Kentucky Resident Hunts Down a $1.1 Million Jackpot Whilst Pursuing Deer

An Unexpected Fortune Amidst the Wilderness

Picture the serenity of the great outdoors, punctuated only by the occasional rustle of leaves or distant call of wildlife. This was the setting where a Kentucky man found himself ensconced, not just in pursuit of deer, but also chasing down a substantial online lottery win.

Engulfed by nature's embrace, the McCreary County resident, who prefers to remain anonymous, happened upon an astounding $1.1 million online jackpot win while engrossed in his phone amidst a deer hunting expedition. He recounts his incredible tale with an air of disbelief and humour that lends it an "en-deer-ing" charm.

The Chase Begins

Inspired by family members who had previously hit pay dirt with significant online lottery winnings, our deer hunter decided to try his luck while perched up in his hunting stand. His chosen battleground was "Wolf Ridge Jackpots", an Instant Play game known for its progressive jackpot that escalates with every ticket purchase.

"Sitting there in the stand," he recalls, "I figured I'd give it a shot." He started off winning a modest $1500 and added another $200 to his account while balancing his attention between the game and potential prey. Yet, little did he know that his hunt was about to take a turn.

A Million-Dollar Buck

As he delved deeper into the game, simultaneous calls from his family began to frustrate him, causing his phone to freeze. He remembers declining a call from his son just before hitting the jackpot, triggering a rumbling sound that echoed through the woods and marked an end to his play.

Incredulous at the million-dollar surprise on his screen, he immediately called his wife. "I thought he was calling to tell me he had gotten a big buck," she chuckled while reminiscing about their conversation with lottery officials.

His wife's laughter turned into tears of joy when he sent her a snapshot of his win. Both husband and wife became emotional, with the winner joking that he could've fallen off his deer stand in disbelief.

The Aftermath of the Win

After contacting the Kentucky Lottery and overcoming their initial shock, they embarked on a three-hour journey to claim their prize. The couple took home $794,500.22 post-taxation from their winnings.

With newfound financial freedom, they plan on paying off their debts, purchasing a larger home surrounded by more land, and setting aside some winnings for their family's future.

"It's pretty awesome," said the elated winner. "You go sit out in the woods, and then all of a sudden you look down and realize you've become a millionaire all at once. It took me 50 years but it was worth the wait."