2021 deer rifle season on the Red River!

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Wannabe

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
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This season was special. I grew up on a ranch in southern Oklahoma. Life happens and families do things that cause division and the ranch was sold. 24 years later, a friend of mine purchased acreage that connects to that ranch. He asked me if I wanted to bring my family to hunt it this year and I immediately accepted his offer. To be back on the Red River has been a dream for a while. We spent several weekends scouting and archery hunting to prepare for the opener. Saturday morning at first light I hear the report of my Dad’s 30-30 and a text following that he had a good one. We tracked blood for 1.5 miles, backed out and called a tracker to bring his dog to help. After lunch we headed back after that deer. While the dog was working I had left my youngest son to his blind. Around 3:30 that afternoon I knew he had one down after hearing my 308. I made way back up the bluff from the river bottom to see that my 15 year old was able to leave his blind and stalk a great 8 point buck to within 80 yards and make a great shot. While I was helping my son field dress his buck, the tracker calls and states that he found my dad’s buck in the middle of the river being eaten by a pack of wild dogs. He was able to run them off and retrieve the buck. We ended up tracking that deer for a little over 5 miles!
As if it couldn’t get any better, we load up Tuesday morning for another day out. Before 8:00 am my oldest son takes a great 9 point. Before and after this time of morning we see a number of small bucks and does.
We decided to take the next two days off. Now Friday evening, my oldest son’s girlfriend and I still have tags to fill so we head to the river one more time. As the time passes I watch multiple small bucks and does pass by along with a bobcat. With about 20 minutes of light left I hear my .308 ring one more time. She had taken her first buck. A nice 10 point. Was she ever excited! Right after I heard the shot, in the field in front of me I see a heavy bodied deer pushing his way through the smaller bucks and looking for a doe, he was a tank, by far the largest bodied buck I had seen but I was waiting to get a better look and his head gear. Finally, I was able see as he began to chase a doe. He was wide, he was heavy, he was what I was looking for. It seemed like an eternity had passed as I was watching the minutes of legal shooting light fade away. I had my 300 win mag ready, gazing at him through my vortex viper, wondering if he would stop just for a brief moment. He did! He was at 150 yards with a semi quartering to. I pulled the trigger and he disappeared. I couldn't find him, the bermuda grass was so deep. I scanned the horizon thinking he must have ran but I could see a couple of deer standing in the open in tall grass. There at their feet lay my buck. Thanks to a great friend, we had a great deer rifle season and experience for my family to be where I grew up and enjoy a beautiful place!
 

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Hodrod

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Mar 1, 2021
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This season was special. I grew up on a ranch in southern Oklahoma. Life happens and families do things that cause division and the ranch was sold. 24 years later, a friend of mine purchased acreage that connects to that ranch. He asked me if I wanted to bring my family to hunt it this year and I immediately accepted his offer. To be back on the Red River has been a dream for a while. We spent several weekends scouting and archery hunting to prepare for the opener. Saturday morning at first light I hear the report of my Dad’s 30-30 and a text following that he had a good one. We tracked blood for 1.5 miles, backed out and called a tracker to bring his dog to help. After lunch we headed back after that deer. While the dog was working I had left my youngest son to his blind. Around 3:30 that afternoon I knew he had one down after hearing my 308. I made way back up the bluff from the river bottom to see that my 15 year old was able to leave his blind and stalk a great 8 point buck to within 80 yards and make a great shot. While I was helping my son field dress his buck, the tracker calls and states that he found my dad’s buck in the middle of the river being eaten by a pack of wild dogs. He was able to run them off and retrieve the buck. We ended up tracking that deer for a little over 5 miles!
As if it couldn’t get any better, we load up Tuesday morning for another day out. Before 8:00 am my oldest son takes a great 9 point. Before and after this time of morning we see a number of small bucks and does.
We decided to take the next two days off. Now Friday evening, my oldest son’s girlfriend and I still have tags to fill so we head to the river one more time. As the time passes I watch multiple small bucks and does pass by along with a bobcat. With about 20 minutes of light left I hear my .308 ring one more time. She had taken her first buck. A nice 10 point. Was she ever excited! Right after I heard the shot, in the field in front of me I see a heavy bodied deer pushing his way through the smaller bucks and looking for a doe, he was a tank, by far the largest bodied buck I had seen but I was waiting to get a better look and his head gear. Finally, I was able see as he began to chase a doe. He was wide, he was heavy, he was what I was looking for. It seemed like an eternity had passed as I was watching the minutes of legal shooting light fade away. I had my 300 win mag ready, gazing at him through my vortex viper, wondering if he would stop just for a brief moment. He did! He was at 150 yards with a semi quartering to. I pulled the trigger and he disappeared. I couldn't find him, the bermuda grass was so deep. I scanned the horizon thinking he must have ran but I could see a couple of deer standing in the open in tall grass. There at their feet lay my buck. Thanks to a great friend, we had a great deer rifle season and experience for my family to be where I grew up and enjoy a beautiful place!
The life of a hunter doesn't get much better that that......!!! CONGRATS....!!!
 

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