Huge Blacktail shot in early 1970's - did I mention HUGE!!

[bigcountry]

Well ive been meaning to get this picture on here for over a year now and finally got around to doing it.  I think this is one of my favorite hunting pics I have ever seen.  My dad shot this buck back in the early 1970's shortly after he moved out here from Minnesota.  He is the one knealing and his 2 brothers are standing behind.  I will say this buck is pure blacktail and shot in SW Washington.  He said he had been sitting on a small clearing for a few hours when all he sees is a rack walking towards him.    He said the buck got to within about 50 yards and stepped out in the open and he let him have it with the open sight 30-06.  Love how its tied on the hood too...bunch a rednecks! My dad being from northern Minnesota had always hunted whitetails and they hunted for food not for the rack.  He told me he would shoot the first deer that came within range, doe, spike, or brutus....didnt matter as long as there was food on the table.  With that being said, he didnt think much of this rack when he shot it, thought "...nice buck, wow Im gonna get alot of good eating off him"   Needless to say he cut the horns off and hung em in the garage. 

A few years later he was moving and was having a garage sale and a guy saw the horns hanging on the wall and asked what my dad was gonna do with them.  So my dad says " well they are really big and I dont really have room for them...you want them?"    I can imagine the look on the guys face.  Of course he took them and that was that. My dad never really thought of them again until he showed the pic to me........

My dad first showed me this pic a few years ago and I about fell over!  He had told me the story before then, but being the humble man he is just said... "I shot a nice buck." Understatement.  Well we took this picture and another he has to the head and horns competition at the sportsmans show and showed it to several scorers and also a few taxidermists that were there.  The other picture, which I cant find, shows the width alot better and we are guessing 24-25".  Well everyone agreed this was a monster blacktail and most said it would easily be in the top 10 blacktails ever shot in the state of Washington.  I know there is alot of great eyes on here for scoring and all so wanted to get everyones opinion??

My dad taught me everything I know about the woods, I remember carrying my bb gun along with him before I was even old enough to hunt.  Its great reminiscing about all the days weve spent in the woods, Im very lucky that I have a dad that was so willing to introduce me to the great outdoors with the wisdom that I only hope to have one day.  I know this is a loooonggg shot, but if there is someone on here that picked up this set of horns from a garage in centralia washington in the 70's, please let me know.  I would love to at least see them in person and get a few pictures with my dad. 

[h20hunter]

Very cool pic. thanks for sharing pic and story.

[rasbo]

thats really cool seeing that pic...great photo to have of dad

[ser300wsm]

That is really cool to have a pic like that of your dad & uncles... Not to mention the pic of the huge buck... Awesome rack ....  Thanks for sharing... 

[Special T]

I'd Beat the piss out of my Pop for that! 

[bigcountry]

yeah Ive wanted to strangle him over that a few times 

[PacificNWhunter]

Awesome looking buck! Bummer he got rid of the rack 

[tony04]

that picture should be in a frame if it wasnt already! very nice buck!!

[Skyvalhunter]

Very nice buck. For a blacktail he would score very well as he has nice symmetry, no crab legs for forks, nice blacktail eye guards. Would love to see the other pic showing the width. Alot of decent blacktail don't have much for width as they have a tendency to start to curl in near the tops. Your dad should be proud of that buck its a shame he doesn't still have the rack. You should blow that picture up put it in a nice frame and give it to him to display. Congrats to him and thanks for posting the pic. Gotta love those good ol day photos.

[bigcountry]

Thanks for the comments.  Im planning on getting a nice frame and putting the picture in it for my dad.  Might try to take it somewhere and blow the photo up to an 8x10.  And I will try to get the other pic up here for everyone.   Definately a shame he doesnt have the horns but at least he has this awesome picture! 

[Mandownitis]

Cool picture,  nice buck,  great story.  But the job they did getting that buck all tied up is the best!

[BLR 243]

Great pic and story. 160 inch plus buck ?

[bigcountry]

Most of the people we talked to said the buck is in the 170" range, some a bit more some a bit less.  Either way Im sure its bigger than any blacktail Ill ever shoot.  Darn my pops showed me up!