Dogfish
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Ultimate Egg Whore
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Reged: 01/03/02
Posts: 3758
Loc: McCleary, WA
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We headed out this morning to fill Hunter's deer tag. We found lots of snow, up to 12 inches, but no deer. Stopped by the store and picked up some mini marshmallows and other makings for hot chocolate, then headed home for some cocoa, to get warm, dry our clothes, and take a nap.
After a good nap, and a bit of playstation we headed out again at about 2:00pm. The first two hunts were a big zero, and on our way to our third one I saw part of a deer out in a clear cut. We were in an any deer unit, so Hunter sets up his shooting sticks and I notice the deer has horns. All I could see of the head was the ear and one horn, but we clearly saw the rest of his body. I give Hunter the go ahead and he took a 25 yard shot. We see the deer crash into the brush, but I couldn't tell if it was hit.
We reloaded Hunter's .54 cal T/C and starting the tracking. We didn't see any blood where the deer was, and after a quick 10 minute look, we marked the site of the shot and went back to the truck to get our rain gear. Hunter was a little panicked that the deer didn't drop at the shot and there was no blood. We headed back in to where the deer had been standing at the shot and after about 5 minutes of searching I see a nose, on the ground, about 30 yards from where the deer was at the shot. A nice 2 point was down! To say I was relieved was an understatement.
He drilled it right through both shoulders taking out both lungs and the top of the heart. Took out a bit of meat, about 2 cups worth, but there was not doubt about the quality of the shot. The .54 cal bullet started out at .535" and 390 grains. We recovered the bullet under hide on the far side of the animal, and it had expanded to .960" and had shed a bit of weight down to 315 grains.
Next year we gotta get one for Ryan.
-------------------- "Give me the anger, fish! Give me the anger!"
Be like Big Stick!
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Musicman
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Thick Tail
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Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 7321
Loc: Roy
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Awesome Andy...hats off to the lad for bagging his first deer....shooting that Thunderhawk?
-------------------- JD
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BorntoFish
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Team Old Phart
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Reged: 12/12/03
Posts: 7391
Loc: Boise, Idaho
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Congrats to Hunter, and his proud father. Good show.
-------------------- CCA Member
TEAM JACKSON BALDWIN
Team Moose Drool
Team Old Phart
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FireFish
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Egg & Rag Master
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Reged: 11/19/02
Posts: 1189
Loc: Puyallup
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Absoulutely Awesome... Way to go Hunter and nice job Dad... Great Story Andy 
FireFish Out...
--------------------
Member of Grays Harbor Salmon Management Committee:
1. Working to Unite Sporties to get Issues
Resolved...
2. Working Hard to Get Back Our 50% of the Bolt
Decision...
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fishdoc
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Thick Tail
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Reged: 01/30/02
Posts: 3168
Loc: SWWA
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No Words can really describe.
Way to go Andy!
Doc
-------------------- If we always do what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always gotten.
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washingtonmuley
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humpy
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Reged: 09/01/07
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Loc: port angeles
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Andy, Congrats to your boy!!
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elwoodp
Online!
Big JuJu
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Reged: 03/29/03
Posts: 1183
Loc: Lake Forest Park, WA
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Congratulations, Hunter! You are well-named!
-------------------- Mike
Itinerant Philosopher and Free-lance Smart-A$$
Spiritual Guidance by Appointment
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cupo
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cookin' reels and killin' wading boots
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Reged: 12/26/01
Posts: 2236
Loc: speeding on 530
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Other kids would have considered the nap and playstation as a productive day. Looks like the first of many successful, wet, blacktail hunts.
-------------------- This can't be healthy. All this fishing is really messing with my head.
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Lilfisher
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Cat hole Kid
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Reged: 10/31/04
Posts: 2075
Loc: Lewiston, ID
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Way to go you two Congrats to both and way to go on the first deer Hunter!! LIL
-------------------- Lil Cat man/TR-Kevin
Team HARDCORE
"Live every day as if it were your last"
Team Jackson Baldwin
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Marty
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redneck yachter
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Reged: 07/17/00
Posts: 19063
Loc: Olympic Peninsula
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congratulations hunter and dad!!
-------------------- Marty
Got Your Steelheader.net stickers?
