2004 CA Archery Blacktail Bucks
BOHNTR
11/15/04 6:09pm
In mid October, I began bowhunting some blacktails here in California. After spotting this buck first thing in the morning, I spent the next 3 hours closing the distance as he was busy checking out some local does. I sneaked to about 50 yards when he chased another buck ( a tad bit smaller) by me at 25 yards. I held off, trying to arrow the bigger of the two and hoping the wind would stay true. Finally, things came together and I was able to place an arrow in the sweet spot. He only traveled about 50 yards and fell over. He's not a monster, but will make the book. He's 18" wide-4x3 (counting eyeguards).
With one down and one tag left, I set out to arrow a monster I’d seen during a recent rainstorm. A few close encounters with him were all I have had since the cooler weather came along here in CA. I had planned on hiking up “killer hill” and going after him again, when my daughter (8) and son (10) BEGGED me to take them with me. Well, I knew my daughter would probably have a tough time hiking into that area, so I switched to plan B and went to another area that was a bit easier to hike.
Just a half-mile into the hunt, I spotted a buck looking at us from a fairly close distance. I decided I was going to pass him when my daughter pleaded that I “get him”. She’s never been with me when I’ve arrowed something and I think she gets jealous because her brother has. After several, “please daddy” whispers from her, I caved in and snuck in on the buck, arrowing him from 30 yards away. To say she was ecstatic would be an understatement!
Both kids got to blood trail the buck, help me de-bone and load it in my pack, and talk for hours about how they can’t wait until they’re old enough to arrow one! I guess arrowing the small buck wasn’t such a bad idea after all, huh?
He’s nothing like the one I was after, but scores right at the minimum for for the state archery book. Hope you enjoy the photo's but most of all, check out those smiles.
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With one down and one tag left, I set out to arrow a monster I’d seen during a recent rainstorm. A few close encounters with him were all I have had since the cooler weather came along here in CA. I had planned on hiking up “killer hill” and going after him again, when my daughter (8) and son (10) BEGGED me to take them with me. Well, I knew my daughter would probably have a tough time hiking into that area, so I switched to plan B and went to another area that was a bit easier to hike.
Just a half-mile into the hunt, I spotted a buck looking at us from a fairly close distance. I decided I was going to pass him when my daughter pleaded that I “get him”. She’s never been with me when I’ve arrowed something and I think she gets jealous because her brother has. After several, “please daddy” whispers from her, I caved in and snuck in on the buck, arrowing him from 30 yards away. To say she was ecstatic would be an understatement!
Both kids got to blood trail the buck, help me de-bone and load it in my pack, and talk for hours about how they can’t wait until they’re old enough to arrow one! I guess arrowing the small buck wasn’t such a bad idea after all, huh?
He’s nothing like the one I was after, but scores right at the minimum for for the state archery book. Hope you enjoy the photo's but most of all, check out those smiles.
7,607
Congrats on some nice bucks! I always look back to the days when I hunted with my dad and it brings a smile to my face! There is nothing like taking young ones out and letting them make those ties with nature early! Way to go, you always seem to pull through with trophys of all sorts! Congrats again and thanks for sharing!
Looks like you had another great season chasing the animals around, and once again you've got the right stuff to prove it, the pictures with all smiles proves that. i had an excellent season, because of the personal finances i was only able to go on that two week deer hunt with my dad, and to say it was perfect would be an understatement. there was five of us in camp throughout the hunt and everyone was able to take some good 4pt. deer. nothing that will contend any records but, some fine muleys none-the-less. my mom sent the pictures out to me last night so i am hoping by tomorrow or monday i will be able to post them. it has been alot of years since i last hunted with my favorite hunting buddy, my dad! and this year was just like i remembered it years ago. we saw some truely amazing muleys, including one after the season had closed while we were chasing after a cow elk for my younger sister that would have went about 205-210 typical, i got some pictures of him but he is so far out, you can barely see horns as he is crossing over the skyline. during season we saw at least three deer that would have been close to the 190 B&C min. anyways congrats on your season!
WYMAN:
Sounds like you all had some fun too. Post some of those photos up, we'd like to see them. I'm still looking for some retirement property in your beautiful state. Wife tells my weekly we need to start looking "seriously". :) I'm looking in the area of Sheridan to Sundance. That country sure is pretty......and not as frigid as where she's from (Laramie).
YEP, we had some good times, we didn't really get into the quality of deer i was looking for, however, the lack of pressure and the abundant amount of country to look into made it all worth it. and yes, we did see three or four deer i feel confident would have gone B&C. we were just unable to capitalize on them, ooohhh well! i have pictures of the hunt, just not for my deer, for some reason the photos of my deer have not been developed yet. but i will give them to muleymadness and have him post them. i agree, sheridan to sundance is all good country.
I sure am. I really enjoy the desert hunt that time of year. Throw in a few slammer muleys and it's on of the best around. :thumb
Yeah, I guess it does seem like I go A LOT. In reality though, I usually only go on two long trips (end of aug/sep & Jan). The rest are done on my days off in the local areas. However, when I do go on an out-of-state trip I go for at least 1 1/2 weeks so I can increase my odds.
I actually have an "average joe" job. I'm a SWAT sergeant in a major law enforcement agency in southern California which I've been with for the last 18 years. I get 4 weeks of vacation per year, but get to bank ANY overtime I work and take days off instead. Well as you can imagine, with my assignment and area, I'm always getting called out after hours. :1 In a somewhat morbid sense, I guess I should thank those who require my enforcement expertise, as it just leads to a future bowhunting trip for me. =D>