I experienced a first that I doubt I will ever forget this past weekend. My son killed his first deer (and it was a good'un). I was able to leave work early Friday and we went to a small field that I had a group of bucks that were always there in the afternoon. We got there a little before 3 and there were 5 bucks already in the field, including a nice 7 pt and a nicer 8 pt. They ended up hearing us and walking into the woods. We got into the shooting house and just 20 minutes later one of the smaller 8 pts came back out, then the other bucks started to show up. Then another guy I hunt with was driving by to take his son hunting (approx. 150 yards away) and they left again. Fast forward about 45 minutes. 4 of the 5 bucks come back into the edge of the field. The 3yo 7 pt and the 4yo 8 pt were with them. My son is wanting to shoot the big 8, all of the other bucks are standing broadside and the big 8 was facing us. For 10 minutes or more we are waiting for the big 8 to turn, when he does its only for a short time then he turns back. Eventually one off the smaller bucks end up getting real close to the shooting house and catches some of our scent. They end up walking away. We decide to go ahead and leave while the field was empty.

We hunted elsewhere Saturday morning, saw some does but no shot. Then Sunday before church had a small spike come straight to us from dead down wind only to smell us and walk away.

Then Sunday afternoon we go back to the field we sat on Friday. We get there at 2:08. At 2;45 a small 8 pt comes out. I ask Carter if we wants to shoot it, and he asks me if I think anything else might come out since its so early. So we decide to wait 20 minutes, if nothing else bigger comes he will shoot the small 8. About 15 minutes later the big 7 and bigger 8 walk through some lanes we can see down. I told him then will be in the field in 20 minutes. About 10 minutes later then walk on out. He gets on the 8 pt and for a solid 10 minutes I am whispering into my sons ear ("OK he is broadside put it just behind his shoulder and squeeze", then " wait, wait he is turning", then at times Carter would tell me "I'm just not steady enough" This went on for 10 minutes. We went back and forth between the 8 and the 7 based on which one was broadside and he never took a shot. Then finally I heard a "SNAP". He looked at my and said it didn't shoot. My first thought was that I had not chambered a round. At this time all of the deer are looking at us. I am able to remove the magazine and open the bolt. I did load the gun but the brand new federal fusion did not go off. So I slid another round into the barrel and closed the bolt. All of this took no less than 10 minutes. The deer would look up at every sound. Finally I get it back loaded and the big 8 is now in the edge of the field/briars. Carter decides to shoot focus on the big 7 pt. After another several minutes he squeezes one off. The big 7 drops. He hit him high in the shoulder. The deer is down but I don't take any chances of it getting back up and tell Carter to put one more in him just to finish him off. Carter is too shook up to aim and asks me to, he cant hold the gun still. I'm not in any better shape. I miss and shoot low with my first follow up shot (hit him in the leg low chest). So I take my time a little better with the second and put one in his neck (the buck is down this whole time but flopping some).

Ended up being the best hunt I have ever had. I have not scores him, but it should break 100. About 16-17" wide, decent mass.

I don't do pics since the photobucket thing, so if anyone wants to post one up text me at 334-672-2898

congrats on great memories made!

Awesome

Good deer and good story. How far from the old Big Cat at the x of the Petrey Hwy and 29 are you?

I am pretty close to the big cat. But I lease some land closer to fullers crossroads. This buck was killed on my lease land.

Congratulations to both of you!

Posting for hosscat:



Nice buck!!!

Congrats bud awesome deer. I'm just going to throw this out there but wheres the orange?

My orange hat is in the truck which is about 10' behind me while taking the pictures. Carter wears an orange vest, but I told him to take it off for the pictures.

Just in case anyone is wondering, he does have a CID# and a confirmation from where it was submitted.

Awesome buck!