First Buck!

[D-man]

      First buck…its great to finally say it, especially after five years of hunting.  I really wish growing up I had a family member to show me the ropes, but doing it on my own, making friends in the field, and learning everything the hard way has done wonders for my hunting and me.  I have been going to Whitworth University the last two hunting seasons and hunting on the east side of the state is something totally strange to me.  It has been hard finding good public access so I began to ask people around if they knew of anyone who had private property with deer that I could hunt.  I found a great little pocket up on an old undeveloped homestead between green bluff and Mt. Spokane State Park. 
Opening weekend I saw a lot of animals, 20-30 deer in the first hour and a half.  I ended up spooking most of the deer out of their beds.  Deer would jump up right in front of me!  Totally different than the traditional spot and stalks I do up in the cascades.  I jumped two bucks that caught my eye both had three points off the main beam and I knew I would be back for them. 
      During the week between swim practice and school I would go up to see if I could get anything.  By the time this past weekend rolled around I was getting desperate for a deer.  Especially because I got drawn for a second deer tag, I made up my mind that I would shoot at the first white tailed deer I saw. I spooked two does and took an off hand shot at about 20 yards and missed! I was devastated I figured my shot spooked everything out of the area.  A little dejected I sat down on a stump to calm down and think about the situation.  With my head hung low I heard footsteps in the woods.  I looked up to find one of the three points I spooked last weekend.  I steadied myself and took a shot.  The deer stumbled forward I took another shot and saw its head whiplash.  He falls but gets back up and begins to walk away I fire two more times.
       I had swim practice that morning I had to make so instead of giving the deer time, because I knew it was wounded, I took off after him.  I found the spot where I hit him and there is a great blood trail with bone and hair.  I followed the trail for about 50 yards and saw where he had bedded down.  But, because I didn’t wait long enough I spooked him.  He continued to run another few hundred yards.         I ended up finding him sprawled out in the middle of a marsh several hundred feet below the trail.  My impatience added about two hours to the pack out, and needless to say I missed practice.  I was in for a surprise as I got close I saw he had two eye guards so he was a little four point!  After a closer look I ended up hitting him high in the shoulder going through one lung and inches from the spine, another shot was in the lower jaw, and the third shot took out a back leg.  It was tough work packing him out by myself, but it was totally worth it to finally bag a nice little buck. 
      In my excitement I totally forgot to take pictures until he was by the car so I snapped a couple with my phone they aren’t great, and then my roommate took a few pictures of me skinning him.  I will try to post them soon. 

[shanevg]

Yeah Daniel!  Good job on your first buck!  I need to get out there and give that spot a try!

[huntnphool]

Awsome D-Man, congrats on the buck

[Antlershed]

Nice job!

[M_ray]

Cograts D-man you'll allways cherish the memory of that first buck! 

[coyotemadness]

Very cool!    Congrats, sounds like you earned it

[Gutpile]

Dude!! As bad as those pics are they're GREAT. I can see the excitement in your face especially in the two field shots. Next time concentrate on the deer and not yourself though.       

Congrats!!

[blacktail stalker]

That's a cool little buck, congrats. You definately put the hurtin on him. I'd save the pics to display at a Halloween party.

[deaddog]

Congrats D-Man, that smile says more than your story. too cool!

[bowsandhose]

congrats

[Muleyslyr]

That's cool....Congrats to you man!  Everyone always remembers their first. 

[Buschingc]

The expression on his face says it all.. Congrats..

[Sagedawg]

Congrats on your first buck!!!!!


  Sage

[runningboard]

awesome first deer! congrats!

[270Shooter]

Nice deer.

But why are you wearing face paint