huntFX4
Active Member
- Messages
- 870
My 13 y/o drew the general deer here in Utah. We spent most of the summer scouting for his youth bull tag and not much on deer scouting. I planned to hunt where I had found several bucks on the muzzleloader hunt last year.
This is the week before hiking water up to our chosen campsite at 8000 feet.
Here we have made it up to camp on Monday evening. He was carrying 30 pound pack plus his rifle.
First dinner after setting up camp with a fork I had to whittle out of aspen because I forgot to pack utensils.
Glassing for the big guys.
We couldn't find any good bucks in the area, only a 3 point too far away to get to in time. We went to try to get him in the morning, but he never showed himself again, so we packed up after two days and moved out. We chose to hunt a couple of other areas on the range, but were having little luck even finding a buck. Others I spoke to were having the same problem. We climbed to different glassing areas recommended by friends but couldn't locate a good buck. Did find plenty of does and elk but no bucks. Finally on the last day he could hunt, I found this little 2 point over a mile away, just over an hour before sunset. He said he wanted it so off we went. It was a grueling hike over very steep and rocky terrain to get into range. He crawled 20 yards across open ground with the deer watching him and made it to a shooting point at 350 yards. We had practiced many days out to 300 so I told him where to put his cross hairs and take his time. The deer jumped at the shot with a good hit to the chest. It was a long way back down so we chose to return in the morning to bring him home.
I have to say, he never once faltered in the hunt, no matter how heavy the pack or how long and steep the hike. Never complained and just pushed forward with a determination seldom seen in young people these days. This is a trophy just by the experience of the hunt and how well he did. I'm very proud of him.
Happy young man with his first deer.
Proud father and son.
This is the week before hiking water up to our chosen campsite at 8000 feet.
Here we have made it up to camp on Monday evening. He was carrying 30 pound pack plus his rifle.
First dinner after setting up camp with a fork I had to whittle out of aspen because I forgot to pack utensils.
Glassing for the big guys.
We couldn't find any good bucks in the area, only a 3 point too far away to get to in time. We went to try to get him in the morning, but he never showed himself again, so we packed up after two days and moved out. We chose to hunt a couple of other areas on the range, but were having little luck even finding a buck. Others I spoke to were having the same problem. We climbed to different glassing areas recommended by friends but couldn't locate a good buck. Did find plenty of does and elk but no bucks. Finally on the last day he could hunt, I found this little 2 point over a mile away, just over an hour before sunset. He said he wanted it so off we went. It was a grueling hike over very steep and rocky terrain to get into range. He crawled 20 yards across open ground with the deer watching him and made it to a shooting point at 350 yards. We had practiced many days out to 300 so I told him where to put his cross hairs and take his time. The deer jumped at the shot with a good hit to the chest. It was a long way back down so we chose to return in the morning to bring him home.
I have to say, he never once faltered in the hunt, no matter how heavy the pack or how long and steep the hike. Never complained and just pushed forward with a determination seldom seen in young people these days. This is a trophy just by the experience of the hunt and how well he did. I'm very proud of him.
Happy young man with his first deer.
Proud father and son.
Congrats on a good time hunting with your boy. Isn't that what it is really all about !
