Hunting stories that prove showing patience pays off

These hunting stories show that patient hunters often reap the biggest rewards. One teen finally tagged a giant 150-class buck named 'Kicker' after two stubborn years of early mornings and missed chances. Another hunter waited out a wily buck called 'Houdini,' shooting the rare 175-inch deer just as it was shedding its velvet. Persistence also paid off for a young hunter who let a promising ten-point walk for two seasons before finally harvesting a 167-inch trophy.

And in a twist from the deer woods, a dedicated turkey hunter braved lousy weather to bag an extremely rare snow-white gobbler after months of tracking. Each story proves that patience and steady effort can lead to truly special hunting moments.

Joe Bumgardner of Starkville harvested a 175-inch Mississippi buck that had partially-shed velvet antlers. By Submitted by Joe Bumgardner

NO. 1: MS DEER HUNTER FINALLY BAGS ‘HOUDINI,’ A BUCK WITH 175-INCH PARTIALLY SHED VELVET ANTLERS

The buck had ‘disappeared as soon as he shed his velvet and was no longer seen in daylight.’ | Published September 19, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brian Broom

Emma Claire Starkey, 16, of Eudora, harvested a buck scoring 156 1/2 after hunting him for two seasons. By Jordan Starkey

NO. 2: AFTER TWO YEARS, SHE FINALLY GOT HIM. HOW MS TEEN BAGGED ‘GINORMOUS’ 150-CLASS TROPHY BUCK

‘I thank Jesus for this day and experience constantly,’ young hunter says of harvesting buck that was ‘ bigger than he was in pictures.’ | Published November 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brian Broom

Walker Hilbun of Starkville harvested a 167-inch buck on Nov. 2 after watching it grow for two years. By William Hilbun

NO. 3: MISSISSIPPI TEEN HARVESTS BUCK OF A LIFETIME WITH PERFECT SHOT AFTER TWO YEARS OF PATIENCE

‘He was just as big as I thought he was,’ Starkville native says of giant 167-inch buck | Published November 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brian Broom

Glace Rone of Kosciusko bagged this rare turkey on March 15, 2025.

NO. 4: MISSISSIPPI HUNTER BEATS THE ODDS TO BAG TURKEY SO RARE ‘THERE’S NO EXACT NUMBERS’

‘It’s like hunting a unicorn,’ Kosciusko hunter said of the incredible gobbler he harvested. | Published March 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brian Broom

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.