Finally was able to get my boy out to hunt his late season Mckenzie youth tag--gets tougher each year (he's 14 and a freshman in HS now) with sports and the elevated expectations academically.
We set out Saturday afternoon for our homeplace in Vida, then headed for the hills. No luck Saturday, but Sunday morning was a little different.
On our drive into the area, we saw 2 nice bucks in the dark, one with very heavy horns, but pressed on towards our destination.
Upon arriving at the cut, my son said "dad, it looks like a desert out there". It did. Weyerhauser must have decided to spray it, cause there wasnt much but trees left this year.
I ignored my gut reaction to head elsewhere, and drove (we were gonna walk, but decided to drive given what the unit looked like) to the landing. It's raining hard, and Ike was not real excited about our prospects, but we bailed out to glass anyway.
We went into the unit and started to glass the edges where there was a little feed. We looked around for a few minutes when I saw movement not 75 yards away from me. Don't know if he was bedded or just standing there cause I hadn't gotten around to looking in the middle of the "desert" yet. I whispered to Isaac "there's a dandy", and he came 15 yards to me.
The buck was so close, he too looked beyond it until it bolted dead away at a run. Ike raised his rifle, and just missed it at 100 yards, then drilled it in the back at 125-150. Rocked him hard, but those old rutting bucks have alot of go. Ike shot twice more as he was stumbling, trying to make the edge, then ran out of shells (he only had his clip loaded).
I knew he was hit hard, and figured I'd leave Isaac on point, while I went back to the rig and readied our gear for the tracking and packing. I'm digging around in the Jeep when I hear BOOM!
The old Buck had decided he was gonna try and sneak out the back door, but Isaac was waiting for him. Perfect shot at 200 yards. Buck bounces back into the timber, and drops.
I decided to send Isaac cross country, while I drove to a lower road and hiked up to him. Took a couple of minutes, but when I finally got there I could hear him screaming for dad..."HE'S HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"How big is he?"
"He's a 5 point on one side!!"
I grabbed my bag and headed up when I realized he hadn't said how big the other side was, so I asked him--"He's a 4 point" was his reply.
"WHEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great job Isaac!"
I finally get up the steep old unit to my boy, and see he isn't kidding.
In his excitement, Isaac had failed to notice the 6 inch long 5th point on the side opposite the kicker
"This monster is a five by five Ike!!!", I said.
More whoops--now time for a pic or 12.
As he's holding his head, I see a surprise--a 1 1/2" long point above his eyeguards on the main beam.
"He's a freaking 6 point Isaac" WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!!!!!!!!
This buck has some of the most amazing mass I've ever seen on a Blacktail. Only 18" wide, but tall. His horns where they fork are palmated and very flat, kind of like a moose!!!
Did I mention the eyeguards?? One is close to 4", the other a little more than 3", and are classic whitetail style, very heavy, and knifelike--not round at all. Biggest eyeguards I've ever seen on a Blacktail--and I've killed some dandies.
Did I mention I've never killed one this nice in 30 years of hunting?
I'm so proud of Isaac!!!
Pictures being developed as we speak--I will get them to someone who can scan and post soon--any volunteers?
Also, does anyone know where I could get him scored in the Salem area?
[ 11-19-2003, 06:40 PM: Message edited by: WildHawg ]
That's my BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That sounds like a real trophy! AND some "grace under pressure" to make that final shot. BIG blacktails are a RARE treat...can't wait for the pic's
Mello-Yello
Proud Member of the Coastal Conservation Assn, Columbia County Chapter 
Fish on!!!
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