someone shot my deer

Some asshole shows up late, crowds me and stumbles into the deer I was tracking.

I taught 'S' as much as I could.
I taught her to scout multiple spots.
Know your terrain, and the surroundings.
Make sure you know where your going to sit, have a backup plan.
Make sure you have a shooting lane
know your weapon and your comfort level of distances you can shoot
Look for signs, know that there is deer in there.
Get in your spot early, and don't screw up some one else hunt.
Be considerate, and respectful.

Well I did all those, watch a buck for over a week( he went about 18olbs, and was a 2x3 muley), and got in my spot by 5am

People were still rolling in after 6am, between 6 and 6:30, I counted 7 cars. One of the last guy to show up near me came in and 6:15, saw someone in his spot.
So he walks into my spot/area, busting through the brush, so I shine a light at him. He yells to his buddy, " some one is there, we need to move.
I thought he left. Turns out he was about 100ft from me. I finally see the buck i had been watching and two does walk out of the brush about 325 yds away, I make double sure he's legal, but I don't like the shot ( quartered toward me, between bushes) i see the doe come toward me, I see he is going to follow. They are heading toward me, he comes out of the bushes, but at an angle where I can't see him yet, and then.... My ears get rung by the guy sitting that close to me as he unloads his gun on this thing. The first two shots miss him ( at about 125yds) then he finally spines this thing, and it is kicking about. He waits about 4 minutes, walks out to it, and puts another round into its neck the size of a football. I just wanted to cry. All the work and effort, and this guy who does everything wrong gets the buck. Me or anyone else would have been better.


Moral of the story:
Its Ok to not scout ( I talked to him, he had no idea this buck is here) show up late, bust in on someone else spot, not leave, and not make good ethical shots.
Moral 2:
Its public land, and there is not a damn thing you can do about it!

First blood!

'S' was able to get her first confirmed kill today. We went out deer hunting on the edge of the desert. We did not see any deer, so we put away the rifle, headed south about a mile, broke out the 20 gauge shotgun, and started walking, we didn't get far before we heard a rabbit, 'S' took aim, and made a perfect shot.
It was an especially proud moment, because she was able to use the shotgun that my Dad had used most of his life, handed it down to me, and now my daughter is using it.

Home Coming

The girls took a break from there lives in Softball, Volleyball, golfing, hunting, and dirtbiking to get all cleaned up, dressed up, and looking beautiful as always.
I am a proud Dad. The girls looked great, and carried themselves very well. 'A' was asked to the dance by a very nice young man named Miles, and I knew he would take great care of my first born. They went out to eat as a group, and danced, and had a good night.
'S' was also asked to the dance by her best friends, dates, friend.
They are all buddies, but it was 'S' first time on a a semi-date. She was nervous. and rightfully so, her wallet is missing. Just kidding.


















"Why you no pay me?"

New hunter in the Family

'S' took the hunter safety class today with Dad, and we both passed. She got her hunting license at Walmart, and the next step is to kill something.
Here she is shortly after getting her license:

scouting success

I went out scouting today, and took my traveling buddy..... Sasha!
We started in McCain Valley, I did a small hike with her, and she did great. I started another 4 mile hike, and she didn't make it 100 ft before getting cactus burrs. I had to take her back to the truck, and off I went.
I saw some sign, and found a lake I didn't know about, not a bad place, lots of fresh tracks.
We left McCain and went to Pine Valley. I went to a spot where I had seen some fresh tracks in the past, and today was no disappointment. found some big fresh tracks. Then My little buddy found an abandon mine. It had been closed off, but still, pretty cool.
Here is the hoof prints,( notice the rear pads are touching, and the spread between the pads.

Freshmen win!

Girls Won a tournament over the weekend, and basically went undefeated.