My son's 2007 Desert unit Youth Muzzleloader buck.

[MLCoug]

Well it's nothing special but for a 15-year-old on his birthday, in the Desert unit, on a 2 day hunt while goose hunters are sky busting geese during an early goose hunting weekend, scaring all the deer we were after it wasn't too bad.  Free hand at 66 yards.  Oh yeah, thanks Washington Fish and Game for having a 2 day youth muzzleloader hunt for 2 lucky youth tag holders on the same weekend as early goose hunting (Sept 8-9.)  Real smart but hey, we're in Washington I wouldn't expect anything less.  He was proud all the same but it would have been nice to get a crack at the big 6x5 we had been scouting.  Good times for my son and I all the same.  I've been in his back pocket for all 5 of his bucks.  3 rifle and 2 muzzleloader.  I told him I will begin charging now that he's no longer considered a youth hunter for the upcoming season.  This was his first mulie and he was happy.  We figured the buck was between 8-10 years old.  Biggest crown nose I've ever seen.  The taxidermist said he's never had a buck this old in his shop.  Definitely past his prime and a good buck for a kid to take. 

[Slider]

Nice Buck!!! Congrats

[hunterbuilder]

Nice buck. I like the skull mount with the velvet falling off the antlers. Cool.

[jackelope]

thats a cool mount...congrats to your son.

[huntnphool]

Was it a eunuch, typical of bucks that have velvet that late. Very nice though.

[MLCoug]

I thought the mount was pretty cool too.  It's natural that way.

Of all the deer we seen out in the desert I would say that about 30-40% of them were still in the velvet at that time period.  Only the good mature bucks were still in the velvet.  Also the cactus buck we saw.  That's the third time I've seen that cactus buck and he's one ugly mother....

[jackelope]

i would think that would be expected...the velvet that is, on sept 8-9. i killed a buck in the general season a couple years ago with velvet still hanging. not much mind you, but some.
i think the cactus bucks, which is what i think a eunuch is, do not shed at all.

[boneaddict]

Nice trophy for him.

[huntnphool]

Oops my bad, I didnt see the date, assumed it was in October.

[Backstraps]

     MLCoug, sounds like you have a hell of a hunting partner! That's a cool mount with the velvet dangling,I have a couple of those. Do you have any pics of that cactus buck? Thanks for sharing,Dano

[MLCoug]

Nope, no pictures of that cactus buck.  I've been within 3 yards of him too.  I'm probably the worst person when it comes to carrying a camera.  In fact, I didn't even have any photos of my son's buck until we picked up his mount today.  I'm going to try to do better this upcoming year with a camera now that I've found this website. 

[wastickslinger]

Nice Buck! I was wondering if the youth smacked any bucks in the muzzleload hunt. I know they got a few in the rifle.

I like the velvet hanging too!!

[M_ray]

That's a nice buck tell your son congrats! I saw quite a few in there with velvet when I had the archery tag in there a few years ago.
I know what you are saying, Talk about frustrating you wait to draw this LE tag and the opening weekend of your permit hunt is opening weekend of like dove season or something stupid like that then the next 2 weekends were youth duck openers then 1 weekend of just us with our LE tags then the next weekend was the opening of regular duck season! Talk about being pissed  not like it's allready hard enough with a bow!~ Our state pisses me off sometimes!

[mkcj]

MLCoug tell your son great buck! If the 6x5 was the one hanging out between mardons and warden lake on 262 he was hit and killed a little over a month ago by M road. Our friends own the resort there and we spent all but 3 weekends of the duck season there and seen the buck 3 or 4 times a hunter at the resort was behind the car that hit him at 5 in the morning he said they never even stopped. Again great buck and good luck to your son now that he has to draw with the old guy's

[Head-shot]

Very nice, Tell your son congrats.