Two years ago, I posted a picture of my grandson, Brig, who was ten-years old at the time, with his first deer...a little Coues deer buck that he shot with Grandpa's .243. If you remember, he called me that night and said, "Grandpa, you're never going to see that .243 again." 
Well, last year, Brig and his family moved from Arizona to Utah and this year, he drew a special youth permit tag for mule deer. I told him I'd set up the hunting camp and cook for him.
Last week, we set up camp and early Saturday morning, Brig, his dad, and his Uncle Matt hiked up the mountain and started glassing. The wind was colder than a mother-in-law's kiss, but the little guy never complained.
Finally, about 2:00 in the afternoon, he spotted a nice buck and watched him for over an hour until the buck decided to bed down. Brig made the stalk and shot the buck in his bed at 196 yards with that same old .243 that he shot his Coues deer with, shooting an 80-grain Barnes ballistic tip. Killed him with the first shot.
They didn't get back into camp until after dark where Grandpa had a pot of homemade chili and cornbread waiting for them. I also had the wood stove going in the wall tent because the wind was whipping up.
The hunters were exhausted, hungry and cold, but pretty darn happy.
Here's a picture of camp. Brig shot his buck up in the cliffs pictured above camp.
Brig's dad, Brig, and Brig's buck...still in its bed.
Finally, Grandpa and Brig with the buck all caped out.
A pretty happy and proud little guy. Not bad for his first mule deer. Heck! What am I saying??!! I've never shot one that big!!...and told him so. I also told Brig that he earned the right to keep that .243. I think that made him almost as happy as getting that buck. Of course, I made him promise that he'd only shoot a two-point next year just so his ol' Grandpa wouldn't feel so bad.
Well, last year, Brig and his family moved from Arizona to Utah and this year, he drew a special youth permit tag for mule deer. I told him I'd set up the hunting camp and cook for him.
Last week, we set up camp and early Saturday morning, Brig, his dad, and his Uncle Matt hiked up the mountain and started glassing. The wind was colder than a mother-in-law's kiss, but the little guy never complained.
Finally, about 2:00 in the afternoon, he spotted a nice buck and watched him for over an hour until the buck decided to bed down. Brig made the stalk and shot the buck in his bed at 196 yards with that same old .243 that he shot his Coues deer with, shooting an 80-grain Barnes ballistic tip. Killed him with the first shot.
They didn't get back into camp until after dark where Grandpa had a pot of homemade chili and cornbread waiting for them. I also had the wood stove going in the wall tent because the wind was whipping up.
The hunters were exhausted, hungry and cold, but pretty darn happy.
Here's a picture of camp. Brig shot his buck up in the cliffs pictured above camp.
Brig's dad, Brig, and Brig's buck...still in its bed.
Finally, Grandpa and Brig with the buck all caped out.
A pretty happy and proud little guy. Not bad for his first mule deer. Heck! What am I saying??!! I've never shot one that big!!...and told him so. I also told Brig that he earned the right to keep that .243. I think that made him almost as happy as getting that buck. Of course, I made him promise that he'd only shoot a two-point next year just so his ol' Grandpa wouldn't feel so bad.
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