Coach

Wouldn't bother me any, but if you want to send them to me I can photoshop out some of the blood. Can't wait to see the buck.

Well said Matty and Muleskinner. I posted this on another forum, responding to the question, "Who is really to blame". Kinda sums up my feelings on this. "I think the blame can be spread around to pretty much all of us. We've all sat back and allowed the culture to sink to such an amazing low. Remember how shocking it was to hear "Frankly Scarlet, I don't give a dang"? You know, back when boys wore suits and girls wore dresses to school. When students generally sat upright, paid attention and gave their teachers, principals and coaches upmost respect. There were relatively few divorces, the community held each person and each family to a high standard. If someone saw your kid doing something they shouldn't be doing, you heard about it, and you addressed the problem. There was very little exposure to glamorized violence and sex, or strong language. I know, even then, kids rebelled. Some drank and smoked, got pregnant, got stabbed in knife fights or died in drag racing accidents. It wasn't perfect. But compared to today, where everthing is SO extreme, it seems like a fairytale. The steady flow of graphic violence, with each new "butcher" film trying to outdo the last in terms of inventing new shocking ways for people to torture and mutilate each other. The violent games so real, your body reacts as if you were in an actual life-or-death struggle. The kids dress like whores and thugs, cuss out their teachers and principals, have sex, do hard drugs - while at school. They cuss out their parents, call their own mothers the most disgusting names. We've allowed ourselves to slowy allow a little more filth in our entertainment, demand a little less respect and responsibility from the kids - until you get to where we are today. A country full of bastard children with no parents, no morals and their only guidance coming from an entertainment industry that profits from their self destruction."

Yep, I've got some on backorder, but I doubt they'll actually fill the order. They are typically $13-17 each and packs of 5 have a "buy it now" price of $300. I picked up two locally today - the last two in my local shop.

Better get your magazines too - they are pretty much sold out everywhere on the web.

Nice job dzell, tracking a deer like that and getting in position for a shot is huge accomplishment, IMO. I hope you got some good pictures to add to your awesome story.

"The concept may get copied lol." So, can you tell us how you secured the skulls? LOL. I love the display, and I have been looking for better ways to display Euro mounts. Any pointers would be much appreciated. Very niceley done.

Nicely done! That buck is AWESOME!!!!! Gotta love the red hat! Huge congrats!!!

NICE!!!! Imagine seeing that bad boy alive! Great job.

Thanks Muskrat, I enjoyed your column. Lots of good thoughts in there.

That's a great pick-up. Can't wait for the one you find still walking. Nice job!

Wow, nice pix. I don't know what it is, something about broken antlers just kills me. I undertand that the headgear is meant to be a disposable, short-term quality in antlered game. Still something about seeing busted up bulls and bucks late in the year just gets to me.

LOL, there's a whole lot of these snakes. Back when I lived in Oklahoma, we were a lot more particular, I guess because seeing a snake was a daily occurance. Bull Snake, Chicken Snake, Corn Snake, Rat Snake, Water snake all became generic names for the non-venimous snakes that were so common. We had our fair share of true vipers though, Copperheads, Cottonmouths, Timber rattlers so big you would think they came from a movie. I used to have a newspaper clipping from Adair County in Oklahoma of timber rattler so big, the guy running the tractor thought he had run over a log. It was over 8 feet long and at it's belly was more than two feet wide, skinned. I sure wish I could find that newspaper clipping again. Last time I saw it, it was clipped from the local newspaper in a BBQ joint close to lake Tenkiller. Just talking about it reminds me so much of my youth in those woods. The book, "Where the Red Fern Grows" came from the same place I grew up. So many memories...

+2 on the youth 870 express. Solid, reliable - gets the job done. 2 of my 3 sons killed their first ever turkeys with this gun, and my middle son, Nick has taken a couple with it. No need to over-think it. Either a mossberg pump or a Remington pump. For what it's worth, my younger cousin killed more turkeys with a break-over single shot .410 than a lot of "seasoned" turkey hunters. And all of his birds came into the seductive calls of my grandpa, who hand-built all of his turkey calls out of oak, cedar and some juniper. It isn't the shotgun that kills turkeys, it's the call.

Let's not let this tragedy turn us on ourselves. Whatever your thoughts are on politics, this is the time to keep them to yourself. 20 families lost children today. This is the time to put those families in our hearts and prayers. There will be plenty of opportunities to play armchair quaterback and discuss politics later. Today, the focus MUST be on the families who probably had wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree, sent their toddlers off to school and found out those presents would never be opened, that they would never wake again in their home with their child still in it. Please, please don't turn this horrible event into a chance to jump on a soap box. Take the time to look at your own family, hold them close, tell them how much you love them, and then open your heart to the families who's children will never come home. If you are inclined to pray, pray for those families.

Great post, and huge congrats on the hunt. IMO, there is NOTHING better than seeing those youth hunters out there filling their first tags, or just getting to engage in "the hunt". Nice job, dad, for getting them out thre and making memories that will last a lifetime.

Hope it's a good one.

That is awesome! Sounds like you guys had a great time out there - beyond the hunting, things that will last you both a lifetime. A one-shot kill on a bedded buck is darn impressive too! Huge congrats to your son, and to you for having what it takes to get him out there on a great bonding experience (and hunt)!

One thing I loved growing up in Oklahoma, Thanksgiving and Christmas was always a feast of wild game. We always had lots of squirrel, rabbits, duck and some noodled catfish. Some smoked wild turkey, and peas, beats and melons out of the garden, Everyone ate well, after saying grace at the table.

I have to admit, when comparing a side by side, vs a jeep, If you work it right, you can get a lot more vehicle for your money buying a jeep. Insurance is more, but one one hand you have an actual vehicle with a strong motor, vs. a an OHV, which is kind of a toy. I've been keeping my eye out for a CJ7, toyo FJ, or a clean 87 4-Runner. I've owned and driven a lot of vehicles over the years. A good clean first generation 4Runner is about as good as they come. Yes they do lose the solid front axle, when they get EFI, but with the right rear locker, they will go anywhere.

Nice buck!!! Congrats. You did well. I liked the story too.

That's just awesome! You guys did a great job on both hunts getting your mom out there in position. And what a trooper she is, with the bad knees to get out there get it done. Huge congrats, and great job getting it all on film. Kudos to you and your family. Great job, Mom!!!

Dang, Jed. You are THE MAN. Great job on finding that awesome bull in the late hunt.

I've got a Polaris Ranger 700 ('06) and absolutely love it. If you are patient, you can find great deals on them. I picked mine up for $7500 including a really nice trailer and it had under 100 hours on it. Took a lot of looking and waiting, but those deals do show up from time to time. The only downside, as others have mentioned, is the dust. It's got a glass windshield and canvas top and that combo just sucks the dust in from the back. After a full day family outing even with goggles, bandannas, etc, we've all got dust in every crevice. If you can buy or make a back windshield, or even just put up a blanket over the back, it helps a lot. What is nice is all 5 of us can ride in it no problem, even with hunting gear. Comparing a side-by-side against a quad is apples-to-oranges. A quad will go more places, and is a lot more nimble, but they really seem to wear you out after even just one day. And when it's cold out - well, you just freeze your face and hands off.

I really like the Stoney Point Explorer. Good walking/shooting stick.

Awesome job, Clay! 4 for 4 on coues is outstanding. Great write-up too. And I agree, gutless is the only way to go.