Went to my parents in West Virginia for the holiday and decided to try and get in a couple days of hunting. I talked to a buddy of mine who said we could hunt his Ivy stand. We got to his place around 1430 Wednesday, 26 November. He took us out on his 4 wheeler and dropped us off near the stand. We walked down the hill and got into the stand. Mark really decked this one out, concrete floor, carpeted walls and insulated. We set up and I made sure Dale could see out the window and shoot down the hill. We set a sand bag in the window and he was ready to rock. He was being very quiet and started to play his DS. I kept scanning the hillside below and to the left of the stand. After about a half hour I see movement to the right about 65 yards out. I tell Dale there is a deer coming but not sure what it is. He gets onto his rifle and I tell him it is a buck. He puts the scope on it and tells me it is an 8 point. I told him to wait for it to stop and then shoot it. I plug my ears and notice the gun pull back. He starts to say it won't go off then remembers to take the safety off. The deer was broadside but is now turned and hard quartered towards our blind. I tell him to aim at the shoulder and cut it loose. The gun goes off and I see the deer drop. I see it thrashing some and tell him to chamber another round and cover the deer with the crosshairs in case it were to try and get up. It didn't and died shortly thereafter.

I ask how he feels and as he turns I snap a picture of him, second one below. The picture says it all. I ask if he wants to stay and see if anything else comes out and he nearly explodes. We pack up our gear and head over the hill. My buddy joins us with his 4 wheeler and I don't have to drag the deer but 50 yards, downhill, thank God. We drag the deer up the hill using the 4 wheeler. The hill was steep enough to make me think we would flip over backwards. We get to a small flat and I field dress the buck. He really stinks of rut and I was kind of surprised how much so considering it was the end of November. This makes me think the rut is still on, at least in the mountains. We continue up the hill then toss the buck into the back of the 4 wheeler. We check it in and hang it in my friends pole barn. Not the biggest rack but I think it is a 3 year old and weighs around 135 pounds. Dale still has a smile on his face and is beaming.

I had a very thankful Thanksgiving. Many good memories made that day. His little .243 is a shooter. Another buddy hasn't got to hunt this year so he was thankful for the meat.

Hope you all have a great Season!

Vince

Yes sir.. congrats..

Way to go Dale, congratulations.


Earl

Fantastic. My first rifle was a .243. Killed a lot of deer with that gun. If I did my job right that gun never let me down.

Great job Dale!!

Doug

Way to go, on a really nice buck. I'd like to seen dads face after Dale dropped that buck . There definitely still rutting around here as well, killed a 5 pointer on Thanksgiving had 4 on one side and a long spike he was trailing a doe.

Nice buck Dale!! Congrats guys!

Congratulations Dale & Vince!

Congrats guys great first buck !!

From one Dale to another, mega congrats! High Fives All Around. The pics say the story...

I love seeing these youngster out having successful hunts. Its exciting to see folks passing it on.
Congratulations young MSN.

Congrats Dale!

Good job for getting him out dad!

Memories of a lifetime right there. Congratulations to both of you

thats awesome. Congrats to you guys