Pay it forward
Steelhead dues paid one cast at a time repeated a 1000 times a day...one more cast looking for a fix
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Mojo
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Instigator
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Reged: 09/10/03
Posts: 7488
Loc: Bootsville, Idaho
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Andy, I've been waiting for this story for some time. I knew it would be a memorable hunt, but this was a classic! Congrats on a great trip, and great job Hunter. You are the MAN!!! It just doesn't get any better than that.
-------------------- Tight Lines,
Mojo
TEAM MOOSE DROOL
TEAM SMOKIN' MERC
TEAM JACKSON BALDWIN
Alaksa Nitro Baits Pro Staff
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Tony1831
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Native slab
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Reged: 07/20/05
Posts: 3169
Loc: near DC
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sounds like a great day
-------------------- <---- "Jihad this!"
Team 10%
Semper fi, PGR member
Bocephus for President 2012
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winterchrome
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Native Slab
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Reged: 11/15/01
Posts: 1181
Loc: Tumwater
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That is so awesome Hunter!!! Way to go proud dad!!
-------------------- It has always been my private conviction that any man who pits his intelligence against a fish and loses has it coming. ~John Steinbeck
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skyriver
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dual red striper
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Reged: 01/18/04
Posts: 334
Loc: Sultan, Wash.
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First deer and with the smokepole. Very nice Hunter, seems like you have a great guide and Dad too. Congratulations on a great buck and memories for the rest of your lives.
--------------------
Team Diamondback
Labatts pro staff
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Trouthead
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Subject of the Puritan Rep. of Washington
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Reged: 09/17/02
Posts: 4466
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This story was well worth the wait. Very nice first deer. So now I'll wait for Ryan's first one and Hunter's second one. Maybe an Elk?
-------------------- Trouthead
ABU/Ambassaduer Rest Home - Maître d' (New residents welcome)
C.A.S.T. volunteer, supporter and advocate
http://www.castforkids.org/
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Drifterat
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Jig Junkie
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Reged: 05/13/02
Posts: 1474
Loc: rowers seat
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Right on Hunter! Sweet first deer and an awesome shot! Well done.
-------------------- Semi-Pro Staff
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fishhog
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Mining for steel
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Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 4709
Loc: Whatcom
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Congrats Hunter
-------------------- Is my Red Neck showing?
Politically correct..... What's that?
Netting = extinction
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plug puller
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king
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Reged: 08/20/02
Posts: 127
Loc: Kitsap
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Thats great congrats Hunter and to the proud father.
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Rapid Robert
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I'd Rather Be Whackin' Tangos!
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Reged: 03/08/02
Posts: 3430
Loc: Selah Wa.
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Congrats Hunter...way to go dad!
-------------------- Bob Barthlow
www.riversnw.com
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Tally
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Man of Steel
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Reged: 02/23/04
Posts: 1515
Loc: In my Sled
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The first!! Cograt's on a fine buck.
-------------------- There's only one other thing I'd rather be doing than fishing......Gettin' ready to GO fishing
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Rocket Red
Online!
Vegetarian Cannibal
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Reged: 01/15/02
Posts: 1143
Loc: Naked Barbieville
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Awesome, nice work.
Your kids are being raised right!
-------------------- "Painter of light, my a$$!"
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wageslave
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Spoonin' leads to Forkin'
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Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 175
Loc: Lewiston, Id.
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Great shot, great father-son outing and a great memory for a lifetime. Well done.
--------------------
"You can observe a lot just by watching." Yogi Berra
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Desertdog
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Road Warrior
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Reged: 11/11/00
Posts: 2071
Loc: Nevada??
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Wonderful story and a life memory for sure. Congrats to both of you. Well done.
-------------------- Gettin' old ain't fer wimps!!
Lonnie Gane
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BobK
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Thick Tail
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Reged: 07/17/03
Posts: 2139
Loc: Upstate NY, Lake Ontario Tribs
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His FIRST buck! And to make it even better, Dad was there! That will be the memory of a lifetime for him!
BobK
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Osprey
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He-Man Woman Haters Club
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Reged: 05/10/00
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Loc: Osprey Acres (Olympia)
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A great memory for sure .....even better for you Andy! I remember my Boys first as well. Naaace shoootin.........Os
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This is America.....explain to me why I have to press 1# to proceed in Freakin English!!!!
Dude .....was that your Rod !!!!
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