Bottom of the 9th Blacktail Success!! - Daughters buck added 11/08 - PIC HEAVY

beardbuster · 11-06-2008, 07:01 PM

What a rush the last couple days have been. It started at the beginning of the week when Tim (OMMEDIA) shot me an email asking about blacktails and if I knew a place where he might be able to score a buck. He was not looking for a trophy animal, but rather anything legal. I wrote back and told him that I had a couple places in mind. Little did I know that the two of us were in for an adventure and a great hunt as well.

Wednesday:

We began the day by leaving my house and heading down to a spot I knew near Sweet Home. We were greeted at the logging gate by a couple loggers who informed us that they were going to be working in the clear cut. I began to ask a couple questions and it sounded like they had been in there for a while cleaning up and the deer didnt seem to mind that commotion. One of the older loggers was very laid back and we struck a conversation about other areas they had been working and the animals they had been seeing. It pays to listen.

They went on there way and wished us good luck as we walked through the clearcut and continued to my intended destination. I mentioned to Tim that I knew where the loggers was talking about and if this area didn't produce, we'd head there. After a 4 plus mile loop and only seeing a doe and a spike we were back in the truck and on our way.

It was late afternoon before we made it to the "new" spot. We drove several hills and glassed from the top inspecting every clearcut and open area. Finally we found one area that screamed DEER, but there was nothing to be seen. We continued on and explored the land in search of a good huntable area.

On the way back over the hill, Tim mentioned that we should take a look down the cut we had glassed earlier. I got out of the truck and thought to myself "you know how cool it would be to walk up to the edge and see a buck next to that yellow tree?" As soon as my eyes looked through the glasses, I saw the silhouette of a deer. As it turned I could tell it was a buck. I scrambled bak up the hill and told Tim to get his gun. I think my exact words were "buck, buck, buck!"

In the driving rain we made a plan for me to watch the buck from the top of the cut as Tim worked his way down the timbered edge. I had ranged the buck from my vantage point at 427 yards, but with Tim's 243 he wanted to close the distance at least a couple hundred yards. With the driving rain and 40 mile per hour cross wind, he needed to be closer.

For 45 minutes I stood in the wind and rain and glassed the buck as Tim inched closer. My routine was to glass, pour the water out the bino's (both ends) and wipe the water spots of the glass and repeat. Just when I thought I was about to watch this buck meet his maker, a truck appeared on the road behind me. "GREAT!" I thought, "They are going to spot this buck and start shooting with Tim down there". To my surprise they only stopped briefly and kept going. I waved at them as they drove by me and watched them keep moving. They were probably thinking "What an idiot... who'd stand out there - it's pouring!"

The buck quickly moved off and I motioned for Tim to climb back up the hill. He was within 130 yards of the buck at that time. As darkness settled, I told him we needed some luck, so we headed back to my house and made a big dinner where we cooked up some backstrap and prepared for the next day - I knew the buck would be back.

Thursday:

We raced back down to the area and was greeted by the same driving wind and rains that we had left in this clearcut. This time however, Tim was toting my 325 Winchester Short Mag, he could shoot from anyway on that mountain if needed. In between openings in the fog we spotted numerous deer. As the rain continued to pound on us, we snuck back down to check out the spot where the buck stood the evening before. "Same spot" Tim said as he pointed towards two does feeding under the large yellow tree.

Staying low we snuck down and set up next to a couple stumps and scanned the area in search of the buck. Two more does, and then "BUCK!" A quick check had him in the range finder at 220 yards. Tim settled in and as the buck turned broadside, the 325 barked and the buck was dead as soon as the bullet hit him.

I really enjoyed hunting with Tim for a couple days and being by his side as he took his best buck was exciting for sure.

Limbhanger · 11-06-2008, 07:09 PM

Good job, guys. Nice looking buck !!

No Fences · 11-06-2008, 07:16 PM

Great job fellas. Persistance and a little luck pays off.

Incredible_Bulk · 11-06-2008, 07:16 PM

Beautiful buck! Great story as well.

I love the 2nd picture in the post with the hunter slightly blurred in the background. Awesome shot!

My season is done.

Skunked again -- glad to see so much success!

lentz · 11-06-2008, 07:18 PM

Great job and nice pics to go with the story. Congrats!!!

Fish Killer · 11-06-2008, 07:19 PM

Great story and pics

aosteelheader · 11-06-2008, 07:38 PM

Dandy bucks and awesome photos.

Enjoyed your story too! Nice work.
-AO

Ryan Pultz · 11-06-2008, 07:40 PM

You gotta love the blacktail Horns look how dark they are very nice! rp

GameChaserFid · 11-06-2008, 07:41 PM

Very nice buck guys! The pics were great as well, looks like a great area. I'm going out for the last time this season tomorrow.

