Ten Minutes That Felt Like an Eternity
Imagine a mature buck standing 35 yards away, directly downwind, with your bow ready. He keeps lifting his nose and looking toward your position. He is the deer you hoped to see, but the encounter feels as though it could end at any moment. Benny described that situation after an unforgettable October hunt.
A Familiar Piece of Ground
Benny was hunting a small location roughly 150 yards from his house. Years earlier, he had noticed promising sign, placed a trail camera, and learned the area. It had already produced a good buck in a previous season. This hunt was built on that groundwork.
The Night Before
Benny had recently seen a mature buck nicknamed Rat Belly without getting a shot. The evening before his next hunt, he asked Nick whether rattling was worth trying. Benny had observed fighting activity in the area, and Nick encouraged him to try it.
Three Bucks Respond
The next morning, Benny rattled. According to his account, three bucks responded almost immediately, including a recognizable 10-point deer with an extra inside point, nicknamed Insidious. Then another mature buck appeared, displaced the first deer, and took control of the encounter.
The Downwind Standstill
The buck stopped around 35 yards away, behind and downwind of Benny. Benny was running an Ozonics HR500. According to his account, the buck stayed there for approximately ten minutes, repeatedly lifting his nose and looking toward the stand. Benny remained ready, unsure whether the buck would leave. Eventually, the deer lowered his head, moved closer, and presented the shot. Benny harvested him.
Benny believes Ozonics made a meaningful difference. His experience is a firsthand field account, not a controlled test, and it cannot establish precisely why the deer remained nearby. What it does show is how he incorporated the device into a carefully chosen hunting setup.
Fundamentals First
The opportunity began with scouting, understanding deer travel, selecting the location, and making a timely rattling decision. During the podcast, we discussed continuing to hunt smart winds and position an Ozonics unit to exhaust ozone toward the downwind side rather than treating any equipment as a substitute for sound hunting decisions.
A Buck Worth Celebrating
Afterward, Nick traveled to see the buck and celebrate with Benny. The deer, nicknamed Gooba for its impressive G3 tines, measured approximately 132⅛ inches according to the account, despite a broken G4. Benny and Nick had shared a goal of breaking the 130-inch mark. That made the harvest especially meaningful.
The Value of a Hunting Partner
Sometimes a trusted second opinion helps you see a situation differently. Benny's question about rattling was a small conversation, but it helped set the stage for the hunt. The friendship and shared passion for whitetails were as much a part of the story as the antlers.
The Bottom Line
The dramatic moment lasted ten minutes, but the hunt was years in the making. Scouting, observation, timing, and a prepared setup all contributed to an encounter Benny will remember.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Ozonics unit did Benny use? According to the episode, an HR500.
Did Ozonics cause the deer to stay? Benny believes it helped; a single field encounter cannot establish cause.
Why rattle before peak rut? He had observed bucks fighting and wanted to imitate competitive behavior.
Listen to the Full Conversation
This story was adapted from a firsthand hunting experience shared on the Killerwinds Podcast. From the decisions made in the moment to the lessons learned along the way, these are the experiences that shape us as hunters. Watch or listen to the full conversation to hear the story as it was originally told.
Watch the Full Killerwinds Podcast Episode
