14-year-old Reid L. experienced a hunt he’ll never forget while hunting in Avoyelles Parish.

A buck the family had seen on trail cameras for a few days stepped out, giving Reid the opportunity every young hunter dreams of. As Reid grabbed his rifle and braced for the shot, he could hardly believe it was happening: the deer was enormous. After he fired, he unloaded his gun and prayed that he had made a clean hit. With help from his grandpa and a tracking dog, the deer was recovered just 50 yards away in thick cover.

Reid described the moment simply: “At that moment, I was the happiest boy alive. When I picked up his horns, I said to myself, ‘I’m never going to kill a deer like this ever again!”

The buck weighed 223 pounds and was a 14-point, unofficially scoring 164. Reid says his family was incredibly proud, and the experience is one he’ll never forget. The buck will be mounted and proudly displayed in his home.

Congratulations to Reid on an incredible hunt. LDWF love seeing young people getting outdoors and carrying on Louisiana’s hunting traditions.