Finally figured out how to post pics....
We had a great early black powder season. My daughter got her first deer (doe) last year with modern. She did great and I told her it was time to step up to black powder with dad. She was totally excited to do it. Got her the Traditions Ultra Light Magnum Northwest Edition. The gun weight is what did it for me on the gun. Daughter only weighs about 70 pounds! She shot great groups and only needed help reloading after the 3rd shot on a dirty barrel.
Of we headed to our usual spot between Naches and Eburg. Got there early on Friday, buddy Kris joined us late that night.
Opening morning had us sneaking into a walk in area and almost stepping on a group of does the first 10 minutes of walking. They busted and flushed a limping 3 x 4 from 15 yards. He couldn't seem to move fast but never stopped long enough to get a good shot.
One hour later found daughter and I on parallel hills as Kris worked his way through the thick brush in the bottom. I had a doe and two fawns walk within 15 feet of me and feed on up the hill. Then about 1500 yards out came a small buck trailing the does. He had his nose to the ground and grunting almost constantly- weird for early season! When he was directly below my daughter she called me on the radio and said "Dad, it's legal, can I shoot it?" I told her it was too small- meaning only a spike- let it go. She didn't argue. Well, it proceeded to walk right up to me just like the does had. At 15 feet I looked closer and noticed it was legal, barely. Wanting to let my daughter get the first buck I tried to call her on the radio. The buck finally saw me and decided to move down hill. That gave me a chance to get back up behind the hill, above and behind my daughters firing lane. I told her to go ahead and shoot. She missed at about 80 yards and then lost sight of the buck. He came around the hill up towards me! Well, hate to steal the daughters deer, but..... I shot over his back at 15 to 20 yards. He crossed to the next hillside and I drilled him at 82 yards. As he was rather small; we drug him out whole
I knew better but was still full of piss and vinegar on opening day.
I think he is a cross between a mule deer, a black tail and a midget! Gotta be the smallest legal 3 point shot this year!
Later that day Patrick and his son arrived. On Sunday Patrick shot his 2 x 3 at about 125 yards, them again at 100 yards. I don't have a pic but it was the same size as Kris's buck. He did the gutless method and packed out the meat himself.
We took Monday as a play day. Drove the Burban up to Little Blady Mtn, then Moon Rocks/Funny Rocks. Patrick and son packed up and headed home Monday afternoon as he had to work. He took his and my deer back with him, mine went into my chest freezer to await my return home.
Tuesday afternoon found me bird dogging a 2 x 3 for Kris. Kris does not have a range finder and guestimated his first shot at 200 yards. He consistently (9 out of 10) hits milk jugs at 200 when we practice. He put the buck down on the first shot. I came down the ridge and ranged the distance back to Kris..... 270 yards!!
He did have to put another shot in the buck to finish the job up close. He later told me he would have never taken the shot had he been able to range it. My hat's off to him for an amazing shot. He has vowed to buy a rangefinder before next year.
We boned him out and my daughter packed the head- she insisted.
Thursday we finally glassed some better bucks at about 1500 yards. Had 4 legal bucks in sight. put the sneak on them about 1:00 in the afternoon. Hot mid day sun beating down. The 4 bucks and about 15 does were sound asleep. Daughter and I got to 140 yards but couldn't get any closer due th the openness of the draw and the does at 50 yards. We could only see one of the bucks bedded, a 2 x 3 unfortunately. We took our time setting up. She took the broadside bedded shot. She was sitting and using shooting sticks. Buck jumped up and took off. We looked and found only hair grazed off, no blood. Spent the next 3 hours trying to get within the 100 yard mark for her. The buck kept going a couple hundred yards and bedding back down. Thought maybe she had hit it but no blood? Finally about 4:00 we had him bedded at 150 yards. She was begging me to let her take the shot if he stood up. I finally gave in. When he stood, I let her take a broadside, slightly quartering away shot. She was aiming at the heart. He dropped without even twitching!
What a sight. She shanked the shot, but nailed him in the neck right where I usually slit the throat! Check out the "as it lies" photo! She gutted him herself and helped me skin and bone him. She packed the head- she insisted.
We had a great time. Hiked many miles. Saw many deer. Saw some nice bulls. Met some great local people. Brought home awesome memories of my daughters second deer and her first buck.
