First whitetail buck

[O. hemionus]

During my third (and hopefully final) year of grad school here in Alabama, I finally got a chance to spend a couple days out hunting. I shot my first whitetail ever in December (a doe), and was blessed to get my first whitetail buck yesterday. Shot him at about 5 horizontal yards, but was probably 30' above him. He came out of some thick stuff about 20 yards away and walked right underneath me at 11:00 am. The 7mm mag drained most of his blood out before he went 30 yards and piled up. The rut is in full swing down here right now - there were no does in sight, but I'm pretty sure he was on the prowl. He was a mature 5.5 year old. I don't think I've ever been more excited about harvesting a deer!

[Timberstalker]

Great looking whitetail.  Thanks for sharing.

[Woodchuck]

Well done sir. 

[lokidog]

That's a great buck, congratulations!

[Mark251]

Great looking buck!  Congratulations 

[vandeman17]

Nice buck and awesome beard!

[O. hemionus]

Thanks, everyone! Now I just need to find a good taxidermist who would be willing to mount this deer in the next few months before I move back out west...but I'm not holding my breath. The season has been running for about 4 months now, and there is still about three weeks left. I think most of the taxidermists down here have there hands full of whitetails to mount at this point, and I doubt anyone would be willing to have this done before I leave. This may be a long shot, but is it feasible (and somewhat economical) to mail a frozen deer head/cape to Washington?  Probably would cost an arm and a leg. Matt Klope at Whidbey Island Taxidermy did my last mule deer and he did an awesome job, and I would love for him to do this one too.

[Timberstalker]

Get the hide tanned and then you have some time.
Just ship the tanned hide and horns.

[O. hemionus]

Good point, thanks. I may do that.

[Bob33]

Well done. That's a great buck.