pyroducksx3
WKR
I started the regular Washington modern firearm season with my 5 yr old with me at deer camp. we spent the first 5 days of the season finding areas and figuring out how best to hunt them. We found a few good areas and spotted many elk and few deer. I knew it would be challenging hunting with him but he enjoyed the hell out of the trip so it was completely worth it. I knew it was a long shot when we spotted elk at almost 900 yards and they where looking right at us. On Wed it was the long drive back to Ellensburg to switch the little guy out with my best friend. My buddy has never harvested an animal before so I was basically attempting to guide him to his first animal. I had been working with him during the off season on longrange shooting and had him dialed to 700 in as much as 7 mph crosswinds so I felt confident in his shooting. First day started with a 3 mile hike and got on 3 spikes. Next morning got way out on a ridge and spotted 8 doe and 2 bucks, one a 2x2 and the other a 1x2 so no shooters. We also saw over 120 elk so good day. He was a little tired after the 2 hunts and wanted to listen to the Seahawks game Thursday evening so I picked a spot where we could glass close to the truck. 30 minutes before gametime I spotted a deer way down in the canyon about 2500 yards away with my binos so I got out the ziess spotter. I looked at him for awhile and he looked like a solid 2x2. My buddy couldn't locate the deer in his binos so he looked through the spotter and agreed that it was a 2x2. I zoomed it in to 75x and thought I saw a little crap claw on the left side this time, I looked at him and said I think we got a legal buck, lets get closer. My buddy is not as excited as me when it comes to Billy Goating it around the canyons as I am but he tried it anyway. He said he would catch up and told me to get to a shotting position. The first spot I found was 950 or something yards. I got a better look at him now and he has a third point so we are all good. He looks at where we came from and then back at the deer, which he can now find with is binos and says how the hell did you see him? He told me to take it but I told him we have almost an hour and we can get closer this is his buck. After more side hilling we finally ran out of hill to hide behind and running out of light, so this is as close as we are going to get. The distance is 630 and no wind. He had made this shot just a week before so Im excited to get him his first buck. The position isn't great but it on the bipod and rear bag so this should be no problem. I get the spotter on him get the ballistic computer data entered and give him the drop. I ask him how he feels and he says ok. We wait for the buck to turn and then I give him the go. BAMM!! clean miss I see the bullet stike the ground high left. The buck runs off a bit but is confused so stops at 700. I get him all reset and he shoots again with another clean miss. Looking back I should have realized that he was exhausted from the hike and hadn't really shot from other than ideal positions. I ask him what he wants to do and he says he done both physically and mentally. So ith daylight fast fading I brake out my rifle and put him on the spotter. I range him at 916 and go about dialing it in and getting set up. As I finish getting set up he says "he is broadside and its a perfect shot". I range one last time and he is still at 916 and jump on the rifle, set my bubble, check the wind and hold high shoulder. I feel the rifle push and come down right back on the deer. Forgetting how long the bullet flight is I thought I missed and then see the deer jump straight in the air. My buddy says he hit. The deer turns around goes 6 feet and then is belly up. I felt sorry that my buddy missed his opportunity but man what a shot
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