2025 Blacktail Bucks

Yea I probly woulda shot that one too :cool:

I imagine there weren't much tracking needed after the shot
 
Any details? It’s the first I’ve seen of its kind. What took you down that road? Also, fantastic buck.
Different stock, same idea
 
Took this guy opening afternoon on our way to get water and to go for a dip. Spotted him at 850ish yards as he was walking closer then spotted him again at 600 through some thick timber. I dropped down a nasty boulder field to get a clear shot at 375. As soon as I got setup and started to apply trigger pressure he took two steps and stood behind a tree top chewing his cud. I waited a few minutes before deciding to scoot over and get setup again. I used trekking poles as a front rest with my pack under my elbow for rear support. I saw him spin at the shot then he started brisket plowing before flipping belly up with legs kicking in the air in less than 20 yards. 6 power let me see it all through the scope. After that it took me 45 minutes to get to him through alders and navigating cliffs. My girlfriend was sitting on the glassing point above me watching it. I told her to go a different way due to the boulders and unfortunately she wound up in an alder and berry infested avalanche shoot that took an hour to get back out of nice she got into it. It took her almost 2 hours to get 600 yards. When she got to me all she could say was “this better be a big f*cking buck”. We got him all cut up and started our rock climb 1,200 feet back to the ridge. An hour and a half later we were at camp packing that up then back to the truck. In total it was five hours from packs on to the truck. 5:30-10:30 she was a trooper.
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My season was pretty short this year. This was my first day out and I came across this buck in the first 15 minutes. Public land in Oregon.
Pretty tough buck to pass, haha

Nice work! I was saved from a similar fate today luckily. Today was my second time out (first was wife and I) and today it was my daughter, wife and I, first day my daughter has ever hunted deer, and pretty quick this morning I glass up a dandy, don’t know exactly what he had going on, but he was for sure a shooter, but there is a lot of moving parts getting my daughter ready to go and getting my glass on a tripod, and he didn’t quite give us the time needed, but he has my attention

If I was alone this morning, I’m almost certain I would have shot him, but now I am making him off limits to me, and if he ends up in my freezer, it will be my wife or daughter’s, I will find other deer to hunt

Was a fun morning though, saw that buck, 2 little bucks, and 3 does, but I’m glad they were there, because I would have been happy with that buck, but very bummed I didn’t even hunt

Starting today, if I’m not working, I’m chasing bucks. I was trying to hold off, but it’s time for me to get something dialed in. I almost killed an ancient buck last year but he never gave me a shot I liked, and I killed a different buck that day, so he is my first choice. Nothing crazy big, but just a cool gnarly grandpa buck
 
Pretty tough buck to pass, haha

Nice work! I was saved from a similar fate today luckily. Today was my second time out (first was wife and I) and today it was my daughter, wife and I, first day my daughter has ever hunted deer, and pretty quick this morning I glass up a dandy, don’t know exactly what he had going on, but he was for sure a shooter, but there is a lot of moving parts getting my daughter ready to go and getting my glass on a tripod, and he didn’t quite give us the time needed, but he has my attention

If I was alone this morning, I’m almost certain I would have shot him, but now I am making him off limits to me, and if he ends up in my freezer, it will be my wife or daughter’s, I will find other deer to hunt

Was a fun morning though, saw that buck, 2 little bucks, and 3 does, but I’m glad they were there, because I would have been happy with that buck, but very bummed I didn’t even hunt

Starting today, if I’m not working, I’m chasing bucks. I was trying to hold off, but it’s time for me to get something dialed in. I almost killed an ancient buck last year but he never gave me a shot I liked, and I killed a different buck that day, so he is my first choice. Nothing crazy big, but just a cool gnarly grandpa buck
The struggle is real! lol

My hat is off to you for your self control. I sure hope your wife or daughter gets that buck! Sounds like it would be an incredible deer for either one of them.

I love those old blacktail bucks. They’re just a different critter. Hopefully you catch up with that old guy again. Do you submit teeth from your bucks for aging? It’s always fascinating to me learn a buck’s true age versus what I/we guessed.

Good luck this season and please keep us posted on your hunts!
 
Both of my daughters are deer hunting this year. Yesterday I took my daughter who has never hunted. She went with me a lot when she was younger, but this is her first time being the hunter. We had a great hunt and saw some deer but no shot opportunities presented themselves.

Her and her sister decided to take turns so I took my other daughter to the same spot this morning. She killed a doe on the Mentored Youth program several years ago but this was her first buck tag. She ended up making a great 75 yard neck shot on this beauty. Proud dad moment for me! Hunts with the kiddos are the best!
 

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