17-year-old Illinois bowhunter gets the buck he’s been after through many zigs and zags

Cameron, Ill. — His history with the deer includes a missed shot, a long period of “ghosting” and tons of evidence suggesting that even celebrities can turn camera shy.

Kelton Ryan on Nov. 10 finally harvested the Warren County, Ill., buck he had nicknamed “Turkey Foot” back in 2022. But, like most bowhunters, the 17-year-old Cameron resident had to overcome a series of typical deer hunting “zigs and zags” and “zags and zigs.”

Meanwhile, as the 2024 Illinois archery season hit its halfway point in mid-November, reports from around the state were mixed.

Rut activity came and went – and then seemed to come again, the result of warm weather mixed with random cold snaps that hit much of the state just as the firearms season arrived (Nov. 22-24).

An outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease in parts of the state also affected the deer herd. Reports from a handful of counties noted that hunters were finding several dead deer as they hit the woods for archery season.

Overall, EHD did not have a major impact.

As this issue of Illinois Outdoor News went to press, DNR has not offered a harvest update on the bow season, which opened Oct. 1 and runs through Jan. 19. While the overall harvest remains unclear, there are many cases proving Illinois hunters are having a good season.

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Examples of hunter success

Ryan’s defeat over Turkey Foot is a good example of hunter success.

Not to mention hunter persistence.

“The first time I saw him, back in 2022, I noted that one of his tines looked like a turkey’s foot, so the nickname was easy,” Ryan explained. “I watched him all summer and fall that year, and I ended up passing on him during the 2022 season.”

Ryan wanted the buck to grow, and expected to see the deer again in the 2023 deer season.

Instead, the deer ghosted him.

“No trail camera pics, and no sight of him at all the whole year,” Ryan said. “I really was thinking he could of died, or maybe taken by another hunter or something. So I was disappointed that it seemed I had blown the opportunity to tag him.”

By the time 2024 rolled around, Ryan was looking for another buck to focus on – he was scouting almost every night as spring began to roll into summer.

Then on June 12 – which happens to be his birthday – Ryan stumbled across a familiar sight.

Turkey Foot, in the flesh. The buck was still alive.

“He showed up right back where I watched him frequently back in 2022, and he had blown up into a stud,” Ryan said. “Unfortunately, this year we got wiped out with EHD but Turkey Foot survived and was one of the only mature deer around to chase.”

When the 2024 archery season rolled around, Ryan had made it a goal to harvest Turkey Foot. He saw the buck on opening day, and then on Oct. 2 found himself with a manageable 45-yard shot.

Ryan’s arrow went high.

“It was a heartbreaker,” he said.

“I had him dialed in and just missed.”

Ryan had noticed that Turkey Foot did not seem to like trail cameras. The deer would show up on his camera now and then – but only for a short time, and only on one frame. Then he’d vanish.

“After my miss on the second day of the season, the last picture I got of him was Oct. 6 after shooting light, and then he disappeared again for a good while,” Ryan said. “Then on Nov. 6 I got a photo of him and it got my hopes back up that this could lead up to another chance to take him. Photos of him came on Nov. 7, Nov. 8, and Nov. 9 – all in daylight.”

On Nov. 10, Ryan felt his odds were good. The timing of Turkey Foot’s appearance on cameras near his hunting spot were consistent.

“Knowing that I needed to be ready for him to come through around 6:50 a.m., I made sure I had everything ready,” he said. “I was ready and a couple of minutes went by and then I looked over into the thicket and see tines moving and working in my direction. I knew it was Turkey Foot”

The hunter took an 18-yard attempt, hitting a double lung shot. The buck went 50 yards and fell.

Turkey Foot green-scored 159 5⁄8 inches.

Ryan, who has been hunting deer for 10 years, has had his share of experiences, both with shotguns and with bows.

Turkey Foot tops it all – so far.

“It’s a part of hunting that I really enjoy, when you put in a lot of work, have some bad luck, but then figure out how to make the most of it and shoot a deer you’ve been working on,” he said. “I’m already looking forward to next season.”