I figured I might as well share my 2014 hunting story as we all come off the anticipation of draw success...2014 was another typical year hunting blacktails, seeing fair numbers of deer, and a few smaller bucks, but nothing I was ready to end my season on. I actually passed a buck on the very first day I hunted, bedded 73 yards away in a brand new clearcut, however 5 miles from my truck, that I totally would have been happy with killing on the last day, and I know you aren't supposed to pass a buck like that up, and I'm positive my wife was
when I came home with pics on my cell phone through my spotting scope
but I enjoy hunting too much and with no out of state hunting to look forward to, I wanted to make the most of my deer season. Attached a bad pic below of the buck. I passed on some spikes and small forkies on the other days I got out and that brought me to Friday night of extended buck season, Saturday was my last day to hunt with family commitments on Sunday, so I asked my 5 year old daughter for a good luck charm to take with me the next day. My brother and I were going to hike into an area we hadn't been yet this year so I knew we'd need some luck... And my daughter must realize how bad of a hunter I am because her good luck charm was actually a bunch of charms! But I figure, oh well, what's another 6 ounces in my day pack, so I threw them in.
My brother and I hike in a couple miles and see lots of good sign, but no deer. Of course it's a crisp cold bluebird day and the minute the sun comes up it's right in our face as we attempt to glass some clearcuts. Sick of the sun in our face, we decide to head up out of where we are and try to find an area with the sun at our back. As we are hiking up out of the drainage, my brother and i split up on spur roads to catch our wind and glass one last time. As I get to the landing at the end of the road, there standing in the sun 284 yards away is a buck, and with it being the last day I could hunt, I didn't even take time to look closely at it, I knew it was plenty good enough.. A couple shots later and the deer runs into the timber like it's untouched...I couldn't believe it, well it was running on adrenaline as I actually had hit it well and I found it dead just inside the timber line. A nice respectable 3pt with eyeguards, SWEET. So I waited for my brother to get to me with my daypack and my good luck charms. My daughter definitely felt like the MVP of this hunt when I sent her the photo of her good luck charms on the deer. She was so excited and it is a buck and a hunt I will never forget.
Then comes the pack out. The buck thankfully wasn't the biggest bodied deer I've killed, but felt plenty big enough after hiking out a couple miles with it on my back. Thankfully my brother was there to pack out the rifles, packs and spotting scopes.
I just had a horn mount done with it and my daughter proudly rocks it next to her Frozen poster on her bedroom wall! Go figure!
Best of luck to everyone in 2015.
