The story of Smokey

"THIRTEEN". The amount of time between 200" whitetails. Don talks about his quest for his second 200" #whitetaildeer. Dive into the mind of Don as he reflects on the endurance needed to have a chance at a world class animal.
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Пікірлер: 86

  • @chadfessenden4365
    @chadfessenden43653 жыл бұрын

    Mr. Higgins, I just found your videos. I've literally watched thousands of hunting videos. I have to say, I've truly enjoyed the ones I've watched of yours so far. I am a pastor, and share the passion for the outdoors! I appreciate your spirit and knowledge. God bless you and I look forward to watching more!! Not sure how I can feel a kinship after just a few videos, but you remind me of my mentor quite a bit. We've shared many memories in the woods. Sadly, we lost him to leukemia several years ago. Maybe that's the tie for me. Nonetheless, thank you from the heart!!

  • @UnlimitedWhitetailHunting
    @UnlimitedWhitetailHunting9 ай бұрын

    Wow! Just wow! Brought tears to my eyes when Smokey looked back. You definitely were blessed that year Don!

  • @catchemalive
    @catchemalive3 жыл бұрын

    So awesome to see people still giving God the Glory and giving him thanks when walking up on a deer he just blessed you with!! Mr Higgins, I’ve read 2 of your books and many of your articles and they are so full of knowledge of hunting. It’s helped me tremendously!! Just hope one day I can get to where I’m consistently shooting P&Y deer and maybe even stumble up on a booner one of these yrs!

  • @clean_lly04
    @clean_lly04 Жыл бұрын

    Amen to you, calling your dad who took you hunting for the first time, and including him in dragging out the deer, it’s not about the kill, it’s about the passion, and memories with your family, good story, enjoyed every minute of it god bless

  • @michaelbushey2787
    @michaelbushey27877 ай бұрын

    Your dad is a such a sweet man. Your a lucky guy to have a pops like him!

  • @stndupforusa8964
    @stndupforusa89643 жыл бұрын

    This guy is one of the greatest bowhunters in my opinion on earth.. and he is a Christian which is just awsome and a huge part of his success.. I don't pay alot of attention to many people's hunting advise but this guys speaks the gods honest truth about deerhunting .. he is a fantastic role model for young people..really all people.. he has taught me a few very important lessons . If you have a friend or child that needs advice on bowhunting whitetails this is the guu.. even if you aren't after trophy animals, his advice will put you in a position to take any deer in the woods.. THANKYOU DON FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME.. IN MY OPINION YOU ARE THE BEST.! PLEAE KEEP POSTING VIDEOS..

  • @chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147

    @chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Mark. I appreciate the kind words. God bless!

  • @jasonross499
    @jasonross4993 жыл бұрын

    Tremendous bucks! Even better story! I’m trying to catch up on all the podcasts. My new favorite deer hunting podcast! Glad to hear you give god the glory brother!

  • @joeb8162
    @joeb81623 жыл бұрын

    Great videos! And the mentioning of Smokey turning and looking back at you for the last time brought a tear to my eyes. You are a great soul Don. You deserve every great fortune that comes your way.

  • @donavandean1078
    @donavandean107810 ай бұрын

    You are a tremendous sportsman! Hopefully people will take your lead and LET DEER GROW UP!

  • @clintcarpenter6459
    @clintcarpenter64594 жыл бұрын

    Great bucks and an even better story.

  • @andrewcollins879
    @andrewcollins8793 жыл бұрын

    Congratulations. Made me shed a tear to see him go down. Now ya gotta start over

  • @_lancefischer_
    @_lancefischer_3 жыл бұрын

    Congrats again on those bucks Don. Thanks for sharing with us.

  • @wesfox1712
    @wesfox17124 жыл бұрын

    Awesome video! I've been waiting to see this video for a while!

  • @timcurrier2566
    @timcurrier2566 Жыл бұрын

    Sad when it’s over but you are so lucky to just see a deer like that. Living the dream. It’s a passion Con grats what a story.

  • @mikeniesel8829
    @mikeniesel88293 жыл бұрын

    I watched the Mel video first and now this one!! Very cool and I hope when I'm Don's age my 8 year old calls me to help him drag a big monster. Thanks for sharing Don!

  • @tealnexttimebond8859
    @tealnexttimebond88598 ай бұрын

    Buck of my lifetime for sure . Massive.

  • @anthonymalueg3520
    @anthonymalueg35204 жыл бұрын

    That is extremely entertaining to watch!!!

