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 had 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.

25 1/4" wide.

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.

that is a great buck. i wonder what happen to his ear.

WOW awesome buck Thomas.Sal that young man is a fish catch-in critter slaying machine. What a Stud.

SWEET, nice work guys!

he is quite a hunter and fisherman for that matter.

tell him congrats on both bucks. im jealous

What a stud! That's awesome Thomas, excellent work. Was that w/ the new rifle? 7mm-08?

A proud day for Dad...

Wow. That is an awesome buck.

Nice work Thomas. You really did yourself and your pop proud with that one. Yer a killa.

Thats a hell of a Blacktail.

Nice work!

Hard work pays off! Nicely done gentlemen.

The drop tine buck was definetly a trophy.

Just when you think the kid couldnt do any better than that....

Nice work guy's, and congrats to you both.

Congrats on a nice Buck!!!!!!!!!

Prolly didn't have to think about whether or not to drop the hammer on that one. Easy choice there.
Still, I'd like both the kid and the buck tested for performance enhancing drugs.

Outstanding deer!

Thats awesome. the time you invest into your kids is very important. the two of you will remember that forever. Perfect ending to alot of hard work.

Nice buck, Thomas!

Good Work Dad!

A boy to be proud of

Wow! Really nice. That is a beast of a blacktail.

Had you found any sheds from that dude previously?



So tell me again why so many Californians move to Washington?

I can't wait till he starts postin picks of Tom's 18 to 24 year old girl friends.
If that boy can bag split tail like he hunts and fishes we are in for a real treat.

Your doin a hell of a job Sal. If the first thing the boy did after dropin that bad boy was to give his old man a hug he must think your an OK huntin bud too...

Congrats to BOTH

Way cool! Congrats to both of you!

His Old Man had *BETTER* be posting photos of those trophies up here for us to scrutinize.

Don't worry Thomas - we'll take good care of you and make sure you only get the "PP Approved" ones!

AWSOME BUCK!!!!

Great job!!!

Nice buck, way to go Thomas.

Mf

Nice spread. Good job.

Sal, is G1 on the left side an inch long? Just wondering if it's offically a 3x3 or a 3x4.

Nice buck.

Most folks don't count eye guards, but some would just call it a 5 point.

I'd call that a 2x3 with eye guards... but mostly I would call it a monster.

Nice Buck!

Come to think about it, those right siders wouldn't call it a 5 point but a 7.

I'm jeleous

If they are an inch long or longer they are measurable points that "are" counted for score. If they are less than an inch they are a subtraction from the total, on a typical buck. If its a non-typical, well, then it's a total free-for-all, everything counts.

I've never really been interest in what "most folks" do, or say.

I found that interesting there would be a penalty for less than an inch.

Maybe that's the way a "few" people score horns and not "most" people. {shiteatingrin}

It's been awhile.

Leave it to a dude from Buckey to set me straight.

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 (though there were many opportunities).

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













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, 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

Nice pics Sal! (As usual)

I find myself concentrating more on my boys' hunts this year, and it is a lot of fun.

You guys don't have any seasons that coincide with the rut down there? That sucks. It always amazes me how dumb the big bucks get when the does go into estrus up in our neck of the woods. Dark heavy antlered bucks that don't see the light of day the rest of the year come out of the thick stuff. It's been a bunch of years since I've been motivated to try and stick one, but this year the virus struck me. I'm sick.

Words can't say it any better... I too am sick, only another 340 days until next years archery elk season....

Keith