NOR-CAL 2014 BLACKTAILS AND GREAT MEMORIES.
So last year during deer season Ed (BOWUNTR) made a comment after Joe and I filled our first tags to “Finish strong” and fill my (our) second tag. Well long story short I lost a great buck on the last weekend of the season that was due to equipment failure, which I wouldn’t make again. So as this season was near Ed’s comment stuck with me in the back of my head and I was determined to finish this season strong, which added a little excepted pressure. As already posted August was a great start to the season as Joe, Cindy, Brent, and I tagged nice bucks during the archery season. I saved my second tag for a hard horned late season buck, so come October I started scouting ridges covered with black oaks dropping acorns. In a weeks time I found an area with some oaks raining acorns and heavily traveled trails nearby. The hunt began and Scouting paid off as I was seeing deer and a lot of pre-rut activity. Day 1-5 I passed on smaller bucks and saw a shooter out of range. Day 6 deer were moving early due to a cold front moving in and the shooter I saw a few days prior walked by after shredding a manzanita tree. At 16 yards I filled tag #2 with the biggest bodied buck I've ever killed and with bone to match. I taped him at 161 2/8" gross. It was very cool to witness all the pre-rut activity, take such a great buck, and finish the season here strong. I'll let joe post the pics.
So last year during deer season Ed (BOWUNTR) made a comment after Joe and I filled our first tags to “Finish strong” and fill my (our) second tag. Well long story short I lost a great buck on the last weekend of the season that was due to equipment failure, which I wouldn’t make again. So as this season was near Ed’s comment stuck with me in the back of my head and I was determined to finish this season strong, which added a little excepted pressure. As already posted August was a great start to the season as Joe, Cindy, Brent, and I tagged nice bucks during the archery season. I saved my second tag for a hard horned late season buck, so come October I started scouting ridges covered with black oaks dropping acorns. In a weeks time I found an area with some oaks raining acorns and heavily traveled trails nearby. The hunt began and Scouting paid off as I was seeing deer and a lot of pre-rut activity. Day 1-5 I passed on smaller bucks and saw a shooter out of range. Day 6 deer were moving early due to a cold front moving in and the shooter I saw a few days prior walked by after shredding a manzanita tree. At 16 yards I filled tag #2 with the biggest bodied buck I've ever killed and with bone to match. I taped him at 161 2/8" gross. It was very cool to witness all the pre-rut activity, take such a great buck, and finish the season here strong. I'll let joe post the pics.