  • @Rocky00778054
    @Rocky007780543 жыл бұрын

    God bless you! For staying committed

  • @brandonharris1940
    @brandonharris19403 жыл бұрын

    Incredible stories!! Its great to see someone deserving and humble reap the rewards for all the hard work and dedication!!!

  • @dalecain1158
    @dalecain11583 жыл бұрын

    This video was awesome and the story of one Hunter and two amazing bucks is just beyond belief. Congrats on one amazing story that I thoroughly enjoyed!

  • @Ryan_YoungUSA
    @Ryan_YoungUSA3 жыл бұрын

    Absolute blessing there. Hard work and dedication. Congratulations sir.

  • @zacdye428
    @zacdye4283 жыл бұрын

    Anyone else here after watching the story of mal? This guy is an inspiration! God bless you Mr Don

  • @huntrrr99

    @huntrrr99

    3 жыл бұрын

    mel not mal

  • @buckbuster6213
    @buckbuster62134 жыл бұрын

    Congrats Don! Awesome hunts. Eric did a great job as usual on them.

  • @chrisdalrymple4048
    @chrisdalrymple4048 Жыл бұрын

    I listen to the podcast every week, I personally met him and attended his seminar at the 2022 Illinois white tail deer classic, he has helped raise the bar on what I want to pursue

  • @lesterbainer7914
    @lesterbainer79142 жыл бұрын

    So very much enjoy the “story line” of the Journey behind the man passing on his knowledge of the hard work that he put in to get to this part of the path he’s walking……

  • @OhioDeerHunter
    @OhioDeerHunter3 жыл бұрын

    Incredible Bucks! Way to put yourself in the position to make that happen.

  • @jimjett9996
    @jimjett9996 Жыл бұрын

    Congrats on another great deer !

  • @budmankerns
    @budmankerns3 жыл бұрын

    You sir are a class act!! Your passion for deer hunting is incredibly contagious!! You are the most disciplined hunter in the woods today! I would not be surprised to see you get a fourth buck that scores over 200 inches! Possibly even a world record!!

  • @duckman5849
    @duckman58493 жыл бұрын

    You deserve everything you got. Great stories brother. With those bucks on your property you have the genetics, it’s only a matter of time before you have another opportunity.

  • @ronmacdougall9612
    @ronmacdougall96123 жыл бұрын

    Awesome,awesome,congrats,love the stories.To bad so many hunters get so jealous,so glad you got the monster back.

  • @timwheet1648
    @timwheet16483 жыл бұрын

    Congratulations Don on another great buck. I’ve watched every big time hunting celebrity over the last 40 years and NOBODY tells you or shows you more truth about bow hunting than you. Your such a welcome breath of honest fresh air and thanks for teaching me so much over the last couple of years. Keep sharing your faith and how about at the end of each podcast letting all 100,000 of us pray for someone who sent you a prayer request. I think the more of us praying for someone the better.

  • @archeryonly5629
    @archeryonly56293 жыл бұрын

    Amazing !!

  • @gary4645
    @gary46453 жыл бұрын

    Congratulations!

  • @richvalentine1889
    @richvalentine18893 жыл бұрын

    Great deer, good job sir!

  • @Jim64gc
    @Jim64gc3 жыл бұрын

    Awesome buck! congrats!

  • @garrettmendenhall
    @garrettmendenhall2 жыл бұрын

    I like your style, congrats on all your success

  • @grahamboyzoutdoorz2857
    @grahamboyzoutdoorz28573 жыл бұрын

    Amazing story stay blessed

  • @brileymattox3859
    @brileymattox38593 жыл бұрын

    Love the video

  • @rickhaberland9183
    @rickhaberland91833 жыл бұрын

    Great job Don! I thoroughly enjoyed watching your videos especially Smokey & Trump. The quality of your videos and incredible knowledge base combined with your genuine, humble approach is refreshing to see. Trust me I will be watching all your videos and learn from your expertise. I just purchased 80 acres in southwestern IL (Hardin) which has tremendous potential for growing giant whitetails and I'm commited to developing it. I will reach our to to via email to learn more about your consulting services and try to get sometime setup in early spring.

