Thomas Phillips, 12, bagged his first antlered buck, a four-pointer, while hunting in eastern Rowan County on Nov. 17.
He added an eight-pointer on Nov. 21.
The Erwin Middle School student had killed two does and a buttonhead earlier, but this was his first big buck.
– – –
Lea Smith, 9, got a six-pointer that weighed 145 pounds in the Cleveland/ Woodleaf area.
She was hunting with her dad, Jason Smith, on Nov. 15. She’s been hunting for a couple years, but this was her first kill.