Miss Kate's 9 point

[Deleted]

The wife and I teamed up this morning to take a slightly non-typical buck. it's been around 20 years since she last killed a deer!

We saw him last evening herding an estrus doe and figured he would be around this morning. (he wasn't the "big one")

I set Kate up in our pole barn where she had a good view of the field and woods edge and I stayed right behind her. It took a while and there was a lot of uncertainty when we saw him about 150 yards away, and coming our way.

Kate tried several times to hand the gun to me but I teased her -- telling her I wouldn't shoot him and she had to do it.

When push came to shove she did raise the rifle, (.223), when he got to about 40 yards, but she couldn't steady it very well. I wrapped myself around her shoulders --- steadied her --- and somehow she pulled the trigger.......Kate's tag is on the buck and that is very well deserved.

"Somehow," it was a good shot --- slightly going away and just under the ribs it took out lungs and part of the heart. He only went about 70 yards!

We did the "air skinning" thing and it seemed to work really well. I haven't removed the hide yet but it clearly separated it from most of the flesh.

Oh yeah, my son gave me a "butt out" tool and I told Kate she had to do that also. That procedure went the same way as the shooting did --- a lot of cheer leading on my part --- but then when it got right down to it, on this job, I surrendered and did the technical work.

I saw this buck last month in archery season and passed on him ---- and then again right in our yard by the kitchen window. I did get some decent pictures of him.
I passed because I wasn't sure he was a 3-1/2 year old and I figured he would be one heck of a unique buck if given just one more year. Also, and mainly --- because I knew there were bigger bucks around.

But Kate reminded me, that now is the last day of the regular gun season and there is no venison in the freezer.
I was planning on a doe today but this guy changed everything.

I've tried several times to put photos in this post but I can't seem to figure it out!
Here are some Hyperlinks:

Kate and her buck:
img.photobucket.com/albums/v718/bowbum/hunting/12120803.jpg

Air gun method:
img.photobucket.com/albums/v718/bowbum/hunting/12120805.jpg

The results, (a lot of air leaked out through the bullet hole!),:
img.photobucket.com/albums/v718/bowbum/hunting/12120808.jpg

Kate's first attempt at using the "Butt out."
img.photobucket.com/albums/v718/bowbum/hunting/12120812.jpg

Close up of the buck. He has 9 legitimate points and a broke off one and 2 others about 1 inch or maybe a little smaller:
img.photobucket.com/albums/v718/bowbum/ hunting/12120815.jpg

[adudeuknow]

that's a handsome fella for sure!

[dalesholder]

Very nice for a last day buck. Congrats to Miss Kate on a nice deer.

[galthatfishes]

Congrats Bob! That is awesome! And congrats Kate!

[35whelan]

Congrat's to Kate for a GREAT buck... Hat's off to you Bob for coaching her all the way... Nice team work..

[Bill]

That is awesome! Way to go Miss Kate!

[rober]

Great Job Miss Kate!!!!

[Deleted]

congrats

[Deleted]

Congrats to Kate....a fine PA buck.

[dennyf]

Great job Kate. Knew it was only a matter of time until he began to be a "bad influence"?

;D

[ridgecommander]

That is awesome, Bow. Congrats to you both.

[Deleted]

Thanks to all and especially ----------------Denny!
" Knew it was only a matter of time until he began to be a "bad influence"

Actually "Kate" is the bad influence! You wouldn't believe how hard it is to keep her in line. ;D

[Deleted]

By the way, if anyone is interested, using air pressure to "skin" an animal was an experiment. We do our own processing and it is getting tougher for me to have a good grip, pull and de-hide a deer. So, anything that makes the job easier is worth a shot.

Releasing the hide from flesh by using air pressure did helped somewhat.
I pulled the hide from the area on both sides of the front shoulders and back without even using a knife or very much effort.
Most of the rest of it was still fast to the flesh but didn't seem to take much effort either to cut and pull it off.

The deer was shot slightly going away and had a pretty good sized hole in him so we really could not "blow the hide" lose like it would have been if it were a small bullet hole.

End opinion is that I'd do it again.
I know, I know --- trucking air compressor into the woods is tough.
Our guy was only about 100 yards from my shop. No problem.

[Deleted]

"End opinion is that I'd do it again. I know, I know --- trucking air compressor into the woods is tough. Our guy was only about 100 yards from my shop. No problem."

Maybe if I got a few thousand feet of compressor hose, I wouldn't need to haul the air compressor into the woods.

[Dutch]

Bob, here is a slick way to skin a deer. Did this back in the early 80's.



Ok, you'll have to copy and paste the link into the browser. 30 second video.

[wentzler]

[Deleted]

Much congrats to your Mrs bowbum!