Jack Scores On His First Big Buck


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Many of you old timers in here know of (or might have met) my son Jack. Five years ago, his first deer story was posted here on the site

(Link: http://www.realtree.com/community/photoEssay.php?ID=15).

Well after 5 years of hard hunting, 3 does, and a spike, Jack finally got that first good buck this past Saturday morning. Being at the right place at the right time is an understatement for this story.

After getting Jack in his stand before daylight and in a stand called "Deer Valley," I walked back out and over a ridge to my truck where I got ready to go sit above another bottom (and basically scout for Jack and his little brothers for future hunts). I carry the little .243 that Jack took his first deer with me for coyotes and such.

Daylight was perfect, but as the morning went on, it got windy. However, the deer were moving. I had 4 does walk through and mill around in my bottom and 20 minutes later, a small 6-8 point. Jack had also seen a bunch of turkeys and two does.

Jack wanted to come out at 9:00. The wind was picking up more and he was ready. My truck was only about 30-50 yards from me. It was back up at the end of the road and on top of the ridge that separated the two of us. I stopped and put my jacket in and had only walked about 10 yards from it when I heard something to my right.

About 20 yards to the right in the thicket (and straight from where I was just sitting) I saw the silhouette of a buck. Couldn't tell how big he was, but could hear and tell he was going to come out right in front of me. If he stayed on course, he would cross the road to the left and head down straight toward Jack. I froze and waited.

About that time he appeared. 10-15 yards from me. I'm thinking "Don't look up. Just head the way you are going." Well, he was in no hurry. He was smelling the ground, looking ahead, down the hill and back up at me. After doing that a couple of times, we locked eyes. He bobbed his head, did double takes, and basically tried his best to get me to move. Here I was, not blinking and my truck right behind me in full view of him. This went on for 5 minutes. All of a sudden, he realized I was not suppose to be there. He snorted and leaped down the road away from me. Luckily his next jump was a direct left and straight toward Jack.

Weak kneed and wiping tears from my face (from the cold wind and 5 minute no-blink stare down), all I could do was squat down and wait to see if he went where I wanted him too.

5 minutes later I hear the crack of a rifle followed by what I think might be him crashing and going down. Just didn't know for sure. This is when my knees really turned to rubber.

As I circled around in front of Jack's location, I hollered, "did you get him" and he answered "It was a big 8 point. I know I hit him." about that time, I came up on a some blood on the trail, look to the right and there he was. I didn't stop. I just went over to help Jack get down. All the while he was giving me the story of what happened.

When he heard it coming down the hill, he thought it was me just cutting through the woods off the trail. He then saw it was the buck trotting toward him and then slowing down to a walk. It then turned and quartered away from him heading away out front at about 40 yards. When it reached an opening, Jack whistled, the buck stopped and he hit him a little behind, but straight up into the heart and lungs.

Below are the pics. The first one was how we found him. From the angle we approached, we thought he was still alive. But his rack had gotten caught up on a vine and had his head up.

Jack shot him with a 25 year old Marlin 30-30 lever action (my first rifle) with a 150 grain Remington Core Lok Express. He only ran about 20-30 yards and went down.

Needless to say, it was an exciting day and he will be on the wall in a few months. Now I have his twin brothers I need to get on one. S

jackcrash.jpg

jacktwo.jpg

jackthree.jpg

jackfour.jpg

jackfive.jpg

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WAY TO GO JACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:

Great story. And that's an awesome buck. Glad you didn't slam the truck door Dad.:eek::D:eek: LOL

Btw....love your son's name. ( I have a Jack too):);)

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Way to go Jack !!!!!!!! :D

That is an awesome buck Jack.;) He's sure got some nice character on his right side, with that split tine. A nice mature buck.

Great story. It always amazes me when hunts like this just seem to come together, just from everyone, being in the right spot, at the right time.:cool::cool: That's always a bonus:cool:

That's pretty nice camo you're wearing there Jack :D

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