Shannon Roberts Bags a Big Buck

By Chris Erwin

While many of us struggle to get our spouse involved in our outdoor activities, it’s not a problem for Darren Roberts, of Catlettsburg. After introducing his wife to deer hunting, she professed to me “I love hunting.” While this proclamation would be enough to put a smile on many of us trying to get more individuals involved in the outdoor sports, Shannon Roberts took it to the next step.

Shannon Roberts, 1989 graduate from Paul G. Blazer High School, not only likes hunting she has become very good at it. She told me it was her husband who got her into hunting, and it wasn’t something her family did while she was growing up. It was her husband Darren’s passion, she explained. Darren is also a 1989 graduate, however, he went to Boyd County High School.

It wasn’t long after they met until Shannon was going into the woods, learning how to track and understanding deer movements. She would learn what a scrape was, how to spot rubs and bedding locations. Deer have a keen eye for movement and can wind you from a long way off. It was clear she was developing her skills when she took her deer last year with a bow. She got within 30 yards to make a good shot with what is arguably one of the hardest weapons with which to harvest a deer.

I have been a deer hunter for very long time and I can tell you they are plenty of people I know that have killed many deer with a gun but still struggle to take one with a bow. The level of skill to get close enough and get that bow in position and take the shot is a lot more difficult than you can imagine.

Shannon hunts on private land, and she had been watching that deer for some time. That Monday when she made it to her ground blind, she hoped to see this bad boy show up. The morning came and went, and her hopes were beginning to wane.

She then saw a doe walking passed her blind. The day was now way past morning and she stood frozen in the moment, looking to see if the doe had a buck trailing her.

Like magic, she could see him making his way towards her. He was trailing the doe like a hound dog. She raised her 243, looking for the second when he would step into plain view. Holding her breath, he moved into the open. She squeezed the trigger slowly. The gun discharged with a thud. The antlered beast flinched and stumbled backward from the impact. It was a hit dead in the heart area! Her prize went only a few feet and hit the ground.

Shannon Roberts has taken two deer in two years, a feat anyone would be proud of. It appears Darren Roberts has mentored an avid hunter and companion. I am truly happy for them. I congratulate both Shannon on her deer and Darren for passing on the hunting skills we in the outdoors world love so much.

I feel it is my mission is to bring to you stories from you, my readers, along with the adventures I am privilege to experience. I welcome you to write me, tell me your stories and share with me your pictures. I can’t promise you they will end up in the pages of the newspaper or in our magazine. However, we try to use as many as we can. If your story is about being outside, we are interested in hearing from you!