, I used my HuntStand app to make sure I had the correct wind for my chosen hunt area, and then, on the long hike in, I used the app to navigate through a boggy area and stay out of as much bedding cover as possible. Along the way I jumped a yearling doe and noticed a fork buck following her; that’s when I knew it would be a good day.
“My stand location was looking into some hardwoods with a stretch of wet, boggy ground behind me. From 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. I did not see a deer, and the bitter cold was setting in. Without any other options, I was forced to stand and do some jumping jacks in the stand, to generate some warmth, because I did not want to leave. About 3:45 p.m. I heard a loud crash behind me. Turning my head slowly I glimpsed a trophy-class buck cruising through at about 140 yards. My heart just about jumped out of my chest! I grabbed my call and grunted loudly; instantly the buck stopped and stared hard in my direction. Then I watched his big body turn straight away from me and continue walking away. I was crushed, and watched in awe as the amazing animal left. Soon after I texted my dad that I’d seen a monster.
“Just a few minutes after the buck left, I remembered I had rattling antlers, and figured I had nothing to lose. Seconds into my rattling sequence I smashed my thumb with one of the brow tines and stopped and sat down, a little upset. But the effort had worked. Instantly sticks were breaking and water was splashing, and I thought to myself, ‘Here we go!’ As I peered back where I had last seen the buck, another crash erupted… and I could see his antlers coming through the brush at about 60 yards!
“Ecstatic, I grabbed my bow, but just then the buck stopped. For about two long minutes. At this point I could hardly breathe, and my arrow was making noise from me shaking. I was actually having trouble breathing quietly, but then the buck slowly moved closer, into an opening at 25 yards, and was soon at a licking branch, quartering away. At the shot the buck bolted; I waited an hour and with help from my dad, we began tracking. We found the deer by navigating the dense area with help from HuntStand at night. The app saved us; without it we were disoriented, and would have gone in the opposite direction! This hunt was not only special because of the story, it’s also likely one of the last years that my dad and I will be able to find a big deer together. It was an amazing experience and an awesome feeling. I’m so thankful for this amazing app; thank you HuntStand!”
To enter the HuntStand 2018 Big Buck ALERT contest, simply send us a few clear, high-res. digital photos (three to five) of your 2018 buck 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 ScoutLook will choose 12 weekly winners that we will share with the extensive HuntStand community; EACH weekly winner will receive BOTH the Bino Harness X (valued at $49.99) AND Vital X rangefinder pocket (valued at $19.99) from ALPS OutdoorZ (see above).
In addition, at the end of the 12 weeks, all weekly winners will be placed in a drawing for our Grand Prize. The Winner will GET THEIR CHOICE of a Leupold BX-2 Tioga HD 8X42 binocular (shown above, a $389.99 value) OR a Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40 CDS riflescope (see below), a $389.99 value. 
Good luck out there from all of us here at Team HuntStand, and let us know when (and how) you score!
