Swakane

[mburrows]

Love it, congrats!

[Rainier10]

Didn’t know what to expect this year. It’s family tradition so we packed up and headed over the day before the opener. Pulling into the canyon there was fresh bright green grass coming in already. The burn was massive in some spots, still burning actually in some spots, the burn was massive but hopefully it comes back better in a couple years.

[Rainier10]

Not a ton of deer but there hasn’t been a ton for over a decade. Deer were not in spots that we see them every year. It was really weird.

I got to hunt a bunch with my oldest daughter. We had a blast. She got a shot at a nice buck the day before thanksgiving.  She had to rush the 45 yard shot and I think she used her 40 yard pin, shot hit just under the buck.

Day after thanksgiving we saw a really nice buck. As big bucks do he bed in a spot that had escape routes every direction and not a good approach from anywhere.

This was the first time I sent my daughter after a buck on her own. We talked about the lay of the land, landmarks and if she could approach from his right. Not knowing what the actual lay of the land was she may have to come from the left.

She took off down the ridge, made the first pine tree and fog rolled in. She waited 8 minutes fog cleared and she moved to the log next landmarks. She ranged the rocks the buck was bed by she could see the buck but could see the rocks, 77 yards. Fog rolled in. 10 minutes goes by and it lifts, she just needs to make the end of the log and she would be inside 45 yards.

She gets halfway down the log, I can almost see her and the deer in Bono’s without moving. 678 steps into her stalk she slips, I move to the deer he is up, she can see him, 55 yards, no shot, he bails down hill 7 yards, she tries to get closer and away he goes.

Watching her on her first solo stalk do everything right except one misstep 678 steps in was one of the proudest moments of my life. Just amazing to watch your kids grow up.

[Rainier10]

Right after the blown stalk a two point and a smaller 4point blew out of the draw from below her and came by on her left. She didn’t see them and they looked close. I started making a racket to get their attention and stop them. It worked and she saw them. 70 yards out, she moved closer and they started to climb.

I side billed as quick as I could. I got to the draw they were coming up, no deer. Looked to my left and there he was at 40 yards, I had run right past him. Broadside chip shot, clean miss, he just stood there. I nock another arrow and he moves before I can shoot. I move with him and find an opening at 45 yards. He reads the script, steps into the opening and I clean miss. I realize I’m not even anchoring on my jaw. Buck fever just pulling back and letting it fly.

He is moving through the trees and towards my truck. I get to a spot where he is going to come out on the road right by my truck. This guy has me figured out, stay at 40 yards because this moron can’t hit 40 yards. I draw back before he steps out. My truck is in between us. I have to shoot right down the side of my truck under my side mirror. Focus, focus, focus. Don’t hit your truck. He steps out, I let it fly, right at my mirror, arrow drops right below the mirror and finds its mark. Solid hit.

Deer moves to uphill side of my truck and stops, he’s in bad shape but still standing at…. You guessed it 40 yards. Focus, anchor, center punch him again. Buck down.

What a fun hunt. I love that after all these years I still get buck fever.

[Rainier10]

I really love that my daughter was there for the pics. Super glad to have won the pink hat again.

[hunter399]

Congrats,heck ya...👍
Way to keep after it.

[jstone]

Great Job.!!! Congratulations on a tough year

[Kingofthemountain83]

Congrats! 

[hunt6226]

Congrats!!! Nice one!

[full choke]

Congratulations!