2025 Blacktail Bucks

[Rogue Bay]

I shot this buck with an arrow opening morning 3 years ago on the farm and my buddy just blasted him with a rifle this weekend. I shot at him frontal but he whirled and the arrow cut across the front of his chest nearly broadside and buried in the far side shoulder blade. I kept chasing him the whole season, almost finishing him off a couple times. He was running around chasing does without much trouble that season, just a small limp. I shot another arrow at him on the evening of the last day but he turned to run away right as I was releasing and I only shaved some hair off his side.

I figured he continued to survive but I never was sure if I saw him again after that season. He was 202.6 lbs (whole). If I remember right he was a decent 3 point in 2022, so I imagine he's at least 6.5 years old now.

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That’s a corker and so cool to able to finish that story! If your buddy gets him aged please let us know.

 

[TripleJ]

After frustratingly little deer movement while trying to help my wife find a buck yesterday, I took my other daughter hunting this morning. This is her first season and she’s been doing great but hasn’t had any opportunities yet. We met up with a good friend of mine who sacrificed a day of hunting with his daughters to help.

Right away this morning we get on a small, goofy 2x1 and play cat and mouse for a good 10-15 minutes. We were within 30 yards for quite a while but the lighting was poor and he was mostly screened by slash. Eventually he tired of the game and left us standing in the rain. I could tell she was disheartened so I told her things happen for a reason. I was saying it as much to reassure myself.

We caught a glimpse of a nicer buck but he was jumpy and didn’t hang around. A short while later we see a dandy buck with a doe but he knew the game and moved off before my daughter could get set up.

We checked a few other areas and found quite a few does, but no bucks. We eventually ended up on the edge of a sizable opening in the timber. It was fairly flat and it appeared to be empty. As we made our way across a great buck materialized about 60 yards in front of us. The only explanation I can come up with is he was bedded in a little swale and stood as we approached. I threw out the tripod and helped my daughter get set up. The buck was quartered sharply away so I instructed her on shot placement and crossed my fingers. When the rifle cracked he buckled and dropped in his tracks. She made a great shot on what appeared to be a nice 3 point. After hugs and hollers and high fives we made our way up to it what turned out to be a great 4 point! This is her first critter of any kind and the level of excitement was like nothing I’ve ever seen!

This has been the best season I’ve ever had! Both of my girls got their first bucks. I’m so proud of both of them.

Heck yeah, what an awesome experience for both of you!