Here's the best part of my view this week -
Backstory -
My favorite hunting trip of the year is with some of my closest friends in Alabama. This year was the son's first appearance. He dropped this 8 point with one of my rifles from about 80 yards, less than an hour after he arrived at the property. This is an exceptional young man, and I am pleased to have been a part of this experience.
We had a great trip, as usual, and then this morning, I did something I have never done in all my years of hunting.
I shot the wrong deer.
A mature 8 chased a doe across a 25-30 foot opening. I got the rifle ready, and a buck chased her back out. I quickly shot the buck.
Apparently, they passed each other, and the one that ran back out was a beautiful 2 year old 6 point. He weighed 150 lbs, and would have been spectacular in a few years.
My buddy, whose family owns the property, was very nice about it, but I felt awful. I have hunted this place for several years and never taken a deer at all, because I know what his management program is. He will not, however, go to waste. He is being processed, and will be eaten. The euro mount will go on my lamp post, as a reminder to check twice before taking a buck.