Staff Pick

John Gibbs 

Jason Loblein

To say today was the best day I have ever had hunting would be an understatement. Bella LaBoo shot this 210 lb 11 point at 7:30 this morning. We were in our tree stand and Bella started to get bored and ready for breakfast. I told her I would do a couple calls and we would wait a half hour. I hit the can call and followed it with several grunts. About two minutes later I could hear the deer coming and told Bella to get ready. She got ready with the new .243 her dad had bought her Sunday. The buck came out but wouldn’t stop. I said “ Bella he’s not stopping I’m going to take the shot” she says out loud “ No Poppy I’m going to shoot” The buck heard her and stopped in his tracks. Bella fired at 80 yards and the deer just walked into the woods. We waited 20 minutes and then got down out of the stand. We searched but couldn’t find any sign of a hit. Bella kept telling me she knew she hit the deer because she was aiming right behind the shoulder. She wanted to keep looking so we started at the last place we saw the deer and started searching again. Then we started to find blood and then found a little hair for about 50 yards then it stopped. The excitement really started. Having no more sign I decided we would back out and call Susan Hamilton along with her helper Kara and her six and a half month old tracking dog Fritzi. We waited 4 1/2 long hours before we started the track. Bella’s dad Mike, cousin Steve, Uncle Donny, neighbor Arlo, and Buddy Ripley all came to help. The dog tracked for about a 1/4 mile with no sign of blood. That little dog dragged us into the swamp and didn’t give up. Bella’s dad noticed the deer laying on a patch of dry ground in the middle of the swap just ahead of the dog. It was an amazing thing to watch. At 7 years old to make the Biggest Bucks in Maine Clubs is one Hell of an accomplishment. I am thrilled beyond words. Thank you to everyone that came to help! Proud of you Bella LaBoo! Poppy loves you!

740 pts · Deer — Randy Gagne

740 pts · Deer — Randy Gagne