Dan-o's 2024 Quality Deer Hunt

[Dan-o]

Where to start?
Through a series of life events, I allowed myself to get TOTALLY out of shape.
No excuses.   Just the truth.
 
I made a personal commitment to lose a bunch of weight this year in an effort to extend my quality of life and my hunting years.
 
I also dutifully put in for quality tags, knowing that I have limited years left to cash in.
Incredibly, I was SELECTED for a Quality deer tag this year.     After waiting for the WDFW draw SNAFU to settle, I was still in possession of the quality tag I wanted.
 
I'd been looking forward to this hunt for a variety of reasons, but mostly to be able to hunt with some buddies I'd never hunted with.   
 
I grew up hunting in Utah in the 70's, when shooting big Mule Deer wasn't exactly a gimme but it was pretty commonplace in our family.     After moving to Washington, I shot some deer, but just not the caliber of the deer I grew up with.   
 
So my buddies kept me PUMPED for my hunt and kept me on track with my weight loss to be able to hunt better.    Come hunt time, I'd lost over 90 pounds and we had some really nice target bucks.
 
The night before my hunt opened, we'd put two target bucks to bed.
We actually got video of target buck number 1 passing on his genes the evening before the opener.
I didn't think there was any way I'd sleep, but somehow I slept well.
 
My hunt date came and as promised my buddies wouldn't let me shoot just any buck.
At one point on opening morning, we had a really nice 3X4 plus good eye guards at 21 yards for several minutes.   I promised my buddies I'd keep my trigger off the finger while I put the scope on him and let him walk.
 
Throughout the day, we had several encounters, but hadn't seen the big target buck.
 
I may leave out some details from the day (sorry Dan).
 
As often happens when hunting, right at dusk he suddenly appeared.
 
The shot wasn't difficult, and down he went.   
There was no ground shrinkage as far as I was concerned.
 
In my eyes, he's a truly great old buck, and I was really pleased to take him.
His mass is really just stunning to me.
 
But taking this buck is a very distant second to just getting to go on a hunt with these guys that I'd never hunted with before.   The effort they put in and the shared joy of the success was simply the best.    I can't begin to adequately express what the whole experience means to me.   I'm a very blessed man.
 
Jim, Josh, Rick.......................    I owe you more than I can ever repay.
And I WILL be down 100 pounds by the end of the year.   You can mark it on my 3x5 card right now.
 
Pics to follow.....   bear with me.
I wanted to get this written up and posted.

Guys please feel free to add any good pics you'd like to this thread.

[Dan-o]

A couple videos of the buck the evening before the opener.   
Including video of him passing on his genes.   Rated X.

[Dan-o]

A couple pics from the day before the opener.

[Dan-o]

A couple more pics.

[Dan-o]

I've never considered taxidermy inside my house.   
It just doesn't work in my house.
But when I brought of getting a shoulder mount of this buck, my wife instantly proposed a great place for it to hang.

[full choke]

 

[addicted1]

Way to go Dan! What a hunt and story, the buck too! Not really sure how to put it in words but you rock. Losing 110# is inspiring in itself, then to make it all happen in the field. Great job, sounds more than quality hunt to me. The buck is a beauty, and so cool to have video of him.

[Romulus1297]

Wow nice job. Now have a semi sneak left turn and ears back above your tv.

[MLBowhunting]

Great job sir!!  Before and after the hunt.  RESPECT

[Katmai Guy]

Congrats Dan-o, that's a really cool buck.  Love the video.  Thanks for sharing.

[Timberstalker]

Nice work Dan-o
Solid buck and a great set of memories.

[nwwanderer]

Dan-o for the win, on several fronts.  Look forward to the completed mount, what a pretty buck!!  Thanks

[Skyvalhunter]

That's a stud buck, love the mass on him. Congrats on losing the extra weight. What tag did you draw?

[Buckhunter24]

Great buck and even better job on the weight loss, that's a big deal 

[BLDtraLR]

That's a hammer 🔨   congrats buddy. And nice story 👌   you did that tag justice well worth the wait