Nw dukn · 11-06-2008, 07:46 PM

Awesome job guys...

blacktail519 · 11-06-2008, 07:50 PM

Very well done!! Great looking buck for sure

BlacktailBowhunter · 11-06-2008, 07:53 PM

Now that is the way you get it done.

Nice job guys.

See you Friday Tim.

elkthumper · 11-06-2008, 07:56 PM

nice job guys. great photo's wil

OutdoorBum · 11-06-2008, 07:58 PM

Those photos are great!

Yooper Time · 11-06-2008, 08:11 PM

Great Photos..nice post and congrats!!

The Bloodletter · 11-06-2008, 08:20 PM

Pretty decent buck. The photos, however, are fantastic! I particularly like the one with the deere in the foreground and the hunter walking up from behind. I've not seen that before, what a great effect. Nice work!

Blacktail Slayer · 11-06-2008, 08:30 PM

Great story and amazing pics as always Wil. A well earned buck.

No Fences · 11-06-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bloodletter

Pretty decent buck. The photos, however, are fantastic! I particularly like the one with the deere in the foreground and the hunter walking up from behind. I've not seen that before, what a great effect. Nice work!

Yep, Wil definately has a way with the lens.

sooslaw · 11-06-2008, 08:33 PM

very cool hunt, great job guys. thats a beautiful animal.

Terdog13 · 11-06-2008, 08:56 PM

Way to go Tim and Wil !!!!

Great stuff.

Some of the best photo's we've seen!!!!!!

T13

motcha · 11-06-2008, 08:56 PM

Good job fellas, and great pics! Thanks for sharing

Blktalhunter · 11-06-2008, 10:07 PM

Good job guys. Nice buck

sprigkiller09 · 11-06-2008, 10:16 PM

Awesome buck Tim!!! What a good guy Wil sharing the wealth to those in need!! Great looking buck. Great job to both of you

Hookset · 11-06-2008, 11:44 PM

Nice deer and story!! Congratulations to both of you!!

But those pictures are very impressive!!! Beardbuster, you certainly have the camera work down......takes a lot of patience, determination and attention to detail, plus good equipment to take quality photos. Very nice, thanks for sharing!

ommedia · 11-07-2008, 12:18 AM

Thanks for all the great comments! I must admit this is my best blacktail to date. It won't score well, but it was as hard earned as any big game animal I've taken, and that says a lot.

We all know the many ifish'ers that would drop what they are doing and call in sick to "just go hunting", and Wil is no exception. I give him a lot of credit for being the giblit that he is and not screwing this whole hunt up....

ok just kidding...We both discussed our options and it was "kismit" or "luck" or "karma" or whatever you call it that put us at that gate to meet the one logger who gave us a "tip". We didn't put a lot of faith in that tip until we got to the general area he spoke of. We have found something worth marking on the GPS!

Wil stepped away form his daily grind to hunt with an old friend, without at tag, during the "week of prosparity" for rifle blacktail hunters. Many of you, my good friends, would have done the same I am sure...as would I no doubt. I planned for this specific week alone when we got the news that the general hunt would got to Nov. 7. We knew what we were looking for in habitat and a hunt area, and we found it.

The ups and downs of blacktail hunting, this season, go without saying! And this weeks hunt provided the agony of defeat and the thrill of victory. With blown opportunities, hot tips gone sour, private property accesses changed, work, kids, the election, etc...it all comes into play. After ensuring my daughter got her deer on Saturday, I called Wil. I was seeking a "reserection" of hope, and his recommendations made sense. As a bonus, he said he would come along as "camera guy"!!

I spent hours looking for a good buck this week, and our efforts paid off. The rain was a curse and a blessing, the botched atempt Wednesday was haunting and a blessing, the end result was truly a great prize.

Oh, and you've gotta love a good hand at the camera! Thanks again Wil!

~OM

Scrillznac · 11-07-2008, 02:18 AM

Dandy buck man congrats. Those pictures are amazing!

Art Vandeley · 11-07-2008, 06:22 AM

Great buck, I really enjoyed the story to! Oh, and the photos are not half bad either.

Mitch

Don Becker · 11-07-2008, 06:44 AM

Great job! Don

oregonmuley · 11-07-2008, 09:58 AM

Congrats to both of your for 2 fine bucks - greats pictures as well,
it seems to have been a great season for ifishers this year

Hope there are some last minute bucks posted later today - I bet there will can't wait

shadowstalker · 11-07-2008, 10:49 AM

Nice Job Gentlemen

beardbuster · 11-07-2008, 12:20 PM

Thanks for the compliments, I know Tim appreciates them as well. I am hoping to have another thread of successful photos after this weekends hunt with my daughter. After all, I'm used to hunting people who are young at heart

Rauly · 11-07-2008, 12:40 PM

Dude there is a fork behind you

Quote:

Originally Posted by beardbuster

Thanks for the compliments, I know Tim appreciates them as well. I am hoping to have another thread of successful photos after this weekends hunt with my daughter. After all, I'm used to hunting people who are young at heart

Elk Czy · 11-07-2008, 01:06 PM

Great job guys, awesome story... Tim how mount that buck those dark antlers are sweet...

