The opening weekend of deer season in Alabama is a highly anticipated event for hunters across the state. For many, it marks the beginning of months of preparation, scouting, and patience paying off. Early mornings and crisp fall air set the perfect scene for a successful hunt.
This year, I set up in my favorite tree stand before dawn, overlooking a hardwood bottom where I had seen plenty of buck activity on my trail camera. As the sun rose, the woods came alive with movement. I remained still, waiting for the right moment.
Around mid-morning, a mature buck stepped cautiously into the clearing. My heart raced as I slowly raised my rifle. He paused, scanning the area, giving me a perfect broadside shot. Taking a deep breath, I squeezed the trigger. The shot rang out, and the buck bolted but only made it about 40 yards before going down.
Walking up to him, I felt both pride and gratitude. The hard work had paid off, and I had my Alabama opening weekend buck. It was a great start to the season, reinforcing why I love the tradition of deer hunting in the South.
