Eighth Grader Downs Big Buck With Gun She Won
Several years ago, First Baptist Church in Haughton held a Big Buck contest and the winner overall was a pre-teen aged girl named Addi Small. She came home with a 6.5 Creedmore, a gun she has used consistently ever since.
Since she was in school where she is in 8th grade at Haughton Middle School, we visited with her dad, Justin Small who was with her on the afternoon of November 30 when she put the Creedmore to good use by downing a big buck no one had ever seen nor had on camera.
Addi is involved in volleyball, basketball and softball at school and is a member of the National Honor Society.
“We were hunting behind my parent’s home in Haughton in Bossier Parish. At 3:00 that afternoon, she called me and asked if we could go hunting. Her older sister had killed a buck the day before and the spirit of competition kicked in. I agreed and checked to see if anyone was hunting on my favorite stand and learned my nephew was on that stand, so we had to hunt a different stand, one we had never hunted. In fact,” Small said, “I had to call my dad to find out exactly where the stand was located.”
It was 4:20 before they made it back to the stand and they had to sneak in carefully because there were four does on the food plot.
“The stand is a tripod with room for both us to sit. We were fortunate that we hadn’t spooked the does so we watched them awhile before they drifted on off into the woods. At 4:50, another doe came onto the food plot from a different direction and Addi got her gun up and ready in case a buck was following. Five minutes later, we could see the rack on a big buck as it stepped out to follow the doe. Fifteen seconds after spotting the buck, Addi dropped him in his tracks but as it tried to get up, she put him down with another shot,” Small added.
This was a buck nobody had ever had on cameras and was a complete surprise to the Smalls. The buck was taken to Simmons Sporting Goods to enter in that store’s Big Buck contest. The rack consisted of 11 points with an inside spread of 19 6/9 inches. The big bodied buck weighed around 240 pounds and was judged to have been 6 ½ years old. Simmons scored the rack at 172 3/8 inches.
Justin Small’s comments tell the story of a dad who is proud of his daughters and the bond they share especially when he’s with them on a deer stand.
“My baby girl has far surpassed me in the big buck category. Being the father of girls and hunting with them is priceless. Seeing either of my girls take great ethical shots and get so excited far surpasses the joy of killing one myself. One day they will be married off and I’ll have to hunt by myself again but until then,” he said, “the trigger is all theirs.”
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Bass are in the deeper holes with soft plastics and crank baits picking up some nice fish. Crappie are in the deeper holes with just out from the spillway. They are best on shiners and jigs. Some have moved up in response to warmer temps. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BUSSEY BRAKE –Crappie are hanging out just off the bottom. Fishing has been good fishing jigs or shiners near the bottom. Bass fishing has been good flipping jigs and soft plastics around brush.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is still quite low because of lock and dam problems down stream. Bass are best fishing shad imitation in the run-outs; crappie fishing has been good around the tops in the river in 12-14 foot water using shiners and jigs. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass are best over deeper water in the channels. Jigs and crank baits are picking up some. Some have moved up around cover in response to warmer temps. Crappie are near the bottom in 20 foot water on jigs and shiners but they have also moved up for the time being. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie are best just out from the spillway in deep water on jigs and shiners with some moving up to the edge of the points and drops. Bass are hitting crank baits and soft plastics in deeper water. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfish are good while crappie have improved fishing with jigs and shiners around the south end of the lake. For information, call the marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The lake level is on a slight fall. Catfishing is good, buffalo and catfish are being caught in nets. Some good crappie were caught this week around deep brush. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.