Figured I’d share one of my 2019 blacktail deer with everyone here.
I am fortunate to work in the forest daily and it sure helps find the pockets of blacktail deer around the fraser valley. Every season I shoot one smaller meet buck and hold out for a large one, sometimes I eat my second tag but this year I decided to use it on this guy as the season was dwindling down.
It was a wet day and I was cruising some timber before work started. I had found some big rubs in the area and knew there was a big buck around even though I hadn’t picked him up on my cameras. The rain was coming down hard and my sound was muffled by it. I was sidehilling on a maple slope with ferns up to my waste. I usually take three steps at a time then pause and look hard for 30 seconds before taking another three steps. Three quarters of the way across the slope I spot a deer bedded Looking down the steep bank at me. Just his head was showing and he was frozen like big blacktails do. They never move once spotted often giving you a good chance to measure them up. At first I said oh it’s just a two point to myself. But after seeing the height and width and the antler bases I realized this wasn’t your run of the mill two pointer.
I raised the 6.5 Grendel and put the crosshairs under his chin and it was lights out.
During the 40 yard climb up the hill I was second guessing my decision on a two point and was expecting ground shrinkage when I got to him. Fortunately when I got to him he was even bigger. It’s the best feeling when that happens as it’s usually the opposite for me. I snapped some quick photos and dragged him straight down to the road.
My truck wasn’t too far back and I was able to dress him and get him in the truck whole. I got him home and hung him up. I caped him out and gave the cape to buddy who needed it. I took the meat to the local butcher and it dressed out at 145lb. Most two and three pointers weigh in at 100lbs.
I simmered the skull down and got it cleaned up. You can see his size next to a average young two point in one picture. Another picture is next to a 135” five point whitetail and another pic next to my 133” blacktail mount. I am very proud of this buck as it is really hard to get mature blacktails. Almost wishing I had of mounted him with my other one.
Gun used was a Maccabee slr in 6.5 Grendel using the 123gr eld-m. I’ve taken two deer with it so far and it really is a great deer round.
Pics to come as soon as I get it figured out
https://imgur.com/a/Gw2Ct1R
I am fortunate to work in the forest daily and it sure helps find the pockets of blacktail deer around the fraser valley. Every season I shoot one smaller meet buck and hold out for a large one, sometimes I eat my second tag but this year I decided to use it on this guy as the season was dwindling down.
It was a wet day and I was cruising some timber before work started. I had found some big rubs in the area and knew there was a big buck around even though I hadn’t picked him up on my cameras. The rain was coming down hard and my sound was muffled by it. I was sidehilling on a maple slope with ferns up to my waste. I usually take three steps at a time then pause and look hard for 30 seconds before taking another three steps. Three quarters of the way across the slope I spot a deer bedded Looking down the steep bank at me. Just his head was showing and he was frozen like big blacktails do. They never move once spotted often giving you a good chance to measure them up. At first I said oh it’s just a two point to myself. But after seeing the height and width and the antler bases I realized this wasn’t your run of the mill two pointer.
I raised the 6.5 Grendel and put the crosshairs under his chin and it was lights out.
During the 40 yard climb up the hill I was second guessing my decision on a two point and was expecting ground shrinkage when I got to him. Fortunately when I got to him he was even bigger. It’s the best feeling when that happens as it’s usually the opposite for me. I snapped some quick photos and dragged him straight down to the road.
My truck wasn’t too far back and I was able to dress him and get him in the truck whole. I got him home and hung him up. I caped him out and gave the cape to buddy who needed it. I took the meat to the local butcher and it dressed out at 145lb. Most two and three pointers weigh in at 100lbs.
I simmered the skull down and got it cleaned up. You can see his size next to a average young two point in one picture. Another picture is next to a 135” five point whitetail and another pic next to my 133” blacktail mount. I am very proud of this buck as it is really hard to get mature blacktails. Almost wishing I had of mounted him with my other one.
Gun used was a Maccabee slr in 6.5 Grendel using the 123gr eld-m. I’ve taken two deer with it so far and it really is a great deer round.
Pics to come as soon as I get it figured out
https://imgur.com/a/Gw2Ct1R
