Story By: Daniel Colaianni
I made my first trip to Colorado to hunt deer with Sandy Hills Hunting Company in 2018. Since then, I’ve been back every year and taken several 180"+ bucks, including one over 200" in 2024. 2025 was much like any other year until June 13, when Neil Emick sent me velvet footage of a buck with good potential—a buck his little girl, Stevie, would later name “Shredder”. As the summer rolled on, Neil and the Sandy Hills crew found many other outstanding bucks, but Shredder just kept putting on inches, and it was apparent he would develop into something special. By late July, Shredder had surpassed all expectations and become a true once-in-a-lifetime buck!
I am generally diligent about shooting my bow, but this year, I spared no effort in preparation for the October 1 opener. The eastern plains are a unique area for spot-and-stalk hunting, and they come with some unique challenges. Until you’ve tried spot-and-stalk hunting in wide-open country, it’s hard to appreciate how difficult it is to get within 50 yards of an animal undetected. On previous hunts, I have endured five-hour stalks in ninety-five-degree heat and 35-mile-per-hour crosswinds, all while crawling through cactus and keeping an eye out for the occasional rattlesnake or tarantula.
When the season finally rolled around, my dad and I arrived a few days before the opener to settle in and prepare. We were fortunate enough to locate Shredder the night before October 1, and we felt confident he would be right where we needed him come morning. After a nearly sleepless night, the three of us headed out well before daylight, hoping to catch the bucks before they bedded.
After glassing for a short time, Neil suddenly whispered, “I got him.” Shredder was on his feet with four other bucks, moving toward one of his usual bedding areas. Our spirits were high; we were going to get a chance at him on the very first morning.
The bucks eventually fed over a ridge and into a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) field situated in a large bowl. After losing sight of them, we knew we would have to slowly make our way to the bowl and relocate them without spooking them. To make matters worse, conditions were less than ideal, so we waited for the situation to change in our favor.
While killing time, our good buddy Tanner was preparing to stalk a great deer a few miles away, so we decided to spot for him as he slipped into position. Luckily, his buck was only with one other buck—and he was in a better position. It wasn’t long before the buck stood, and Tanner made a good 34-yard shot, killing his first birthday buck and biggest deer to date. As we wrapped up photos and finished field dressing Tanner’s buck, conditions began to improve, so we headed back towards Shredder to do some glassing.
After some more time waiting and analyzing, Neil felt it was time to make a move.
Neil and I walked the edge of the CRP field until we got to a better vantage point, then began slowing picking apart the terrain. Taking only a few steps at a time, we glassed relentlessly. We picked apart every weed, yucca, and patch of tall grass, knowing all we needed was to catch a tine. After a couple hours, we spotted one of the smaller bucks bedded along the side of a terrace less than 300 yards away.
The wind was right, and we had decent cover. We eased forward, and before long, we were inside 100 yards. We ditched our boots and crawled to a lone sunflower. At 64 yards, I could see Shredder’s massive rack protruding from the weeds. Our next move put us at 53 yards. We got settled and I nocked an arrow.
Just as I settled in, one of the smaller bucks stood to stretch and noticed us sitting in the grass. Not overly alarmed, he stood and stared, which caught the attention of a couple of the other bucks. Eventually, all the bucks were on their feet, and Shredder stood broadside, half covered by weeds. I slowly drew my bow, placed my 50-yard pin mid-body, and released. The group scattered. He was hit, but the arrow was slightly too far back.
At 200 yards, the other bucks stopped, leaving Shredder behind as he bedded down. We gave him an hour, then carefully worked back to within 75 yards, where I hit him with a second arrow. He ran a short distance and disappeared into tall grass. Somewhat uncertain of the outcome, we called Jeremy and Tanner, who had shown up to assist with glassing. They confirmed he had gone down. We moved up quietly and sent one more arrow for good measure; Shredder was down!
When we finally walked up and put our hands on Shredder, the mix of relief, joy, and disbelief was overwhelming. My Apple Watch notified me that I may need to seek medical attention due to a rapid increase in heart rate!
I’m deeply thankful for the opportunity to hunt and harvest a deer of this caliber, but even more grateful that I was able to experience it alongside my good friend Neil, my father, and the other exceptional members of Sandy Hills: Jeremy and Tanner. From that first June phone call to the final walk-up, Shredder became as much Neil’s as he was mine. The crew is relentless, and Sandy Hills is one of the best spot-and-stalk operations around!
I’m also incredibly grateful that my dad was there to witness it. He’s the one who first introduced me to hunting and taught me what it means to respect the animals we pursue and the places they live. Having my father there to watch the hunt from afar brought the it full circle. Shredder will always represent more than a once-in-a-lifetime buck—he’s a reminder of where my passion began, the friendships built along the way, and the memories made with the people who matter most.
Before long, my dad, Jeremy, and Tanner joined us, and, together, we celebrated not only an incredible deer but also a moment we’ll carry with us for the rest of our lives.