Post by: fisheral87 on October 30, 2016, 07:28:51 PM
Waiting in the dark drizzly morning, we stood behind the last tank trap just before the clearcut. Having smelled bucks several times as we had progressed along the trail spirits were high in anticipation of the hunt to come. The plan was pretty simple. I'll go right, you go left.
Across the tank trap we took our respective directions and I headed left. I worked slowly down the road through the upper section of the cut glassing some of the older reprod just in case the deer were hanging in the thicker cover. I crested the rise that over looked a main portion of the cut and snuck to the edge using a small fir tree as cover. I shortly spotted just the head of a buck rubbing one fir, then another before disappearing into the cut moving toward 7mmfan's general position. After a few minutes I decided to continue left along the road in the opposite direction hoping that buck would give 7mmfan an opportunity.
Another seventy-five yards brought me to a position where I could see most of my end of the cut. I settled down on a conveniently placed stump just below the road adjacent to a large slash pile. Directly behind me was a large bush that provided additional breakup. I immediately began glassing the body of the cut checking back to where I had seen the first buck disappear and looking for other movement. After about and hour on a repeat sweep of the far timberline my binoculars slid into the outline of a doe moving out of the cut and into the far timber. Her movement only noticeable for a millisecond before her gray flanks melted away into the prehistoric sized ferns. The sight of a doe boosted my confidence even more, believing she would give bucks an incentive to be in the area this time of year.
By this time the rain had broken and although the clouds prevented visual confirmation, the sun was fully up and I wondered if that doe was moving to bed along with the rest of the deer for the next couple of hours. I settled my mind again and went back to picking apart the terrain. Another hour or so passed and I peripherally caught movement to the right. Bringing my glass up just in time to see yet another deer slipping to cover where I had see the buck first thing. They are still moving around.
Not long after that I caught movement nearly straight away from me. A doe was crossing in a very open portion of the cut in front of several fallen cedar trees at a fairly good clip. I lost sight of the doe quickly as she moved off through the cut. I hoped her rush wasn't a coincidence and that there would be a buck not far behind. A few moments later I caught movement again along the doe's route in front of the cedars. I brought my glass up quickly confirming it was a buck. I repositioned to get behind the log and get a good rest with my pack set on top. The buck picked up on either my noise or movement and when I brought my gun up and set the scope on the buck he had stopped and pegged me.
The sight of him in the scope was awesome. He stood broadside against the backdrop of the fallen cedars, neck full, eyes fixed on my position. Breathtaking. Kingly. As I breathed out I began to pull the trigger, momentarily sending a single round downrange. As I watched through the scope the buck bounded once trying to gain his bearings, retreating toward the timber edge making it all of about ten yards before his legs gave way disappearing behind a lone cedar.
Thanks for reading,
Al
Post by: gavinboone on October 30, 2016, 07:30:43 PM
Post by: Timberstalker on October 30, 2016, 07:38:45 PM
Post by: Dan-o on October 30, 2016, 07:39:46 PM
That is a TERRIFIC Blacktail.
CONGRATS.
Post by: grundy53 on October 30, 2016, 07:57:35 PM
Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk
Post by: BullMagnet76 on October 30, 2016, 08:01:11 PM
Post by: Pygmy on October 30, 2016, 08:08:50 PM
Post by: HvyHorn338 on October 30, 2016, 08:09:22 PM
Post by: fishnfur on October 30, 2016, 10:28:43 PM
Post by: mtn.goat on October 30, 2016, 10:46:04 PM
Post by: Widgeondeke on October 31, 2016, 05:14:25 AM
Congrats :tup:
Post by: 7mmfan on October 31, 2016, 11:18:49 AM
I will admit, I was a little jealous. But i'd had my own opportunity at the other big one in there and blew it, so you deserved it. You made up for it a few hours later, thanks for the help! :tup:
Post by: fisheral87 on October 31, 2016, 07:59:36 PM
Al
Post by: Soundbite on October 31, 2016, 08:05:55 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on November 05, 2016, 02:59:52 AM
Post by: opdinkslayer on November 05, 2016, 06:09:48 AM
Post by: wt on November 08, 2016, 09:55:14 PM
Post by: cem3434 on November 08, 2016, 09:56:59 PM
Post by: fisheral87 on November 08, 2016, 11:00:30 PM
Quote
Next year might be a little disappointing.
To be honest I'm probably hooked on Blacktails. At least This one will sustain me for a while.
Thanks for the positive responses.
Al
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 08, 2016, 11:09:53 PM
Hell of a gray ghost, congrats! :tup:
Wow nice mature blackie.
Post by: scree on November 09, 2016, 05:02:55 PM
Post by: teanawayslayer on November 09, 2016, 05:29:25 PM
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on November 10, 2016, 04:47:34 AM
Post by: fisheral87 on December 12, 2016, 06:57:27 AM
Post by: Lefthook on December 12, 2016, 07:04:48 AM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on December 12, 2016, 08:18:20 AM
Post by: 7mmfan on December 12, 2016, 08:49:58 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on December 12, 2016, 09:02:00 AM
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on December 12, 2016, 09:25:26 AM
Post by: Mark251 on December 13, 2016, 09:04:33 PM
Post by: LeadNSheds on December 13, 2016, 09:24:21 PM
Post by: 7mmfan on December 13, 2016, 09:45:39 PM
STUD BT!! Missed this post the first time. Congrats he's a beast! Benchleg?
Definitely not a benchleg.
Post by: elkboy on December 13, 2016, 10:25:46 PM
That is the blacktail buck of dreams. Thank you for the excellent write-up! Also, more points scored for the excellent plate presentation of the tenderloin. Nice work from start to finish.