I was introduced to deer hunting at a very young age by my father, Leo Pruitt. I was hooked from our very first hunting trip. I grew up shotgun hunting the hills and hollers of the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois and bowhunting small-acreage spots in east central Illinois. At 19, I really started getting passionate about my hunting. I found myself changing the way I hunted and also experimenting with food plots, which was almost unheard of at the time. It’s crazy to look back now to that first food plot I planted and see where it has taken me now. My dream season year started off like every other year — packed full of planting my Antler King food plots and maintaining them throughout the growing season to hopefully help draw in one of or even both of the bucks on my shooter list. On November 9, I was finally able to put my hands on the big 11-pointer. I’ll never forget walking up on him and thanking the good Lord above for the opportunity to hunt these magnificent animals and harvest one of my biggest bucks ever. But at that time, I didn’t know He had other plans for me. Just 8 days later, I watched the big 12-pointer go down from my stand. I would be lying if I said this was my best season ever, because my best season ever was that little basket rack 7-pointer I shot with my dad in 1988. That season will always be my favorite, but this past season is definitely a close second. It’s funny how things happen at the strangest times; I had oral surgery on November 8 and 16 and shouldn’t have been hunting either of the days when I shot these deer. I was in so much pain during the hunt and the pics I couldn’t even smile. And after this past season, you’d better believe I will be setting up a surgery this coming November if I need it or not! Categories: Education
