cflores Report post Posted October 24, 2010 My Dad, my buddy Tom and I got this buck on opening day right before dark. My Dad stayed a mountain range back, to work a different bowl.I was glassing a hill watching some does. Tom spotted a buck at over 500 yards, and after a quick discussion we decided he would guide me to him in over the radios. So off I went, all the while no radio communication. Haha. Tom's radio went dead right after I left. As I got within 350 yards I couldnt find them. i kept trying to reach him via radio, but didnt know what had happened. Then I spotted some movement on the mountain in front of me, it was a buck.... but not the buck I had seen before. Now I began to wonder what had happened to the buck i had spotted before??? Now my mind started working on me, would I bust them and would I never get a shot off. If I did get one off would I be able to hit him. A 39 year old man that has hunted all his life, killed many animals, but never the grey ghost, I put alot ofpressure on myself. My buddy Tom didn't know that I have never shot a buck before, in fact all my buddys reading this probably had no clue. Surprise !! So here I am now at 325 yards with a fork sitting broadside in the ocotillos. I decided to shed my pack and and get closer, but everytime I took my eyes off him I would loose him in the ocotillos. Now I shed my binoculars so that I can lay on my stomach, and guess what ? I cant see him. Now I go back 10 yards to get my binoculars. As I glass the mountain I see two bucks !! I have a fork, and a 3 x 2, eating on the side of the mountain with no idea that I am there. Now I range them at 276 yards, I place my Primo's bi-pod and lay my rifle on it.... compose myself and decide to take the bigger of the two. A couple deep , slow breathes, and squeeze the trigger. He rolls down the hill 10 yards. Buck down!! I hear Tom yell, " you got him !!!!" As I work my way straight up the mountain, I thank the lord for allowing me to take this buck. As I get within 15 yards of him I see he is still alive, I set my rifle down and start to reach for my side arm. He stands up and starts running straight down the mountain !! At this time I am shocked , in my head I'm yelling , NO, NO ,NO, this can't be happening. I grab my rifle and put the cross hairs on him , hoping that he stops before he gets in the thick stuff. As he is running he turns slightly to the right, I let one rip. Now, I can't see him. As I work my way down the side of the mountain I can hear him in the trees, as I get down to the bottom he has burried himself under a tree. Buck down !!! I crawl under the tree and pull him out. Tom works his way down to me. At this time I tell him its my first buck. He tells me that I made his hunt, but it's opening day.Thats the kind of friend he is. The thrill of getting me on my first buck, and being there for this moment. Wow, how cool is that? He helps me clean and gut him. We take some pictures, and decide to hurry and get out. With over a mile to get out at dark,, we throw him on my back and get going.A huge Thanks to Tom. And my Dad for being with me. A moment I will never forget. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cflores Report post Posted October 24, 2010 Here is a pic of him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tommat Report post Posted October 24, 2010 Here are a couple off my phone. Great Shooting Carlos!! Nothing like watching a "first" deer get harvested! Can't wait for the BBQ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Week'nd WaRRior Report post Posted October 24, 2010 Congrats on your first Coues/Buck many more to come at your age. These desert whitetails are addicting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
