Blacktail Season '08

LAST EDITED ON Sep-09-08 AT 08:59PM (MST)[p]
Well, after a long tedious bow season and half of the rifle season, my fifteen year old son finally found a buck he wanted to take.
Went out the other morning at first light and caught this decent buck moving towards cover.
A fine 300 yard shot with his new 7mm 08 and the buck crashed to the ground.

We'll see if he can continue his success with an even larger one,
I feel that the best is yet to come.....

The buck is a mainframe 3x3 with a small droptine on his right antler.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/HunterHarry/2-15.jpg[/IMG]

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/HunterHarry/3-15.jpg[/IMG]

I'm still in shock after last night's hunt.
It really hasn't set in for either my son or myself.
Sometimes things fall together and turn what started out as just another hunt into a life altering experience.
Well, last night was one of those nights.
My son Thomas and myself had been really putting in the time and effort to scout properly and to hunt shed antlers in the off season in order to know just exactly what bucks lived on the property we hunt.

I really wanted him to score on one of the better bucks that we knew were on the property.

Last night the weather had cooled down just enough to warrant a trip up the mountain.

After reaching our destination, we split up.
With the sun setting on the western horizon, the sharp crack of a rifle pierces the silence.

I have no doubt that my son had just made a shot and anxiety races through my veins.

As I approach my son, he raises his arms in victory and runs over and gives me a bear hug.

I ask him, "Well, how good is he?"
All Thomas says is "Oh, he's a good one."

My eyes just about popped out of my head when I saw that huge antler sticking up above the tall grass.

Couldn't have happened to a better guy....


I've strived to see that my son has always had great opportuniies in the outdoors.
In return I have been blessed with the best hunting and fishing partner I could ever ask for.

A drop tined buck and now this one, guess the kid's season is off to a pretty good start.


http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/HunterHarry/2-16.jpg[/IMG]

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/HunterHarry/1-18.jpg[/IMG]

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/HunterHarry/4-10.jpg[/IMG]

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/HunterHarry/3-16.jpg[/IMG]

I been hunting blacktails for 45 years and have taken, what i would consider, that many nice mature bucks. Not one, none of the blackies i've taken had that kind of frame! Truly, a fine buck. Heck, both are dandys but that big boy is something very special!

Congrats!!!

Joey

nice...
great job!
rm

THAT KID IS PISSIN ME OFF....WAY TOO MANY BIG FISH & NICE BUCKS. JUST KIDDIN.....MET BOTH DAD & THOMAS....GOOD GUYS.....YD.

Great job to both of you! That wide buck is awesome! Way to go!

WOW! Great job on the bucks, that wide one is SWEET! Keep up the good work.

CABugle

VERY nice bucks! My seven yr old son will be going with me to E. Oregon next week on our achery hunt. We have 5 nice black tails on our property that have been hanging around the apple orchard in our bottom pasture these past few years. One of the 4X5's if he's still around, I will try and take him with my son there...

Congrats again!

muleyman
molalla oregon

Congratulations Thomas! A big ol' buck for sure!

OK, dads' turn!

Eel

Well cents I cant post on that other site you posted the pics of a great buck on I will do my congrats here lol.
Way to go Thomas



Kyle
"If it moves shoot it again"

HH,

That is awesome. Tell your boy congrats.

IB

1 Jerkey and Backstrap coming right up!!!
Nice job boys, gettin' it done!(everytime)

Congrats on a very good hunt for both of you, nothing like a Father getting to see his son take a good buck. I have a feeling with that second buck, the boy will out do his Father this year. I'm willing to bet HunterHarry could not care less if the boy does beat him on the size.

RELH

Great buck, you don't see too many like over there like that!

Beautiful bucks! Congrats to your boy.

"You only live once,but if you work it right, once is enough" -Joe E. Lewis

Awesome! Congrats to Son and Dad!

I love that little droptine rack... Looks great. And the wide boy is the biggest blacktail I've ever seen I think... What a wonderful season...!!!

Well,my local bow and rifle seasons came & went.

I shed hunted, scouted, and hunted my ass off for nearly three months and never drew blood.

We looked at a bunch of bucks this season...

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/HunterHarry/1-12.jpg[/IMG]

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/HunterHarry/2-11.jpg[/IMG]



http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/HunterHarry/10-3.jpg[/IMG]

In the end 2008 proved to be one of my most fulfilling Blacktail seasons ever.

Sharing the highs and lows of a long season with my son was great.

Watching him relive encounters with mountain lions, rattlesnakes and early mornings and steep mountains, all of the memories and anxieties that make up a long successful deer season.

He passed up opportunities an lots of lesser bucks and ended the season with an absolute stud of a coastal blacktail.

All the hard work paid off and I am filled with pride, all without punching a tag of my own.

Watching your kids succeed in the outdoors is simply priceless.

Best wishes for your fall seasons as we look forward to our upcoming Wyoming trip.

HH