Well, because I was expecting the arrival of my second son in late September, my hunting seasons were non existent. Being an archery hunter, my timing with the new arrival was less than perfect. I purchased the multi-season just in case I could go later in the season.
Between returning to work, and having a newborn and a 23 month old at home, my loving wife told me to go hunt for a few days. I didn't look that gift horse in the mouth so off I went. This was the first time I have rifle hunted in Washington in 21 years.
Even though I don't rifle hunt normally, I practice long range shooting regularly for those times I may utilize it during other hunts. I went out three days. Day one yielded one legal buck running at 800 yards as I waved bye bye. Day two only does. Day three I saw several does and then bam! Big light colored body moving slowly behind a string of does. Put my spotter on him and saw he was a 3x3. At well over 1200 yards initially, I knew I had to cut distance since he was cross canyon and moving away from me.
As I cut the distance I kept checking on him and he wasn't moving. I then saw he was a 4x4. Got to 650 yards and got set up. Every time I was ready to go, he'd move. Because I was cross canyon I had no chance of getting closer. He moved up to 775 yards where he stood stationary looking around. Adjusted my turret to the right numbers, put the cross hairs where they needed to be while holding for wind and exhaled slowly. Bang! I was able to get back on him in time to see the traditional "buck and kick" and then heard the "thwap" of the impact. I watched him trying to look for an indication of where I hit him but nothing. I watched him staggering as he walked over the ridge and out of sight.
The next hour of hiking all the way down to the bottom and back up the other side was exciting yet full of anxiety. Was he lying there? Did he walk off and bury himself? When I got to the other side I looked for blood or tracks and couldn't find either. I sat on a stump glassing the drainage he walked into. I saw a branch that looked like a shed, and then my eyes caught a white butt. There he was lying 100 yards down the steep slope from the ridge line where I had last seen him walking and only 200 yards from where I was sitting. An immediate sense of relief settled upon me as I walked up to him. I could clearly see the shot was right through the boiler maker. All the years of practicing and being dedicated to shooting had finally payed off. Not a huge buck, but I'm very happy to have taken him on public land during general rifle. A big thank you to My hunting partner (csoutfitters) for driving up and then hiking in to help me pack him out. Great friend and great hunting partner.
