Keith Lusher 10.24.25
An 8-year-old from Missouri hunter from Marshall, Missouri made the shot of a lifetime during Indiana’s youth deer weekend, taking down a massive 14-point non-typical that rough scores 184 inches. Hudson Garrett was hunting with his father Blake on September 28th when the giant buck stepped into a food plot on a west-central Indiana farm. The young hunter kept his composure through a tense 80-minute wait before finally getting a clean shot opportunity.
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Blake Garrett and his son had driven to Indiana at the invitation of friend Joe Umphries, who owns property in the area. The trio arrived Friday ahead of the youth opener, and Umphries positioned the Garretts in a shooting house overlooking a food plot Saturday afternoon. The blind sat slightly elevated on the field edge, about 500 yards from where Umphries had dropped them off. Trail cameras on the property showed good deer movement, but nothing had hinted at what was about to walk out.
“It was a warm, calm afternoon, and we settled into the blind about 4:15 p.m.,” Blake said.
Around 6 p.m., the buck materialized at 150 yards and walked to the center of the field before bedding down in tall grass. His massive rack was visible, but his vitals were completely obscured.
For the next 30 minutes, Hudson waited while the buck remained bedded. When the deer finally stood, Hudson prepared for the shot, but the buck immediately laid back down before he could squeeze the trigger.
“I was panicking, thinking eventually the buck would wind us and spook,” said Blake, a 41-year-old marketing executive.
At 7:20 p.m., the buck rose again. This time Hudson was ready.
Hudson was shooting a Ruger American chambered in 6mm Creedmoor, loaded with 103-grain Hornady ELD-X bullets. His shot caught the buck perfectly behind the shoulder. The deer managed just 30 yards before collapsing at the field edge.
Umphries met the father and son in the field while it was still light, and they loaded the buck together. “Hudson was through-the-roof happy,” Blake said. “He’s taken a couple nice bucks with his rifle, but nothing like that one.”
The Garretts plan to have a pedestal mount made. If Hudson gets his way, it will end up in his bedroom.
“Hudson kept his cool, took his time, and made a great shot on the deer,” Blake said. “No one could have asked for anything more.”
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