Tracking “ Big Boy”, My First Buck~~
By
Ashley Smith
12-9-05
We called him “Big Boy”. After tracking him down on our Buckeye Cam
for two years, that was long enough for me to want to be a hunting girl. The
first thing I had to do was learn how to use the gun. I only weigh 57 lbs. and
I was afraid that the rifle would kick back too hard, so I went to try it out.
I shot two bullets ½ inch from the “x” on a 50 yard target to show
everyone I could follow my dreams. All the excitement really started happening
after I got a permit!
After not seeing the “Big Boy” buck on my camera for two months I
had figured he had gotten shot by someone else in the area.
The third day of my hunt was a snowy and cold day and exciting for
someone who is ten years old like me. It’s especially exciting when you are
using a 243 rifle! Anyway, we
were sitting in the blind, and around 4:55 p.m. I saw this white rack coming
out of the woods onto our food plot! Sure enough, it was him! I asked for the
binoculars but my dad said to look through the scope. I looked at him and said
he was big enough to shoot. My dad told me that it was important to shoot one
that I really wanted, and this was him.
He
was standing in the middle of our food plot 172 yards away. About 20 seconds
later, I pulled the trigger! He was sideways to me and the gun was aimed right
where I had practiced shooting him. As I looked up, I saw him run in circles
towards the trees and then fall down. I was so nervous and excited! The first
thing I did while I was waiting was call my mom. I told her that I got “Big
Boy” and she couldn’t believe it!
It
was 5:00 p.m. and about five to ten minutes later I walked across the food
plot toward the deer. When we were about 20 feet away from him, my dad tossed
a stick at him to make sure he was dead. Nothing happened, so I ran over to
him. I kicked him with my foot as another check to make sure he was dead. I
ran over to the front of him and held up his antlers. Then I pet him and
called everyone I knew!
Next, my dad called my Uncle Brett and Grandpa Maloy. They were cooking
at the ranch for my dad’s hunters. We loaded the deer into my grandpa’s
truck. Then, I went and showed my Grandma Sally. We went to the ranch, took
pictures, talked, and ate dinner. As soon as we got back from the processor,
the Buckeye Cam crew measured the antlers. They also showed me how to see how
old it was. He turned out to be over 5.5 years old because his teeth in the
back were worn down.
The next day, which was the 10th of December, we took the
head to the taxidermist! Now, I’m waiting for it to get done. It is going to
take 6 to 9 months!
Probably the best thing I learned from this experience was to not shoot
a deer to look “cool” but instead ask yourself, “Would he look good on a
wall?” I am proud of myself
because I passed a lot of 9 point deer because the ones I saw wouldn’t have
looked that good on a wall. Yet, at the same time, some 9 points are terrific!
I am looking forward to hunting next season because I thought it was a blast this year. I do have my eye on one for next year, but I won’t give any secrets out so soon! Ashley