BarroomHero · 11-07-2008, 05:26 PM

Great story with awesome pictures to boot!

Congratulations indeed.

30-06guy · 11-07-2008, 06:03 PM

Nice job guys at least you saw somthing this year nice Buck

scarr · 11-07-2008, 06:26 PM

Very nice.

nwsoftball · 11-07-2008, 06:39 PM

Nice job guys! Wil, great pics as always!

Drifter2007 · 11-07-2008, 06:53 PM

Great job and really nice pic's!

mount'em · 11-07-2008, 07:06 PM

Very nice chocolate antlered buck!! Great work Tim and Wil

I realllly like the photo with the deer in the forground and hunter out of focus...very cool

cubsfan · 11-07-2008, 07:07 PM

Nice work! I love the western Cascades!!!!!!!!

Magnum · 11-07-2008, 07:23 PM

Very nice with some high quality pics.

DominantPrey · 11-07-2008, 07:43 PM

Great photos and story! Thank's for sharing. Congrat's to your buddy Tim on a great buck.

beardbuster · 11-08-2008, 12:48 PM

Thanks for the compliments. I just got back from a hunt with my daughter this morning in the spot Tim and I went to on Wednesday. Needless to say... I'm typing this with blood under my fingernails

Pics to follow - Nice one too

Trick · 11-08-2008, 12:58 PM

Fantastic story....great pics......awesome animal!

Way to go!

beardbuster · 11-08-2008, 02:18 PM

WHAT A MORNING...

I left Salem this morning at 3:45 AM. I was heading the the spot where Tim shot his buck on Thursday. When I reached the gate it was LOCKED and too many miles to walk in. I decided to head back to the spot where we started on Wednesday. I know we didn't see anything but a doe and a spike in there, but it's too good to over look.

Bryce and I parked at the gate and made the 2 mile walk in. We were getting close to the spot I wanted to hunt when I told Bryce to start glassing "We should see something in here" I told her as we kept moving.

Heading to the ridge top I caught some movement. Looked through my binos and there was a 4pt buck standing 50 yards from us and all I could see was his rack from the angle. This is the part where the calm, cool hunter starts to freak out and get the young shooter in position.

"Can you see him" I asked. "NO" she replied. In a moment he was gone. I told her to get ready and that we were going to crest the hill and take a look. The buck was nowhere to be found, so we made a loop and came back to the same spot where the buck was standing. "Well, that stink's" I told Bryce and we took one step and the brush came alive. The buck was standing in the tree right next to us!

He bolted to our right towards a wall of brush and instead of jumping - he stopped. BOOM, right as he jumped.

"Oh no" I thought and shook my head. I thought that was the last we would see of the buck. I didnt hear the brush continuing to break and told Bryce to unload her gun, take off her pack and sit down so I knew where we shot from. Within seconds, I knew it was all going to be ok.

Tell her mom the good news after I gutted the buck

He died in a hole and I wanted to get some better photos, so after gutting him I drug him 100 yards UPHILL where we finished off the morning

One proud PAPA

We took some photos and got to work quartering up the buck for the hike out. The weather gods smiled on us as we worked on the buck. As soon as we got the meat quartered and bagged, it began to rain.

We did it in one trip. I packed two hind quarters, front shoulder and the head an cape with all my gear and her gun the total was over 80 pounds in my Badlands 2200 day pack. Bryce carried a front shoulder, the back strap and trim meat with all her gear for a combined weight of over 40 pounds in her Badlands pack. Began the hike out at 10:10 and reached the vehicle at 11:20 – in a down pour! Our gear held up and as we were both dry, just very tired and in Bryces true nature, she never asked to stop, never complained and had a smile on her face the entire time.

She's a trooper for 13 , and of course she is getting it mounted.

Trick · 11-08-2008, 02:24 PM

Wow, what an amazing trophy.....Great job Bryce! Many hunt for years and never get an animal of that caliber!

Great job Dad and the photos are top notch!

No Fences · 11-08-2008, 02:26 PM

Congrats to both of you. Well done Bryce on connecting with such a great buck.

I know your Dad is flying high and very proud of you right now.

Once again Wil, great story and top notch pics.

Maddie'sDaddy · 11-08-2008, 02:31 PM

I hope someday to be sitting in that position with my daughter

, thats great stuff right there

.

Good job Bryce on a great buck.

MD

Duckwheat · 11-08-2008, 02:32 PM

What a great job of staging the photos, professional.

I love the pictures of your daughter, deer slayer with finger nail polish.

Great writing to go along with your pictures. You need to save this in some form for your daughter to show her grand kids.

DW