12 year olds first buck and what a DANDY blacktail!!

[elkaholic_74]

Ok, Im going to start by apologizing for being long winded but my daughter harvested her first deer today and Im not ashamed at all to admit its bigger than any blacktail Ive ever shot. On our way up the mainline this morning at 5:30 we saw a doe with a big buck in the road in the headlights. After admiring this big buck for a bit we headed on to our destination spot although I could tell both our minds were on the stallion we had encountered miles back. We arrived at our destination and waited until sunrise and got out in the 23 degree frost to begin glassing. No deer to be seen which honestly surprised me. After 20 minutes of glassing I surprised myself being a very patient hunter when I turned to my daughter and said "what do you say we head back where that big deer was? I dont think he went to far since hes rutted out of his mind." She responded "sure", I think she was freezing. We drove back to where we saw the big dog courting his doe and glassed the nearby clear cut with no results. I decided we should venture out in the timber in the direction we last saw the deer and we were looking for tracks in the frosty ground. No tracks were to be found. I ventured on taking the route that I thought I would take If I were a deer and when I got to a point on a rise overlooking a stand of thinned out 2nd growth about 200yds from the edge of a clearcut I heard the unmistakable sound of a deer getting up out of his bed on the frozen ground. I could hear the footsteps on the frozen ground and told Madison to get ready. I could see antler tips through the brush and seeing that there was only one small lane thru the brush in which to shoot I was stressing. Low and behold the deer stopped smack dab in the spot he needed to be at about 30 yds, the outdoor channel would have been proud to record this footage. I remember telling Madison "there he is shoot, Shoot him!" I glanced to my left and saw her rifle shouldered and eyes wide with her shaking like a leaf. It was then I noticed her safety still on. I reached over saying "madi, your safety is still on!" I flipped her safety off for her and again said shoot! At this time the buck had enough and turned trotting strait away from us and I expected the worse, he was gonna fade into the timber and be gone for good. To my surprise the rutted up warrior stopped at 45 yards turned quartering away and looked back. I heard my daughters .270 crack the chilly frost and saw the deer drop dead before he hit the ground. We both let out a huge celebration yell, hugged, sent a couple texts and made our way down the hill to see what we thought was a 3 point for her first deer. To our pleasure we arrived to see she had just harvested a heavy horned dream 5X4 blacktail with eyeguards!! If you have ever watched your child harvest there first big game animal you know what Im talking about and if you havent yet I hope yo do soon but its better than any feeling I've ever had harvesting an animal. I would like to give props to Deerhunter_98520, he and I have hunted around eachother in the same area for many years both taking nice bucks and only met face to face for the first time this year. When I told him my daughter just shot her first deer he dropped his hunt in prime time to come help us drag it out. Hes a great sportsman and reperesents this site the way you would want. Ok sorry for rambling, Im just one proud daddy!!

[bearpaw]

great story, congrats to her, that buck has lots of character 

[Thehowler]

Cool story and very nice buck!

[carver52]

Great story and thanks for the write-up.  Way to go for your daughter.  That is one knarly stud buck.  But you do know she is so ruined for future bucks don't you?  He's going to be a great mount if you two decide on that.  Thanks again.

[Pygmy]

Congratulations!  Quite an achievement 

[elkaholic_74]

He is going to the taxidermist in the morning for a head mount. This is a hunt we both want to remember forever and a head mount is required.

[elkboy]

What an incredible buck!  Very palmated antlers... did he seem old?  Congratulations to your daughter and to you... thank you for keeping the hunting tradition alive by passing it down. 

[elkaholic_74]

my first thought was he was old as well but after examining his teeth I dont think he was that old. He weighed 140lb dressed which is respectable but Im guessing this was a 3-4 year old deer with really good genes.

[kodiak 907]

Awesome buck! Love the palmation!

[blackveltbowhunter]

Stud buck... Awesome story! Congrats to you both!

[ROCKWHEELER]

What a stud. Congrats to you and your daughter

[deerhunter_98520]

I've been waiting for this post....the smile says it all.....happy hunter and proud papa...great to finally meet ya and happy to lend a hand 

[Seahawk12]

Congratulations to the hunter and her proud papa.
It's a beauty of a buck!
PS, I love the hat!!

[elkaholic_74]

thanks guys, Its been a great year, my wife got her first deer this year as well, its a great feeling to introduce new hunters to the sport we love. and we have 3 deer in the freezer for the winter!

[stew pidasso]

So cool. Great buck

[elkaholic_74]

ya hawk, that used to be my hat which is now her lucky hunting hat. I told her if its lucky then she HAS to wear it tomorrow!!! Go Hawks

[Boss .300 winmag]

Wow Im speechless one more for the ladies, guys we better be careful the girls are getting all the good bucks! Congrats to the huntress!   

Great to see all the ladies success this year. 

[elkaholic_74]

Boss Im ok if I never shoot another one again, Im good guiding my little girl around forever after seeing the confidence this gave her. she loved outdoing her dad lol

[tgray]

Beautiful Buck! Nice shooting young lady

[cedarriver]

Great buck! Congrats to all of you. Three deer in the freezer, very cool.

[elkaholic_74]

I really appreciate all the nice comments guys, my daughter was sitting here hitting refresh til she finally couldnt hold her proud eyes open any longer. so many good folks on this site...

[BackStrappin]

What a great memory you two made . Super cool looking buck. Congratulations to your daughter .   

[Harbor_hunter]

That's a really cool buck, nice job!

[kodiak 907]

I really appreciate all the nice comments guys, my daughter was sitting here hitting refresh til she finally couldnt hold her proud eyes open any longer. so many good folks on this site...

Very cool! You have a lifelong hunting partner there. I can't wait until my girls start hunting.

[runningboard]

I was present for every first of my 3 kids, my ex-wife, my girlfriend and several nephews so know the feeling you have well.
thanks for sharing the experience and pictures.
I did find a shirt for my nephew with antlers on it and the words underneath said "mine's bigger than my dad's" 
IIRC I got it from trophy hunter magazine. she might need one 
congrats to your little huntress on a great first buck and wish her good luck for the many more to come 

[elk247]

Very cool. High-5 to the huntress!  Notellum ridge has some nice genetics.