  • @kurtshinn9498
    @kurtshinn94983 жыл бұрын

    your the kind of guy i would love to hunt with i was in a club years ago and my best friend and i quit because of the people we were hunting with i have lost my get up and go because things in life have put me in the gutter but i still have that fire in me when i watch these videos im 48 and disabled i was a casino dealer for 18 yrs and got sick and just before i got sick my wife got sick . long story short i lost everything and had to move to a state that we could afford no family no friends we dont go out no where we sit in this house for the past 7 years 5 months watching antenna tv and internet off my phone I still feel blessed to be alive though Happy Hunting kurt NC

  • @douglasarrington8461
    @douglasarrington84613 жыл бұрын

    God bless you and your father

  • @prodigy3xtc389
    @prodigy3xtc3892 жыл бұрын

    We need more content 🙌

  • @ibnfevet1445
    @ibnfevet14453 жыл бұрын

    Guys you're doing great at this KZread thing. No need for the background music. Maybe on the fade in and fade out but not the whole time.

  • @sethchrestman7743

    @sethchrestman7743

    3 жыл бұрын

    Make your own KZread video about a 200 inch buck and then you can talk

  • @ibnfevet1445

    @ibnfevet1445

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@sethchrestman7743 lol you're dumb

  • @DXT61
    @DXT613 жыл бұрын

    I have read before but don't remember where (hunting article) that the odds of shooting a 200+" buck were 1 in 190,000. It just always stuck with me.

  • @buckydoedowner7598

    @buckydoedowner7598

    2 жыл бұрын

    What are the odds of shooting 4 200"s ..lol Don is the man!

  • @JVoss-ny2xg
    @JVoss-ny2xg3 жыл бұрын

    Same thing happened to me by some envious, jealous and hateful local hunters. I was accused of everything under the sun and called every name in the book. Just real douchebags, to be honest. I like the idea of getting my next one on video because there will be another one. Thanks for sharing your story!

  • @hvlineman5227
    @hvlineman52272 жыл бұрын

    WTH is a wiener roast🤔. Mr. Higgins you were so lucky to share that moment with your father. My dad was my hunting partner I lost him last fall. Love this channel god bless.

  • @drewanderson6416
    @drewanderson64163 жыл бұрын

    what county do you guys hunt in

  • @kingdrew6665
    @kingdrew66654 жыл бұрын

    Congrats Mr Don, 2 lifetime bucks within a few days, and who says living right doesn't payoff? Not me!

  • @buckydoedowner7598
    @buckydoedowner75982 жыл бұрын

    I hope one day my son shoots a 200" and im the first person he calls. Probably my favorite part of this hunt. You were raised right Don. Salute to you and your parents my friend.

  • @jakesmith6337
    @jakesmith63373 жыл бұрын

    God bless you 🥰🥰🥰🙏🙏🙏

  • @joshharris7422
    @joshharris74223 жыл бұрын

    Thank I can come up and hunt it would mean a lot too me. Eney advice thanks!

  • @TomReichner
    @TomReichner3 жыл бұрын

    I wonder if it is true that Mr. Higgins really went onto private property , without permission, to retrieve the wounded buck that entered that property and died there. It has always been my understanding that if one shoots a buck, and it goes onto another property and dies there, that one is not allowed to step onto that property to retrieve the buck until permission has been obtained. Don seems like an ethical, law-abiding man, so it would surprise me if he actually did step onto property without first getting permission.

  • @FAFO_24

    @FAFO_24

    Жыл бұрын

    If I shot a buck that big, I'm not taking a chance to ask for permission

  • @stanleybuck4195
    @stanleybuck41952 жыл бұрын

    Congratulations. You are a truly deserving, great hunter. Question... Its my understanding that you hunt only in November afternoons. Is this true?

  • @claytonloux8867
    @claytonloux88673 жыл бұрын

    My first buck was last year and it was Nine points

  • @josephvafi
    @josephvafi3 жыл бұрын

    Swahili Warrior Saying: Victory or defeat is in the hands of the gods, so let us triumph in the struggle...

  • @elijahsadventure4724
    @elijahsadventure47243 жыл бұрын

    Thirteen points thirteen years

  • @stickjr.3715
    @stickjr.37152 жыл бұрын

    Yep! See a later. I got to go shoot my target buck!. Your 100%. Weird feeling just knowing!. 🤛😁

  • @benstoltz7611
    @benstoltz76112 жыл бұрын

    13 years.

  • @duckinatree
    @duckinatree3 жыл бұрын

    Great story, really enjoyed the whole thing n learnd a lot.. I heard u say that smokey scored 206 but what did Trump officially score?

