DAD.. What is that?

[Craig]

Took my son hunting with me for the first time this year. We were at  my buddies ranch in Montana. We were taking a break from deer hunting and my son really wanted to hunt coyotes. So we set up next to a prairie dog town where we seen two coyotes the day before. We set up on a little hill and put the FOXPRO about 40 yards away and started with the lightning jack sound.

After about 10 minutes my son looks to his side and said " What the heck is that?". I look over and I see a badger standing on a dirt mound looking for the sound.

I get super pumped. I have been hunting in Montana over 12 years and have never seen a badger. I take the gun from my son to shoot him. Then I think that I brought my son here to learn to hunt and this would be awesome for him. So I calm down and give him the gun back. Take out the range finder and he is 120 yards away. I probably said please don't miss 10 times. He gets set and shoots. I hear a thump and the badger disappears. I let out a yell I'm so proud. He has a smile 10 miles wide.

We give it a minute and walk over. I am carrying the gun. and have him about 10 yards behind me. I can't see the badger and I know they are nasty suckers. I get to the hole and about a foot down all i see are teeth and claws. I try and find a stick to poke it but there are no trees for a mile around. I poke him with the rifle a couple times and he is dead. I'm still scared to stick my hand down this hole and gram it. Hope there is not another one down there. or somehow this thing is not really dead.  I finally stick my hand down there and pull out a beautiful badger. Perfect shot in the neck. No pass threw shot and no damage to the fur at all. old badger about 25-30 pounds.

At this time I thing I'm the happiest dad in the world. Took it to the taxidermist and getting a full mount done for him.





He also smoked a couple prairie dogs.



Hay rental car guys. There is a badger in your car.

[h20hunter]

Seriously, could your son be more of a bad A$$!

[D-Rock425]

 

[gaddy]

Outstanding!! most people will go through life & never even see one.

[wafisherman]

That is a seriously bad-a$$ looking badger.  I may have mistaken it for a wolverine or something.  Way to go you two! 

[Buckmark]

Awsome......
what setup are you shooting?

[pianoman9701]

Good going letting him take the shot. He's a damn sharp shooter, too!

[Curly]

Should have had  your son reach in the hole to grad the badger..........

 

[MLBowhunting]

Very cool 

[Gringo31]

That looks like a big one!  Awesome 

[blackveltbowhunter]

Awesome. That thing looks cool as heck, great shooting and I bet the mount will be great!!

[hrd2fnd]

Way cool, can't wait to see the mount

[grundy53]

That's really cool!

sent from my typewriter

[Craig]

The rifle is pieced together to make it kind of custom and easy for him to shoot.

MEGA billet upper & lower
Rainier arms 18" match barrel in .223 Wylde
Noveske 16.7 NSR rail
Geissele SDE trigger ( best upgrade )
Vortex 4-14 scope
Cerakote Magpul FDE color
69 grain match ammo
Then other good parts

5 shot group 100 yards factory ammo

[Yondering]

That's awesome. Nice rifle too.

[Forrestrover.02]

That badger is really cool looking.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Very very well done!  (Dad too!)
 
-Steve

[jay.sharkbait]

Is that the match or ultra-match barrel?

1-8 twist?

[Fishstiq]

That is epic!

No pass through on the shot, were you able to recover the bullet?  That could make a really cool addition to the mount if you did!

[Bob33]

That is a true trophy.

Great story, and one he will tell his children and grandchildren.

[hntrspud]

That is the coolest story ever! To be able to see your son take an animal of that caliber is just amazing. That memory, is a better one than taking it yourself any day! Good for you, and your son!

[Craig]

It's the Match 1:8 twist. Going to build another one with the 18" ultra match barrel. 

[Alchase]

That smile on your son's face is what it is all about!

I have to admit, I would have played that for all its worth it is was my son. I would have reached in to the badger hole (when I worked up the nerve) then start screaming and acting like it was pulling me in the hole, pull it out and fall over backwards like it jumped up and is attacking me, LOL
Your only a father once right?

[turkeyfeather]

Awesome, nice shootin. 

[mulehunter]

   I wanna one for my house.     Nice Shoot.....


 

[jrebel]

That is a great badger...Congrats to your son. 

Wish we could shoot them here in Washington.....I have seen quite a few over the years and would love to have one mounted. 

[carpsniperg2]

Very cool

[buck man]

Very cool badger!

[deaner]

That is a great badger...Congrats to your son. 

Wish we could shoot them here in Washington.....I have seen quite a few over the years and would love to have one mounted.

can anybody explain to me why theyre so protected here?  i cant think of a reason for it

[sebek556]

  great job dad and nice shooting son! 
as far as the protected in WA thing, um its a predator and Wa loves its predators so no touchy 

[syoungs]

As far as I know, you can trap them here. Maybe no shooting  cause it falls under a fur-bearer?

[bmonti76]

What a great experience! Thanks for the story


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GrampasGuns]

Holy Crap I will never be as cool as that kid. That thing is freakin beautiful!!!

Nice work guys, what a memory!

[Taco280AI]

That's awesome 

[fly4fish]

far bigger than any badger I've seen

[Stickerbush]

Great trophy! I have seen one of those before, but only briefly. Congrats