Buck Hunt 2008

The deer hunt has always been and still is a special time of year for me. For me it is a time of tradition and an opportunity to enjoy our public lands. I enjoy the opportunity to harvest an animal, but that is just a small piece of the overall experience.

This season I had several goals. The first, enjoy a hunt with my favorite hunting partner, my wife Jill. Second, enjoy the season with family. Third, harvest an animal and have a picture take with my boy and the buck.

All of my goals were met. Jill was a trooper; she made it to the area after an arduous two hour hike. We spent a lot of time with our family. I was able to harvest a nice young buck and had a picture taken with my boy.

The buck that I chose to harvest was a nice young buck. I was able to make a single off hand shot at 167 yards that cleanly anchored my harvest. My independent attitude forced me to refuse any assistance in the field dressing or the pack out. I was able to pack the entire animal out in a single trip. The challenge and work involved adds to the experience, gives me an appreciation for the animal, and makes the memories more fond.