Late Whitetail Tag Filled.....

[remington300mag]

This spring, while Chinook fishing, I was talking with friend and guide Jerrod Gibbons of Okanogan Valley Guide Services about the fact that I had 15 points in the buck category and had never put in for a tag. Only had put in for the ghost numbers. He told me that I should put in for the East Okanogan tag, and that if I drew it he would help me out. I don't claim to know the first thing about whitetail hunting so with his offer I decided I would go ahead and put in. After finding out I had drew the tag I was all excited and couldn't wait for November first to role around.
After a very uneventful modern deer season I still kept my hopes up for my late buck tag. Leading up to November 1st I called Jerrod and asked what our plan was for the hunt. He informed me that he had cameras up and stands and was just waiting to see what the rut would bring...... Well, after my whole family including me came down with the flu I didn't know if I was even going to make it up there or not. Jerrod called me on Thursday 8th and told me he was starting to see some activity. Between sickness, scheduling conflicts for me, and a very busy late archery season coming up for him, we decided to give it a try Monday the 12th and Tuesday the 13th. These would be the only 2 days I could hunt having to be home no later than Late Tuesday night.
I arrived in Omak Sunday night to snow! Jerrod was excited and told me that is just what we need. I was starting to get pretty excited because I figured he knew a lot more than me about these whitetails. We went over the plan for the next day which would include checking cameras, doing some rattling, and sitting in a blind. I was asked what I wanted in a buck. I said that as long as it was a 3x3 with nice eye guards I was going to be happy. This was mostly because I had never got a whitetail. I was told it wouldn't be a problem to get what I wanted and maybe more. I will say I didn't sleep very well Sunday night thinking about the hunt. Trying something new got me as excited as when I was a kid! Not to mention my guide/friend was absolutely giddy about getting out there in the morning!
So, we wake up Monday morning at 4:30 to about 4 inches of fresh snow on the ground. After coffee and the hunting channel it was time to head off on our trek. This is where the story is going to stop pretty suddenly......LOL
We arrive at the fish camera location and park the truck a ways away......as we exit the truck I look in the direction that we would be heading, and there is a buck standing there staring at as. All I say is, "Jerrod, there is a buck right there".....he asks me if I wanted it, but I had already took rest and was ready.....He told me to go ahead and I squeezed the trigger hitting him with the perfect shot. It never even wiggled after that.
We then took photos and shared some laughs. Loaded the buck up and headed off the mountain. All the prep, all the build up, all the work Jerrod had put in on making sure I had a quality hunt.......ends in 5 minutes! And it was sooooooo worth it! Had a great time with a friend and even beat what I wanted..... he ended up being a 7x6.....or a 4x4 with a triple split eye guard and a double split eye guard.....or 13 pointer...which ever you prefer. Not the biggest buck out there, and will take about 10 years telling the story to get him up to 180"....but I am proud of him. My first whitetail buck!
I want to take a line or two and thank Jerrod for the great time! I can now see why he is so busy and and gets so many hunters hunting with him. It is a first class operation ran by a darn good guy!
Now, hopefully I can get the photos to post......

[mdbuck5x5]

  Nice buck man and cool story!

[Rifleman77]

Definitely a nice buck! Good work 

[HornHoarder]

Nice whitey. They dont all come that easy though.

[stickbuck]

Cool buck for sure! Congrats on gettin' it done quick.

[buck man]

Cool buck

[Earshot]

 :tup:good job....Jarrod is a class act. congrats!

[runningboard]

congrats on a very nice whitetail 

[Pathfinder101]

Nice Job 300

[ShaneTyTrey]

Good buck!

[BoomWhop]

Nice heavy Buck what a Dandy

[blackveltbowhunter]

 

[csaaphill]

 
lots of buck this year more than elk i think.

[jnevs23]

Nice work, Jerrod is my old roomie and good buddy as well.  Congrats on a nice whitey

[mkcj]

Great whitetail