Re: Elderly Blacktail laid to rest "Story added page 3"

[jamesjett]

Nice buck!

[Clancy]

awesome bt 

[D-Rock425]

Its about time you kill something Ripper.  I was starting to think you just like to look at them and not shoot them.

[backyard bucks]

hell of a buck... gotta love the blackies... 

[Ripper]

Its about time you kill something Ripper.

  You know I was thinking the same thing! After all the hours I put in bear hunting this year...........
I decided not to put too much effort into deer hunting this year, I planned on pretty much taking it off then hit elk hard. Well I know some people with property on Whidby Island who are trying to develop an apple orchard but the deer are killing all their tree's. I have hunted out there in the past but always late season after chasing muley's on the East side. Well almost all their trees are gone now, there are a couple beat up saplings so I decided to hunt it early this year. I had never baited before, but decided to try this year. I went out this morning to spread out 50 lbs of apples then go back tomorrow eve to hunt them. I got out there at 6:30, spread my apples then drove to the other side of the drive way about 50 yards away. I usually wait till it get's light to start hunting there because you never know where the deer are going to be. Day light came and nothing was around so I checked a clearing at the west side of the property. Nothing, so I went back into the thick stuff. Their property butt's up against a large hunting area so there are hundreds of acres back there to hunt. The first hundred yards are alders then you get into the evergreen's and fern's, kinda open, but kinda thick. Right at the edge of alders is where I saw the big rub. Once I was in about 200 yards I was on a ridge top, so I got over to the edge to watch a deep gully. I took a seat then tossed out about 5 apples I had in my pocket. after 45 mins of nothing I was going to call it a day and go back tomorrow. Well I had my Rick's fawn bleat in my pocket so I thought I'd give it shot since I've only called in deer with it anyway. I gave 3 soft bleats and put it in my pocket. I was going to give it 10 minutes then leave. Well 2 minutes later this guy comes barreling down the hill about 25 yards to my right. Just as I started to raise my gun he stops and we go into a seemingly eternal stare down! It was at least 2 minutes before he turned his head briefly, then right back at me. This went on for at least 3 more minutes, which is an eternity under the circumstances. Finally he did a 180 and I was able to get my gun up. It was an extremely awkward angle to the right for a right handed shooter. In fact I had to almost lay on my back to pull it off. Cross hairs behind the shoulder, Boom! He back flipped, thrashed and wound up lodged half under a downed log. I tried to take some cell phone pics but I was shacking to hard. I've seen one blacktail bigger than this before up by Stevens pass, but it's the biggest I've seen locally, especially on the Island. I'm very proud of him, he is a fat old deer. He wouldn't survive another winter if he lived in the high country but out on Whidby he may have. I've got him skinned and hanging in the garage. Tomorrow I'll bone him out and make some burger and sausage. He was full on rutting, swollen neck, stinky tarsals. He is kinda strong smelling so it may wind up all sausage. Anyway, thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed my story.  And now the deer have 50 lbs of apples to eat in peace!

[johnr060]

sweet buck and cool story Now if only i could connect

[Russ McDonald]

Awesome story.....now I didn't know you could bait deer or for that matter elk?

[erk444]

 Awesome deer! What did you shoot him with?

[losdaddy7]

Awesome story.....now I didn't know you could bait deer or for that matter elk?

Baiting during the season??

[christopheri]

Great buck! 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Glad it worked out Ripper .. There are some fine bucks on Whidbey if you have access ...IT IS LEGAL TO BAIT DEER GUYS 

[JBar]

Baiting deer and elk is legal folks! Nice buck Ripper!

[Russ McDonald]

LOL I am reading about it now.  I like it 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

THATS A DANDY BLACKIE!!!!! I love them antlers!!!

[buck man]

That's a great story. Best island buck I think I have seen.