By Dale Hatfield | Outdoors & Wildlife Correspondent
RANDOLPH COUNTY, WV — A local hunter successfully filled his first buck tag of the season Monday morning despite never reaching his tree stand or removing his rifle from its case.
According to witnesses, 38-year-old Travis Miller was driving toward his hunting property before daylight when an eight-point buck suddenly appeared directly in front of his truck.
“I had spent six months checking trail cameras, studying wind direction and figuring out where that buck liked to bed,” Miller said. “Turns out, he liked to bed somewhere across Route 33.”
The encounter occurred approximately four miles from Miller’s hunting spot and less than ten minutes after he stopped for coffee, which remained safely secured in the cupholder throughout the impact.
The truck’s windshield was less fortunate.
Miller said the buck came through the glass far enough to make eye contact and appeared equally surprised by the situation.
“We just looked at each other for a second,” Miller said. “I think both of us realized this wasn’t how the morning was supposed to go.”
Wildlife officials confirmed that Miller had the proper hunting license and an unused buck tag. They also reminded hunters that a pickup truck is not considered an approved hunting weapon in West Virginia.
Miller defended his methods.
“I wasn’t hunting with the truck,” he explained. “The truck was hunting with me.” “I wasn’t hunting with the truck. The truck was hunting with me.”
Friends congratulated Miller on the successful season opener but questioned whether the repair bill would make it the most expensive deer he had ever harvested.
Miller rejected that suggestion, noting that he had already purchased a new bow, climbing stand, cellular trail camera, scent-control clothing and enough equipment to survive three weeks in the Canadian wilderness.
“The windshield might actually be the cheapest thing involved,” he said.
At press time, Miller was waiting for a tow truck and telling everyone the buck was much larger before it entered the cab.
Dale Hatfield examined the photograph and estimated the animal weighed between 175 and 460 pounds.
The insurance adjuster declined to use Dale’s estimate.
The Holler Herald — West Virginia’s Least Reliable News Source
If it happens in the hills, we’ll probably report it. If it didn’t, give us about twenty minutes.
