Son's Blacktail

[Bullkllr]

Posted this in the blacktail thread, but thought the story was worth sharing.

My son was lucky to tag his biggest blacktail last weekend. He is an avid hunter, but time has always been limited in the fall since he has been playing football for years. I got him out a couple times during regular season with no opportunities.

Saturday of late season we see this guy about 200 yards off in a grown-up cut. No rest anywhere to be found, and brush was high. We decided to sneak closer to see if a shot opened up. We closed the distance by more than half (took a while) but still no rest/no clear shot.

I knew we were close to the spot we had marked, but couldn't see the buck. Jared was about 5 yards ahead me and says, "There he is!" He tells me all he can see through the scope is his head. I said something like "Well...take the shot if you feel good about it..." (not that I'm endorsing headshots).

He shoots and the buck drops like it was struck by lightning. By the time we get over there, the buck is back on it's feet staggering and shaking his head. Before Jared can get another shot off, the buck trots through the reprod to within about 10 feet of us- he basically came right at us. Freaked us both out a little. The brush was thick and there was only one chance for a clear shot- which never came as "someone" had not chambered another round and the "guide" had neglected to remind him.

So the buck disappears going up hill toward some open timber. Trail was easy to follow, the buck was obviously disoriented, and Jared anchored him with a shot taken just inside the timber.

Upon inspecting the buck, we found the first shot had literally gone though the buck's left eye and exited behind his right ear (?). Yeah, there were some obvious lessons learned, but we both felt pretty fortunate all turned out well.

[deerhunter_98520]

Nice buck!

[blackveltbowhunter]

Great buck! Congrats!

[Turner89]

Nice blacktail 

[scudmaster]

Great Blackie.  Congrats!

[Mark251]

Congratulations to your son and to his proud father 

[Bullkllr]

Thanks for the replies, all!

Even better to see my son get it done with my dad's  old Model 99. Seemed to be an older buck. Teeth were pretty worn. Scar tissue in both front shoulders. Big body, but not an ounce of fat on him. The first shot penetrated his skull from the eye socket to behind the opposite ear. How it didn't kill him or at least knock him out I'll never know.

[fishnfur]

Good story.  I'm a head shot advocate if you're close enough to take an ethical shot.  Neck shot is probably a higher percentage shot and reportedly will drop them in their tracks virtually every time.  How a slug can pass through a brain without killing it is beyond me.  It happens to people all the time though.

That buck looks like a twin to the one I got.  Congratulations to your son!

[Buzz2401]

I try to avoid head shots if I have any other option.  He obviously did not have another option and it worked out well.  I have shot a few elk in the head and almost lost them because they did not go down.  I shot one elk 4 times in the head and didn't drop.  It didn't run but I was amazed it was still standing..   Congratz to your son on a nice blacktail.

[Irish_hunter93]

That's a really nice BT! Good job!

[Widgeondeke]

Congrats!   

[WSU]

Good story.  I'm a head shot advocate if you're close enough to take an ethical shot.  Neck shot is probably a higher percentage shot and reportedly will drop them in their tracks virtually every time.  How a slug can pass through a brain without killing it is beyond me.  It happens to people all the time though.

That buck looks like a twin to the one I got.  Congratulations to your son!

I have had mixed results with neck shots.  I definitely wouldn't call it a higher percentage shot but others may disagree.

[Griiz]

Good story.  I'm a head shot advocate if you're close enough to take an ethical shot.  Neck shot is probably a higher percentage shot and reportedly will drop them in their tracks virtually every time.  How a slug can pass through a brain without killing it is beyond me.  It happens to people all the time though.

That buck looks like a twin to the one I got.  Congratulations to your son!

I shot a bull dead center through the spine just below the head and he ran off like he wasn't even hit. He was bleeding awful bad though. I got a another slug in him around an hour and a mile later and when he hit the ground he broke his neck. I shot him with a 50 cal. muzzleloader. These animals are just so tough, you never know what might happen, even with good shot placement.

[WAnoob]

I don't advocate head or neck shots as well, but glad to see it worked out for you and your son in the end!  Nice buck

[willapawapiti]

Great buck & story!  Congrats to your son