Sam Report post Posted December 29, 2013 My daughter was lucky enough to have a late whitetail tag this year. Final exams kept us home opening weekend. I was excited because I new we had all of Christmas break to hunt. However, like most teenagers, my daughter didn't want to spend the whole break hunting - but she said she would if we had to . Driving in, the weather was coming in and we spent the first day glassing in horrible wind. We saw some does and felt like we would see some bucks. The rain forced us to pack up early and head back to camp. The weather man said the storm would blow over in a day or two, so I figured why have my daughter suffer. My friend John was with us and he thought the same......by time we got back to the truck in was pouring. It rained all afternoon, through the night and through mid day the next day. Glassing mid day on day two we began seeing does. Most of them were bedded and within 300 yards. We spotted a small buck. My daughter started getting excited and started getting pretty good with the glasses. Soon we saw a larger buck move in on one of the does - head down, neck stretched out and had one thing on his mind. The does bedded, trying to dry out and find some sun. They looked wet and cold. The wind was still blowing, but the rain stopped. The deer seemed pretty sheltered and weren't going anywhere. We watched the buck for about hour and a half. It was just over 300 yards. We had our 15s on it and then got the spotting scope on it. He was a decent 4x3. We went back and forth about whether she should shoot. John and I felt like she should hold out for a bigger one. We had many days left to hunt. For practice, I set up my daughter on her tripod and stool. She found him in the scope. We watched him some more. The wind got worse, the sun went in and it got colder. The buck bedded. At this point my daughter was too cold to shoot. We hiked back to the truck, she warmed up. At this point it is about 3:00. We talked more about the deer. She said she would be happy with this deer. We said ok, let's go find him. We hiked up to the ridge and found him bedded at 150 yards. As we were setting up, he got up and made a beeline for the bottom of the canyon after the does. Off course the wind picked up and it started to hail. It took my daughter a while to find him in the scope. She finally got him at 300 yards. He was walking straight away. He finally turned and gave her a broadside shot - she missed. He stood there, she took another shot. A little high. He started walking slowly away. He stopped again broadside - 350 yards - she pulled the trigger, he went down. Perfect shot, that was it. She was so excited! I learned alot on this hunt. A trophy is in the eye of the beholder. We almost had her pass up this deer. Her and I looked at alot of big deer before the hunt. The rut was on and there was alot of promise for a big deer. But, there are no guarantees. The conditions were good and she shot her first Coues. And I think it is a pretty good deer. Plus, now she gets to spend some time over break with her friends instead of being stuck in the woods with dad and his friends....... 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
4Falls Report post Posted December 29, 2013 Awesome. My daughter had her first tag this year as well. However life got in the way and we never made it out. Great buck. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkaholic Report post Posted December 29, 2013 congrats - first coues are special - no matter the size of the rack - 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yumabowhunter Report post Posted December 29, 2013 Great job! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kidso Report post Posted December 29, 2013 Nice job! I would have shot that buck too! Now, dad gets to sit at home and wish he was still out in the field! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
'Ike' Report post Posted December 29, 2013 Girls are getting it done...Congrats, great buck! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tucson John Report post Posted December 29, 2013 Awesome first Buck! Great job! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn Report post Posted December 30, 2013 Nothing like watching your kid get there first deer! Great first buck! Congrats 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sam Report post Posted December 30, 2013 Nice job! I would have shot that buck too! Now, dad gets to sit at home and wish he was still out in the field! You're right Keith. But, now I get to write those last minute letters of rec for kids who all of a sudden decided to apply to college by the Jan. 1 deadline. Maybe I shouldn't have checked my school email...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chef Report post Posted December 30, 2013 Congratulations to you and your daughter! Nice photo of the both of you with the buck. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mocha1545 Report post Posted December 30, 2013 Congrats to your Daughter! That is a NICE Buck. Nothing better than time in the field with your family. And she gets to have time with friends too. Way to go Dad! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Kid Report post Posted December 30, 2013 Congrats great first buck. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cramerhunts Report post Posted December 30, 2013 Way to go! Congratulations on a great first coues! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted December 30, 2013 Congratulations to your daughter and big congrats for you as well. Nothing beats families hunting together. Great picture of the two of you. TJ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ElkyG Report post Posted January 2, 2014 Congrats on her first deer 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
