11-Year-Old Kentucky Hunter Bags Monster Buck

For most deer hunters, the thought of taking a nearly 200-inch whitetail is the stuff of dreams. But it was James Harden’s goal from opening day. The then-11-year-old Kentucky hunter is no stranger to big whitetails. Along with his dad, Josh, and his brother, Blaine, James is passionate about land management and hunting big deer. Before this season, he’d taken two other bucks that scored higher than 160.

Kentucky hunter James Harden is no stranger to big bucks, with three larger than 160 under his belt in just a few years of hunting. All images by Josh Harden.

“We live in an area with a lot of ag crops, so the deer have plenty to eat,” Josh said. “I think the invention of trail cameras has given hunters a lot more patience when it comes to bucks. They know what is out there, so when the first nice 2.5- or 3.5-year-old walks by, more hunters are content to let him walk and grow.”

Josh Harden, James’ dad, credits trail cameras for making area hunters more selective about the bucks they shoot.

Last year, the Harden crew hunted a big deer all season that they nicknamed “Jimmy.” James had hunted the buck with bow and rifle. When the season was finished, they located both sides of the buck’s sheds. “He shed early last year, in December, so we were out looking for them soon after,” Josh said. After locating the heavy 6-by-5 sheds, James was even more convinced that this was the buck he was going after this season.

After locating the buck’s sheds after last season, James was even more determined to put his tag on him this year.

The Hardens watched the buck grow all summer, putting on some serious antler. By the time he had finished, the buck had grown a matching sixth point on the left side and had gained considerable tine length all the way around. When archery season started, James was in the stand every chance he got. The buck was consistent on trail cameras, but James never got a shot at him while hunting.

The buck was consistent on trail cameras all this past season and through summer and fall.

The Kentucky firearm season started Nov. 9. James had a ball game that day and couldn’t hunt. True to big buck form, the giant appeared on trail camera, standing right in front of James’ stand during daylight. “He was pretty upset. He would have rather been hunting than playing ball anyway, and seeing that picture didn’t help,” Josh said with a laugh.

The next evening, James and Josh were in the elevated shooting house where the big buck had been the day before. James was excited for a chance at the deer, but he wasn’t the only one hunting. His younger sister, Sarah Beth, was also hoping for a shot at her target buck. “It was one of those deals where I had two kids chasing big bucks and there was only one of me,” Josh said. “I decided to take them both, and we had an agreement that the first target buck to step out would be the first shooter.”

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Deer filtered in and out of the area as the evening progressed. As darkness approached, four does stood in front of and to the left of the blind. Suddenly, James looked to his left. “Dad, there’s a buck. After a couple of minutes, he added, “Wait, there’s another buck. Dad, it’s him!” From where he was sitting behind James, Josh couldn’t see either buck, but he trusted that his son recognized the deer and gave the go-ahead for a shot. The buck was standing about 80 yards from the blind. James leveled his rifle, took aim, and missed. “I was pretty excited. My leg was going up and down like Thumper the rabbit,” James said.

The big buck lifted its head but didn’t run, instead concentrating on the group of does. Josh whispered for James to calm down, work the bolt, and take another shot. James struggled to gain control but carefully took aim for another shot.

The sight of the big buck had James so shaken that he pulled the first shot for a clean miss.

“I knew I smoked him that time,” James said excitedly. The big buck bolted into the nearby cover, and father and son heard him crash. After waiting a bit, they climbed down to pick up the trail. The track was short. The buck had only gone about 50 yards.

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James’ buck featured a symmetrical 6-by-6 rack with heavy mass and tall, sweeping tines. “I told him he was ruined for life, he might never see another buck that big,” Josh said. James answered with, “Dad, it’s not about that. I just love being out there hunting, no matter how big the buck is.”

Josh added that he’s happy that both of his sons and his daughter are good kids, and that he is happy they share his passion for hunting. So, what does a 12-year-old with three giant bucks under his belt do for a follow-up? “I’ve got my eye on a big 10-pointer for next year,” James said. “We think it’s my buck’s son. They look a lot alike.”