Agitated Crows Cause Big Tennessee Buck to Turn Broadside

Jill Thomas grew up hunting with her father. Although she never took a deer back then, she always enjoyed being afield. When she married her husband, Anthony, an avid hunter, she got back into hunting and even took several deer. When the couple had children, finding time for the deer woods became tougher. Eventually, she stopped hunting altogether.

Although she grew up hunting, Thomas stepped away from the sport for several years before returning to the blind this season. Images courtesy of Jill Thomas.

In March 2020, Jill, a school teacher, came home from work and noticed a tick embedded in her skin. She removed the tick and resumed her busy life, thinking nothing of it. A month later, she began feeling ill. Very ill. One evening, she even passed out in the kitchen. Complications continued for the next year or two, involving multiple ER visits, many by ambulance, and consultations with several doctors. Despite myriad medical tests, no one could narrow down the cause.

Don’t Miss: A NODAK MONSTER WITH DOUBLE DROP TINES

As her condition worsened, the couple connected with Dr. Todd, an infectious disease specialist. He immediately suspected Jill’s ailments were related to Lyme disease. Tests confirmed neurologic Lyme disease, an illness that affects the central or peripheral nervous system. On top of that, Jill was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and what at the time was a relatively new problem, alpha gal, leaving her with several food allergies, including some meats.

After getting several trail camera photos of the buck, the Thomases decided to put up a blind on the property.

During the next six years, Jill continued treatments for the issues, becoming more familiar with which foods triggered flare-ups and learning to deal with the symptoms. Earlier this year, she told Anthony that she really wanted to go hunting again.

Don’t Miss: TWO STRIKES AND A HOME RUN ON A MASSIVE BLUEGRASS BUCK

“I was absolutely thrilled,” he said. “For the first time in years, I saw the spark in her that used to be there.” Just one problem: Through land sales, leases and other issues, Anthony had lost several of the farms he used to hunt. That’s when a friend who recently moved to the area offered his 5-acre woods.

Jill’s husband, Anthony, was thrilled that his wife finally felt well enough to resume hunting.

Not knowing if a plot that size held deer or was even huntable, Anthony kept his excitement in check. But then his friend revealed trail camera photos from the property. “Is this buck big enough to hunt in this area?” his friend asked. Anthony looked at the photo and laughed. “Yeah, he’s big enough to hunt in any area,” he replied.

After hanging a few more cameras and positioning a blind, the couple monitored the buck for the next few weeks. Anthony knew they could only hunt the buck with a perfect wind. Luckily, opening day of the Tennessee season provided the ideal wind. Anthony picked Jill up at school as soon as she got off work.

Don’t Miss: RACK REPORT | BOWHUNTER ARROWS TROPHY 8-POINTER DURING TENNESSEE VELVET SEASON

“I just left my car there,” Jill said. “Anthony had everything we needed in the truck, and I changed into my camo while going down the road (laughs).”

At their parking spot, they quickly sprayed down with a scent eliminator and headed to the blind, where they turned on their Ozonics and deployed some Old Indian Tricks cover scent.

The duo used Old Indian Tricks cover scent to help them remain undetected.

“When Anthony sprayed the blind, I thought I was going to get sick,” Jill said. “I am still pretty sensitive to smells, and that one really got me. Before the tick bite, it wouldn’t have bothered me at all.”

As the evening progressed, does and fawns emerged from the timber and fed in front of the blind. When a doe lifted her head and stared back up the trail into the woods, Jill and Anthony followed her gaze. A buck emerged from the timber. It wasn't the one they were after, but instead was the buck’s smaller running buddy, a young 8-pointer. Jill knew the two were always together, so she prepared to shoot. The young buck came straight in. Anthony soon noticed the larger buck back in the timber, but Jill couldn’t see it. Eventually, it walked into the opening.

“I still couldn’t see him at all,” she said. “The other buck was completely blocking my view.” Even though both bucks were well within range, she worried the older buck wouldn’t present an opportunity.

Just then, a miracle happened. A crow started cawing at the bucks, eventually dive-bombing them. The younger buck took off, leaving the older buck exposed. “He ran a few yards and then stopped broadside, giving me the perfect shot,” Jill said.

She steadied her Ravin crossbow and squeezed the trigger. The arrow hit slightly low. Jill said it was Anthony’s fault because he forgot the rangefinder and told her it was 20 yards when it was actually about 25 yards. Still, the large mechanical broadhead performed.

“I could see the Lumenok in him as he bolted away,” Jill said. “I just hoped and said a little prayer that it wasn’t too low.”

Within seconds, the couple heard what sounded like the buck crashing to the ground. Not wanting to rush it, they waited 45 minutes before searching for blood. To Anthony’s surprise, Jill announced that she was going to track and that he could follow her and film the recovery.

Check Out Our Latest Camo Pattern: Realtree APX

“I really wouldn’t even call it tracking,” Jill said. “It was the heaviest blood trail I’d ever seen. We followed it at a normal walking pace.” The trail soon led to the buck, which had gone less than 100 yards.

“After we got him field-dressed, I started to drag the buck uphill,” Anthony said. “Jill grabbed the other side and started dragging, something she couldn’t have done just a few years ago. She didn’t even get winded going up the hill. It made me so happy to see her feeling like her old self. Seeing her so excited was one of my proudest moments as a husband. I’ll never forget that feeling.”

The big buck had a high and tight frame with 14 scorable points.

The buck featured a heavy 8-point main frame with a split G-2 that measured right at 12 inches and several kicker points that measured between 2 and 5 inches. All told, the 14-pointer grossed in the mid-150s.

Jill said, “This buck was a huge blessing. I didn’t know if I would ever get to experience this feeling again. Over the years, we had leaned on the Lord to help us get through this. I just want to tell other people who are facing similar circumstances to have faith and never stop pushing.”

Don’t Miss: RACK REPORT | BOWHUNTER'S MULTI-YEAR CHASE ENDS WITH OPENING DAY KENTUCKY BRUISER