Potential Oregon State Record Blacktail

[JPhelps]

My good friend Chris Pascua was fortunate to kill this buck Last Friday. If the score holds up it has a chance at being the state record western blacktail for archery. Below is the story as told by him.


Hope it was worth the wait, it was for me. DADDY," my cousin Paul found this western Oregon Blacktail  in late October 2011.  As a great 4x4 he hunted him 21 days straight in the late season, only seeing him one time just seconds before last light and got busted drawing. 2012 and 2013 came and went with nobody hunting him and only a few night time pics of him rutting does and one morning pic a mile down the mountain. At this point I was completely happy knowing a true Blacktail giant still ran the hills and was passing on his genetics. Moving 95% of the time under the light of the moon and living in fields of briars, poison oak, and dense underbrush made it easy for him to get old and really big. Spring of 2014 I was wondering if the old dude was still around and I decided if I could draw the tag I would give it my best effort to kill him.  Well, I drew and the scouting and cameras happened. I checked the first camera in June and there he was.  His notched ear made him unmistakable.  I continued getting pics all summer and into September when he went 100% nocturnal. From mid October through late December I hunted him 36 times.  160+ hours I spent thinking that the next second he would walk out, but he never did. I still had not seen this deer with my own eyes in the light in 3.5 years. Skip ahead to 2015.  I drew the tag and all the cameras and scouting started again, this time with a bad taste in my mouth. All spring and summer he got bigger and bigger.  Many times voices in my head kept saying "he is to wise, he is unkillable, you are wasting your time" but I knew he would make one mistake, just one and when he did I had to be there. Late October arrived and I went to the blind for the first trip.  A few does came in and a little spike.  I was able to get the blind situated, comfortable and ready for 2 more months of sitting and reflecting. 3 trips this week with only a few does and fawns, which is still great for observing. Every second in the blind my nerves got worse and worse.  My anxiety of thinking that's him walking in was making me sick. For weeks I've been waking up at 3-4 am and he is stuck in my mind.  I can't  sleep, can't focus, the deer is actually haunting me.

October 30th I snuck in early a.m. and checked the camera.  DADDY had been there at 7:22 a.m. and followed a doe straight up the hill.  Well, at least now I know he is around and starting to cruise. After my daily counseling sessions with Todd and Colin I headed up the trail for the 40th time and got settled into the blind by 3 p.m.  After three hours of sitting in the pouring rain, listening and fighting off the voices in my head, I decided it was time go. I put my camera and gear away, got my pack ready and moved my bow from between my legs. 40 trips down the trail in the dark hunting an animal that I've never seen in over 4 years is wearing on me. I leaned forward to get up and out of the corner of my eye hard left, I catch movement.  A huge bodied deer at 12 yards coming in from behind the blind.  It clears some brush and its antlers hit some light.  Giant 4, it's DADDY!  I reach and grab my bow get hook on d-loop, look up at about 16 yards and double check antlers.  Oh my word, it is DADDY!  He comes to 20 yards turns broadside and looks the other way...this is it, my one chance.  Deep breath, draw, aim, trigger, WHACK and he bolts hard right and is gone in a second. Did I just shoot DADDY?  Is it pouring rain?  Is it really minutes before dark? Nope, this isn't happening. Yes, it's happening.  I calmed myself down, sent a few texts for help and went to look for the arrow.  I found the arrow and it was covered in perfect red blood.  I made my way up the trail 10 yards to find more blood being washed away by the rain, fast. I was freaking out and I didn't want to push him but I was losing blood with every drop of rain. I backed out feeling the shot was good and hoping we could find him dead near by. Todd and Colin showed up fast and we started tracking at the last blood I had marked, one high, one middle, and one low.  We started to sidehill and within 15 yards, laying in the ferns, there he was.....DADDY!  More mythical and impressive than I had ever imagined.  A true giant western Oregon valley Blacktail. We all high fived and stared in amazement. I leaned down touched his head and told him everything he should know.  I was choked up and had a lump in my throat. It's a very weird feeling walking up on an animal that I've admired, respected and looked up to for so long. He truly is a giant old warrior and this experience has been amazingly humbling and surreal to say the least.

DADDY died in his prime and it wasn't to sickness, vehicle, or predators and for that I am grateful. Huge thanks to Todd, Colin, Kim, Scott and Nick for coming to help and sharing it with me. Also everybody along the way that has kept me going and to Paul for finding this deer and giving me the OK to hunt him. All respect and glory to this amazing animal "DADDY!"

[steen]

Congratulations on a grand once in a life time buck! Great story!

[2labs]

 

[Turner89]

Wow that is awesome. What is the state record?

[RB]

WOW!!   

 

[shadowless_nite]

Been following him on instagram for the last couple of years on his quest to kill that buck. Glad to see a happy ending to the story. He seems like a great guy and definitely deserved it. He won a bow at the last full draw film tour and donated it back to help raise more money for a good cause! Stand up guy with a well deserved buck! Hope it makes the record books!

[BOWHUNTER45]

That's just sick !!!  hahaha I need to go visit this guy !!!  Hell of a blacktail !!!

[Natures Way]

great buck for sure, love that cape also CONGRATULATIONS!

[HIGHROUTE]

Beautiful Buck and great story... That's a true giant and amazing resilience to stick with it.  Congrats!!

[elkrack]

 

[7mag.]

That is a monster. Congrats to the Hunter. He can be proud knowing he earned that buck. I hope it is the new record.

[BLR 243]

That trumps any mule or whitie.

[shootem]

Great buck!

[fishnfur]

What a dream buck.  I can't even imagine being able to be calm enough to take the shot. 

Did he mention what the buck scored?  I can't read well with those tines poking me in the eyes!

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Wow.......just wow........