A target buck. Three weeks without a picture. One opening-weekend opportunity.

Spencer Odle joins the Prayin' and Slayin' Podcast from West Tennessee to tell the story of "Split"—a mature velvet 9-point that Spencer had his sights set on all summer.

Spencer grew up hunting and fishing alongside his dad and granddad on a 532-acre Tennessee property his family has managed since 1992. After years of bowhunting, 2026 finally gave him the opportunity he'd been waiting for: a mature target buck during Tennessee's early velvet season.

Split first showed up with a bachelor group in June. By mid-July, Spencer knew which buck he wanted. Then, just weeks before season, Split disappeared.

Until one trail-camera notification changed everything.

Opening weekend brought an encounter Spencer won't soon forget. A spi ...