bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck

[Born2late]

I really enjoy your love of the hunt. Thinking through all the different scenarios to put yourself in a spot that will out smart him. I think these blacktails are the toughest animal to hunt and get close to mature bucks. Congratulations

[Mfowl]

Fantastic buck and congratulations! Thanks for sharing, always appreciated!

[skagitsteel]

I really enjoy your love of the hunt. Thinking through all the different scenarios to put yourself in a spot that will out smart him. I think these blacktails are the toughest animal to hunt and get close to mature bucks. Congratulations

They are a real challenge and good at humbling those that pursue them.  I feel blessed every time I encounter one, knowing the deck is certainly stacked in favor of the buck to not be seen or live another year. 

[skagitsteel]

Awesome story and what a great buck.  How many solid bucks in a row does this make for you?  Seems like you whack a good one every year.

Congrats.

Thanks!

I believe its 8 in a row, 2 of the 8 were on the younger side. 

[lewy]

Well earned. Hunting old blacktail bucks, esp in timber, is quite the undertaking. Sometimes you guess what they are going to do and a lot of times you are wrong, or maybe right but the timing is off. Really a chess match. I enjoyed the write up!

[Okanagan]

Great old buck, and rare excellent hunt ability, told well.  Bravo!

[Turner89]

Great story Skagit.  Way to get it done in the toughest BT season I can remember. 

[fishnfur]

Affter serving nearly 24 years in the Navy and having met quite a few mean SOBs and Special Forces type gluttons for punishment, (ie Navy Seals, US Army Green Beret, etc.), I've got to say that they don't have anything on you (IMHO). I heard their stories over those years - situations that make us average guys cringe at the thought of enduring such hardship.  Year after year though, just as those warriors endured incredible odds, tirellessly pushing themselves to complete their missions, you similarly show incredible fortitude in how you keep pushing yourself through those toughest of situations, unendingly pursuing animals that must meet or exceed your incredibly high standards . You consitently conquer incredible adversity, seemingly indifferent to how much suffering you encur in your pursuit.   Somehow, you always seem to rise above those many challenges that present themselves along the way, and push yourself - just gut it out, until you've succeeded in your self-assigned goal. 

Once again, just as in years earlier, I am in awe.  Superb buck, great story, incredible hardship. Congratuations somehow seems inadequate.  Perhaps as we in used to say the Navy to commended exceptional successes: "Well done" is most appropriate. 

[AlpineBeard]

Epic hunt for an epic buck!

[Ironhead]

Wow, you seem to do it every year. Congrats on a great mature buck.

[MeepDog]

That's a great story. I knew they were crafty but following your backtrack is nuts. Awesome write up

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

Thanks for the detailed write up.  Awesome buck and well played hunt.  Loved the play by play action of your story, felt like I was right there without having to endure your wet side grimy steep ass hillsides and moss covered crap.  Seriously though, well played, you won the ultimate woodsman chess match.

[huntnphool]

 

[skagitsteel]

Epic hunt for an epic buck!

you as well this year

[skagitsteel]

That's a great story. I knew they were crafty but following your backtrack is nuts. Awesome write up

I knew they had the potential to backtrack, I was shocked how far he followed my backtrail.