First archery deer :: San Juan Island, WA

[@RCHER]

Hey All. I can see a lot of you enjoyed much success in 2008. My two boys, Derek(16), Hunter(14) and I made it back to San Juan Island this year for the archery opener. It's been a few years since the boys have been back out there, and between the great weather, the three of us sporting new archery tackle and B tags in pocket, we were looking forward to the trip.

Derek shot two does with his BowTech Tribute slingin 100grn Slick Trick Magnum heads. The first doe was mature and didn't even flinch till the arrow passed through, just behind the shoulders, at 20 yards. Recovery was within 40 yards. The second one happened about 30 minutes later as Derek continued working the same group of deer that were with the first deer. This one was a young doe and about the same, broadside arrow placement at 40 yards. Again, no flinch since the bow is so quiet. Recovery was within 20 yards. Sorry, no decent pics before they were skinned. Bad Dad!

Hunter was slipping around through some blackberries, at last light, as he was still hunting his way to a couple old apple trees to look for sign. All of a sudden...this forky popped up out of thin air at around 5 yards! Hunter quickly looked and turned slightly away, drew his Micro Adrenaline, slowly turned back to the deer and let a slick Trick fly just forward the shoulder and through the heart. This buck made tracks out of his feeding area and went about 60 yards into the thick timber before running outa gas.

Well, I got skunked on filling any of my tags this trip, but couldn't be more excited to see these guys experience that good stuff archers feel when it all comes together. Derek filled both of his Washington tags, and I filled my A tag last week with a big BT doe in Kitsap.

Here are some pics...

[bucklucky]

AWESOME!

[@RCHER]

Some more pics from the trip...

As you may know, there is a really healthy population of red fox on the island. The guys were driving a few balls at the beach, and this little black fella came out and litterally played fetch with Hunter. They were all close enough to make me vervous and the park ranger give us a lecture. But how cool is that?!

[Wenatcheejay]

Nice! Congrads! Thanks for sharing.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Nice Picks and sounds like a great time.

[Michelle_Nelson]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_fox

[TeacherMan]

Sounds like fun, you guys see any bigger bucks?

[270Shooter]

Nice deer guys . Cool looking fox

[bowsandhose]

good times 

[saylean]

Cool Fox! Grats on the hunt with the boys.

[fc2038]

Great story. Thanks for the pics. Always good hunting with the kids! tonight!

[@RCHER]

Thanks All, yeah, the boys were working one really nice buck on one property, but just ran outa time and he new what was up.

This is the biggest buck any of us and the folks we know on the island have seen to date. Right in town, too.

[@RCHER]

Here's a friend of mine that lives in FH with a buck he took while I was up there in '06. Below are a couple other skulls that show the more common head gear for out there.

[klickman]

Thanks for sharing the pics.  Congrats to you guys on all your deer.  Those deer really look like Sitka blacktail, more than Columbia blacktail.  Do you see that a lot on the islands?  Thanks again for posting
KLICKMAN

[robb92]

Great pics and thanks for sharing them!!