Let me start this post by telling you about my Dad. He is 88 yrs old and still loves to deer hunt. Just at his age it comes with limitations. We have not been able to hunt much the last 15 yrs due to my work and his health. He was forced to retire due to an accident in the oilfield that left him without use of his left arm/elbow and loss of vision. Imagine being shot in the face with a shotgun but only with gas and rust from a gas well valve that blew apart after repair. I made sure this that we would hunt this year, that we would hunt together again. It was not so much about the size of the buck or his score but more of the hunt with my Dad. I built some blinds that he could get into without having to use steps/ladders. I was disappointed in TC pic with very limited buck sightings till late Oct. Then a buck showed up that was really a nice buck. I finally was able to see this buck and then we started to hunt evening for him.



Weather turned hot and the buck moved late or at night. We did not see him. I would hunt mornings and he would show few times but no evenings. I had hunts planned for West Texas and Kansas for Mule Deer so I left for almost 3 weeks in late mid-November. My cousin brought my Dad out 3 times but they did not see much movement at all with high temps. I returned home and immediately went to get my TC and found pics of the buck up until late November then he disappeared. About the end of the first week of December a new buck showed up that was a twin of the first buck. He was a really nice 8 point with matching kickers on his G2's. I sat and looked for this buck for few days but not a glimpse of him. My Dad came and hunted a few times but we did not see the buck. TC showed an occasional visit at night every few days. The weather turned colder and he appeared one morning.


I called my Dad and told him we needed to hunt that afternoon. We hunted but buck was a no show. "No Show Jones" was now his name after another try. Then I sat again the next morning and he was back again. This was Saturday the 22nd. My Dad could not hunt that evening and I sat. Buck did not show but I heard a shot at 5:10 in the neighbors. My heart sank. I just new that they had killed "No Show Jones". My Dad came back out and we continued to hunt for any buck that was legal(AR county), but nothing legal showed. On Thursday morning of this week I went to hunt and he was back. I was elated to say the least. I called my Dad and we hunted that evening, but No Show lived up to his name again. I told my Dad that we needed to hunt him the next morning on Friday if he was up to it since No Show was only showing up in the mornings it seemed. He said he would call me back and tell me if he would hunt. He called back and said he was ready. We got to the blind early Friday morning and it was heavy cloud cover making it very hard to see. I put out a lot corn with the road feeder and could see deer in the slow to get light morning. No Show as a show this morning along with about 12 other bucks and does. I asked my Dad when it got a little better light if he could see well enough to shoot. He said why and probably? I said the buck was there at 90 yrds. I got him on the right buck but he looked at me and said, "I can't hold the rifle steady on him, you shoot him". My heart sank. I said no let's wait for better light and him to get closer. Well the deer moved around and he started to get closer, then a bad thing happened. 3 does started to run on a ridge angling away from us. No Show saw this and thought another buck was after them. Off he ran and my heart sank again as I thought he was gone. But he came back. I told my Dad to get ready. He came back to corn and stopped broadside at 60 yards with no other deer around. I asked my Dad could he see him good in the scope and was he steady? He said yes. I said when you are ready and comfortable kill him. Buck took a step and then stopped. He squeezed off a shot and the buck dropped in his tracks! First thing he said was, take the rifle and if he moves shoot him again! He was excited and so was I. He grabbed his binos and kept watching the buck. We talked a bit and remember old hunts together. This was a special hunt in many ways. My Dad is 88 yrs old and not sure how many more hunts we have left together. It was his biggest buck ever. He shot it with his first rifle he ever owned, a Remington 722 which he has owned for 50+ years now. It is also the first buck taken off of my new place.
Sorry but no pics of my Dad, he did not want to be all over the internet. I can't put down what he said exactly since it would be [censored]

Awesome! That's what it's all about!

Great story

Great job!!! Glad to see the persistence paid off and he finally connected. I am still fortunate enough to be able to hunt with my father and count my blessings every day. It is awesome that y'all were able to pick a deer and connect. Congrats to you both

Can't believe you held out on us and as far as the pics go...like father, like son

That is great! Congrats to both of you! That is a heck of a buck!

Thanks stxranchman for being there and a great story..Congrats to you and your Dad.. Glad you and Pa could make it happen.

Congrats to both of you. Nice buck and nice story.

Awesome buck....with very handsome markings on his face!! Congratulations to your dad.

I don't get to hunt with my dad as much these days....but I love it whenever I do get the chance.

Loved everything about your story. All the details, the experience with your dad, the elation of killing such a great buck. What a wonderful way to end 2012. Congratulations to both of you.

THAT is purely awesome. Congrats to your dad and thanks for the story.

Greatness all around.
Congrats

Thanks for that story

Awesome story. You are so blessed to still have your father around and I can tell you cherish every moment you have with him as I read the story. God Bless the both of you and may the both of you hunt together again another day.

X 2

One of the best stories on here. Awesome what you did for your dad.

I remember the start of this story a few weeks ago. I am really excited that you got to finish it up! Congrats to you and your dad on a great memory!

What a great story. Makes me wish my dad liked to hunt.

Great story enjoyed the read

Well done...he's fortunate to have a son like you

Very special moment and good buck!

Great read and what great memories you'll have!

Thanks guys.



He was always there for me when I was young. He worked 6-7 days a week in the oilfield with very little time off. When he got a day off and if I was not in school he made it a point to take me hunting or fishing with him. Taking him hunting was the least I could do for the man the put the love of the outdoors in me that I have today.