505Wapiti
WKR
- Joined
- May 11, 2020
- Messages
- 456
Awesome story, appreciate the sharing! Congrats on your progress and your example of humility and desire to be better! Good luck to you on all your future endeavors.I grew up on an Indian reservation in Northeastern California. Childhood wasn’t conducive for an outdoors life.
But my grandpa (who didn’t live on the REZ) was from the old school. He was my hero. He was a veteran, drafted to the CA Angels but went to the Army instead. Came home and worked as a Correctional Officer until he died. He was the example of what a man should be. When I was 9 years old, my uncles came driving to his house with a buck strapped to the hood of the Jeep.
My grandpa must have sensed my interest. He turned to me and said, “Brandon, when you turn 10 I’m going to show you how to hunt deer.” I remember my excitement. I couldn’t wait to get into the mountains and come home with my papa with our own buck strapped to the hood. Sadly, papa died before I turned 10.
Life got real hard for me as he filled the roll of dad since mine was never around. Hunting was the last thing on my mind after that, because survival in a violent drug filled world took over.
I grew up and enlisted in the Marine Corps. I left home and didn’t come back until I was about 30. When I got back home I connect with an Indian girl from my Rez. We are still together today. She’s the love of my life and loves game meat! Good NDN girl! Haha she introduced me to Harold, her dad. When I met him, I remember seeing his trophy mule deer on the wall.
Looking at that huge mule deer buck triggered the emotional memory of my grandfather and his promise to me. I asked Harold to show me how to get started as a hunter. He gladly agreed, I took my hunters safety and set out on my 1st season with his rifle. What a disaster haha. I didn’t know crap about deer, their habits, and where to find them.
Looking back on it, I now see that Harold wanted me to experience the let down of failing in my own. I know he was testing my resolve. The next year I set out with him, and I haven’t looked back since. Harold is my dad and I owe him everything for exposing me to this life that I love so much.
With all of that being said, and with all the negative crap in the world right now, I thought it would be fun to go through a show and tell visual progression as an adult onset hunter. Perhaps some positivity can help out.
My journey as a hunter hasn’t been long, but it’s changed my life. Because of hunting, I live and love fuller now. The mountains have given me the mission I needed as a Vet, and a reconnection with my culture that I didn’t know (at the time) was missing. I’m proud of this heritage and happy to be a part of it. Enjoy ....
2015 1st Archery Buck/1st Buck
63 yard shot with the trusty Cabelas RTH PSE Stinger and full length arrows haha. Exactly zero tune on the bow or the arrows. Pure luck! My only Blacktail
2016 2nd Archery Buck
By this time I started listening to the Gritty Bowmen and was introduced to Aaron Snyder. I learned about bow and arrow tuning, and the importance of animal behavior and technical gear.
70 yard double lung with a way better bow and tuned arrows. Not luck that time haha.
2017 1st Rifle Buck
As a hunter I’m living on a steady diet of Gritty, Snyder, John Dudley, and Rinella.
With a rifle I knew I could stretch it out, but my habit of trying to get closer overcame me. My 1st rifle buck was killed at 30 yards with a .270. I was becoming a better hunter.
2018 1st Pronghorn
After many many missed opportunities and miles and miles of sprinting after these guys (old infantry habits are hard to break) I finally connected with my .243. 15 yards! Can you believe that!? Great great hunt with my best friend Troy.
2019 2nd rifle buck
More improvements in gear and knowledge of animal behavior. My patience and confidence as a hunter got me on this beauty. 6.5 Creedmor at 50 yards. Even with a bang stick my spirit as a bow hunter is always wanting me to get closer.
2020 3rd Archery Buck
Completely changed my approach to hunting the Cascades. Used whitetail hunting tactics in scouting and hunting. I’m kind of hooked to the tree stand right now.
31 yard frontal. By now my skills as an archer and as a bow technician (not a pro yet) gave me supreme confidence in this shot. He dropped in his tracks. This was the 1st hunt I was able to find a buck I wanted in the scouting season and hunt him. My growth as a hunter has been so fun. I now know that this whole thing is about growing through learning. You gotta keep your ears open and listen to the guys that have already been there. I can’t wait for the next hunt.
Elk is next. My goal is a cow or a spike. If the 1st six years have shown me anything, it’s all about the progression. Because progression breeds appreciation.
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