Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 23, 1995 TAG: 9510230084
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But when the 35-year-old Lynchburg sportsman got off from work at 3 p.m. on the next to the last day of the 1994 season, he made a dash for a hunting spot in the Boonesboro section of Bedford County. That move netted him the biggest buck entered in the 1995 Virginia Big Game Contest.
Collins had hunted the area during the bowhunting season, but hadn't seen much. There was a rumor that a big buck was using the terrain.
``As a matter of fact, one guy said he had seen it 100 yards from him, but couldn't get a shot during the muzzleloading seasons,'' said Collins.
When hunting pressure grew in the area, Collins left, but returned for his mad-dash, late-season hunt. He didn't take time to climb into his tree stand.
``I just picked a spot out on the ground by a tree.''
Nearby was abundant buck sign.
``There was a big area about 12-feet around where it looked like the leaves had just been turned up,'' Collins said. ``So I figured right there was as good a spot as any.''
Then time began to run out. The afternoon shadows lengthened and dusk started settling in.
``I was sitting there looking down into a hollow,'' Collins said. ``I would say it was about 5 o'clock. I was sitting there thinking how the year had gone and thinking about a buck that had come through there about three years ago. I heard something coming and eased my body around. I waited and waited and didn't see anything.''
Ten minutes later, Collins heard something running through the woods. He stood up to face the sound.
``The buck was following a doe, about 10 to 15 yards behind her. The first thing I saw was his rack. I would say he was about 40 or 45 yards away.
When Collins looked through the scope mounted on his .30-06 rifle, the deer appeared to be turning to go back the way he had approached.
``I lowered my gun and the next thing I knew the deer was standing there broadside to me. I mean broadside.''
And at close range.
``I don't know how he didn't see me, but I don't think he did. I was sitting there with a big, orange stocking cap on. I had stepped out about two yards from the tree, so I was standing out in the open, more or less.''
When Collins shot, there was no reaction from the buck.
``It was like he didn't know anything had happened. He stood there for a second and walked about 10 yards and stopped again, broadside. I shot him again. He stood there like nothing happened, like he never new anything or heard anything. Then he started walking off and stopped one more time. He was probably 30 yards.''
That's when Collins dropped the buck with his third shot. When the animal was skinned, three holes were found it its shoulder.
The 16-point buck scored 242 6/16 under Virginia's measuring system, which made it the largest buck of any category in the state's 1995 contest.
Collins has killed three other citation-size bucks. When asked to reveal a hunting tip, he said: ``Just put as much time in the woods as you can during the rut. That is the hot time.''
by CNB