11/03/2026
Track #25 on 10/25/26 was taken with a muzzleloader at 10:14am, with a shot distance of 50 yds.. Carrie started Bois d’ Arc about 400 yds past the hit site, just to avoid unnecessary time delay. We went down an old 4wheeler trail to intercept the line that went deep in the woods. Blood was pretty sparse at best. We wanted to see if she would pick up the line as we went further down the trail, and there it was, the, “Head Snap.” Once she acquired the line, she was off, finding small spots of blood here and there. After progressing the line a good ways, and doing several checks, she was locked in hard. We eventually made it to the hunters last blood and Bois d’ Arc was still solid. After awhile, Carrie asked me to take the lead because she was getting tired. From there we advanced further into the track until we came to the bottom of the mountain on a flat. We found another very small spot of blood right at the base of the hill as we pressed forward. This is where it got very interesting. The buck came to a small creek and crossed over. After crossing, he immediately took a 90 degree turn to the left, following the creeks edge til the creek itself turned hard left. Bois d’ Arc followed the turn and went about 40 yds before she stopped and began scent checking the small area. There was a fallen tree in the creek and a good bit of brush all around the side which she worked very thoroughly. She then realized the buck had crossed back over and was headed straight back to the original line. Once she hit the original line coming in to the flat area, she head snapped once again, taking us right to where we crossed the creek the first time. Once she crossed over again, she took a direct 45 degree angle left that headed straight for the big creek. The bigger creek was about 15 yds wide. Bois d’ Arc went down the bank, straight to the water, which was only ankle deep, looked at several trails on the off side, scent checking each one. She decided on a line and went up the far bank, did a big check, and decided that wasn’t the line. I was starting to think that maybe the buck walked the middle of the creek down to make his escape. To make a long story short, she worked that whole big flat, putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. She took her time and was extremely thorough with all of her checks. We went through the whole area step for step, four different times. Finally, we were back at the same spot on the big creek when she started scent checking the top of the water, and the off side banks edge. Just as I thought, she started walking down the middle of the creek. After about 100 yds, she started checking the trail crossings on the other side as I stood on the near bank watching. On the second check, she flew up the bank and started over the top. At this point the water had gotten about knee deep, so I yelled over to her, telling her to wait. She stopped so I went all the way back down where we entered the creek the first time, so I could cross without getting to wet. Once I got back, I told her ok, and off she went. We made it about 65-75 yds, and all hell breaks loose. There was a loud crash, and Bois d’ Arc took off like a streak of lightening. I instantly saw the flash of a tail no more than 25 yds in front of me. Uh oh……. I hadn’t picked up the lead. 😳 Needless to say, Bois d’ Arc closed the distance super fast and gave the buck a good ol butt nip. Right then the buck swung around and charged, several times. I was able to recall Bois d’ Arc, and I called Carrie and the hunter, and told them we had the buck but he wasn’t dead. They hurried to where we were, I showed the hunter where the buck was laying, and Carrie, myself, and Bois d’ Arc left the area, but not before telling the hunter that I wanted her to finish the line. There was still at lease an hour and a half of legal shooting light for the hunter to go in and finish the job. Once it was over, he called us on the radio and said it was all good to head back his way. Man, what a track!! 1.2 miles and the hunter had his buck, and a dang good one at that. Congratulations Charlie Slaton on your big beautiful Oklahoma buck. That was a track that i’ll never forget. 🦌🦮