  • @toddrobinson2987
    @toddrobinson29877 ай бұрын

    Don the moment you walk up on trump kneeled down removed your hat and thanked our Mighty Creator was awesome brother. You’re knowledgeable and put the work in and more than deserving. Congratulations brother.

  • @josephtreadlightly5686
    @josephtreadlightly56863 жыл бұрын

    6 1/2 & 7 1/2 years is the key. So tired of people saying a 4 1/2 is mature when there is a difference between premature & FULLY Mature.

  • @EventsO3525

    @EventsO3525

    2 жыл бұрын

    @The TimberGhost it must be different in your area because in my area 5,6, and 7 are the dominant ones and they are the biggest at that time

  • @josephtreadlightly5686

    @josephtreadlightly5686

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@EventsO3525 Every area is a little different. Makes u wonder if the genetics or weather or a combination of 100 things factor in. My area u will see yearlings that r still there the next couple of years. However they keep a very low profile & r seldom seen. Due to age demographic when they r 4 @ years they emerge & can be seen on the right days during the rut. The 4 year old that Don shot last year was the exception to the rule. He was a big yearling & grew every year. He also shot another buck in the last couple of years that looked better @ 6 w/o growing much in inches from the age 4. The difference is that buck had a deeper chest, a thicker neck & his rack matched it in frame. The scoring system when a buck has 3 more inches in width & everything has more mass doesn't reflect in score cuz points that r heavier do not add to the score.

  • @huntrrr99
    @huntrrr993 жыл бұрын

    hey my first deer was a 9 point

  • @arthurparkersr.2045
    @arthurparkersr.2045 Жыл бұрын

    how do you get to get to bucks

  • @HeyImFlex

    @HeyImFlex

    Жыл бұрын

    Illinois is a two buck state if I’m not mistaken.

  • @johnshannon5353
    @johnshannon53533 жыл бұрын

    Yeah thats what i hate about hunting! Jealousy

  • @jasonnester9514
    @jasonnester95143 жыл бұрын

    Must be nice

  • @KBBOUTDOORS
    @KBBOUTDOORS3 жыл бұрын

    Why would they confiscate the deer if there’s no evidence there had to be something? So stupid I’m sorry glad you got it back

  • @chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147

    @chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147

    3 жыл бұрын

    the whole story is detailed in my first book - higginsoutdoors.com/shop/

  • @KBBOUTDOORS

    @KBBOUTDOORS

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147 if I wasn’t poor lol 😂 college life

  • @ninjagodzilla6402
    @ninjagodzilla64023 жыл бұрын

    What kind of human being calls the game warden on someone that kills a deer & trys to get the other in trouble for wrong doings? That is pretty sorry.its sad we have people like that in our woods.i dont know the story but thats not right.obviously it was all yours.who were these people? Neibors?

  • @markanthony6064
    @markanthony60642 жыл бұрын

    Man you can’t tell me this man ain’t feeding these deer something that’s not natural. And do you have a 20ft tall fence around your farm? Some hunters will do anything unethical for fame. Hope this guy ain’t that hunter. Do love the way they praise god for these experiences

  • @austinmellott6373
    @austinmellott63733 жыл бұрын

    What did trump score

  • @theredflannelchannel7820
    @theredflannelchannel78203 жыл бұрын

    Ok so why the name smoky is it because you smoked him?

  • @josephtreadlightly5686

    @josephtreadlightly5686

    3 жыл бұрын

    Don did a control burn that got out of control just a little. Because of that he found the matching set of Smokey & they got singed. Blessing in disguise.

  • @thegoldenone1959
    @thegoldenone19593 жыл бұрын

    Smokey got smoked

  • @JoshSmith-md8cd
    @JoshSmith-md8cd3 жыл бұрын

    Found you on Facebook, I have to say I thought you’d be a real hunter.. I thought until I saw the food plot.. it’s funny how everyone’s all happy for you when you have the deer on roids man. Come on get some real skill.

  • @EventsO3525

    @EventsO3525

    2 жыл бұрын

    shut your ass up your nothing but a hater bucks have gotten bigger because we have started to actually doing real habitat work and boom bigger deer and it keeps them healthy when you don’t do stuff like that you get small bucks sound like the only thing you would ever kill and it takes a lot of work to set stuff like that up as a farmer I know that you are the one who needs to get some skill

  • @trentdecker6260

    @trentdecker6260

    2 жыл бұрын

    @josh Smith get a life dude.. get out of your parents basement and go kill a deer and enjoy life. Give the keyboard a break 🤡