Mrs. Fishful's first buck! by: Chad LaChance   10/27/2009

Hard work. Determination. Resolve. Patience. Desire. Oh, and a little Luck. These words all describe what makes a good outdoorsman, either hunter of fisherman. If you apply all of them to your fishing, combined with a bunch of research to gain knowledge faster then actual experience alone, you will be more successful and your success will be more satisfying. Mrs. Fishful, otherwise known as Stephanie, has been working towards her first deer for several years now and each time something hasn't been quite right. She'd get close, but no cigar. Her goal was to practice selective harvest with a very clear standing shot on a mature deer on public ground, and that is not easy to do as anyone who hunts can attest to.

That all changed this weekend. I did not draw a tag so I focussed solely on her quest, and we formulated a plan based on aerial photos, past experience in the area, and knowledge of the quarry (in this case, whitetail deer). We looked at food sources, good cover, and transition areas. The plan was set and we vowed to "hunt to the conditions", which is always my fishing mantra. Is it just me, or does this sound like planning a fishing trip?

Long story short, (and since this is a fishing site...sorry to digress!) we searched long and hard, all on foot, literally covering 10 miles on the first day and 5 more on the 2nd, while glassing areas where a mature deer could find good cover adjacent to food and could spend all day bedded without other hunters walking them up. It was cold and windy so we knew they'd seek shelter where they could bed with their back to the wind and eyes focussed downwind in the open country we were hunting (hunting to the conditions...). On the first day we almost made it work on a great young 10 pointer, but we were a little early. He wasn't bedded yet and we had gotten too close to his area while glassing. Later that day we passed on a decent 8 pointer because we wanted a more mature deer.

At 12:30pm on day 2, we had hiked several miles to look at a small deep draw and lo and behold, I spotted the tip of an antler in a very deep pile of tumbleweeds blown up in a coulee. It was no more than 30 yards from us and we had approached from across the wind. Steph got into position sitting with her gun on sticks, and the waiting game began. We hadn't seen him at all, only tips of one side of his antlers, but I knew by were he was that it was a mature deer so we were comitted; if he stood up it was game over at point blank range.

He stood, adjusted position , and laid back down without giving her a shot 4 times over the course of 5 minutes. Steph stayed calm - I was a wreck because he was sooo close. Finally he stood again and took a fatal step forward. Steph laid him to rest with a perfectly placed .243 round.

She wanted a mature deer was willing to work for it. This buck was an ancient 10 pointer. The biologist that looked at him said he was well past his prime in terms of antler size and his teeth were worn completely down to the gumline. He had lost an eye in a battle during the last rut and was grizzled and gray all over. Truly a gnarly old whitetail - an old spirit as my wife put it.

Fishing and hunting are great ways to learn about yourself. You build confidence, respect, and belief in yourself. My wife took quantum leaps forward in these areas by sticking to her plan, enduring the elements, and ultimatley accomplishing her goal. I'm extremely proud of her if you can't tell by reading this. And he was the perfect buck to do it.

 Kudo's, baby!

Member comments

by: HeavyC on 10/27/2009 8:55:14 AM
Right on Chad!!...AND Mrs. Fishful! }:-) That is an awesome buck!! ...and not too much smaller than the 10pt I mentioned to you. Great stuff right there!!! I am so excited for her.. AND you!! HC Out!

 

by: HeavyC on 10/27/2009 10:18:02 AM
...Also look slike you got him out where you talked about!! Nice show you two!! HC Out!

 

by: Mark403 on 10/27/2009 12:12:50 PM
Hmmm...when is she going to start her deer hunting show? Great job Stephanie!

 

by: Bullyhunter on 10/27/2009 6:46:29 PM
Way to go Mrs. LaChance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is awesome to see hard work and determination pay off,especially in hunting!!! And to top it all off, on public land!

 

by: ronnycast on 10/27/2009 7:17:24 PM
Way to go Steph! Knew you could do it!

 

by: Ptarmigan on 10/27/2009 7:33:42 PM
Fantastic! Give Steph my congrats!

 

by: never summer on 10/27/2009 7:50:27 PM
Great job Mrs. Fishful that is a beautiful buck. Brad

 

by: BiggieSmalls on 10/28/2009 12:06:13 AM
Now that's love! I've never wondered for a minute why you two have been together for so long. The proof is in the outdoors! Hunting ain't like fishin' it's a whole lotta work for the one you love. Congratulations to your team Chad & Steph

 

by: Fishful Thinker on 10/28/2009 8:17:54 AM
Hey, thanks fro all the great comments. This was the most fun hunt I've been on without a doubt. Now, where is my Dutch Oven...there's venison stew to be made! CL

 

by: Fishinbud on 10/29/2009 10:28:41 AM
Wow, great story involving hard work, determination and stealth. Personally, I love using a .243 for deer hunting. Just enough knock down power, with little to no recoil, perfect for any hunter of relatively small stature, or anyone else who prefers a user friendly rifle. From what I can see, there are definitely two trophies in that picture! Great job and congrats!

 

by: Good Sam on 10/29/2009 12:44:59 PM
Another awesome story of how persistence pays off. Good job to both of you on a fine whitetail buck. Steve

 

by: fom on 10/29/2009 1:17:12 PM
Great job there , you should both be very proud and moved at results of your harvest, many seasoned hunters have hunted thier whole life and not fared near as well, once again Great job mrs Fishful. FOM

 

by: FISHRANGLER on 10/29/2009 4:03:41 PM
That is a great looking whitetail you have there.. congrats!!!!! Sounds like you two had a lot of fun too.

 

by: bluecreek on 10/29/2009 7:15:07 PM
10 pointer, lol! You Eastern guys! :) That is a nice 5x5, or is it a 4x6?.Hard to tell from the pic, but a great whitetail. Congrats, and great hunt!

 

by: HeavyC on 10/29/2009 7:35:02 PM
LOL! I know, I knnow!!! Funny thing is I just do that for whitetails! When I am using my 'western' counting, I only count the side with the least amount of points...so if say it was a 5x4 I would say it was a 4 pt buck!! HC Out!

 

by: Fishful Thinker on 11/2/2009 8:11:05 AM
I call whitetails by their full count, mulies and elk per side. Just a habit I suppose left over from my Southern days. Thanks again for the nice comments guys. Steph is still pumped up! CL

 

by: HeavyC on 11/2/2009 3:29:04 PM
Great minds just think alike I guess! :)) HC Out!

 

by: Ice Stick on 11/18/2009 6:01:13 PM
Nice job!!!! Thats a great looking buck...

 

by: clint walker on 11/19/2009 7:20:31 AM
that is flat out awesome!