My wife took her first buck ever from SNF Saturday. 8-point, 16.5" inside, 140# live.

She hunted a lot growing up with 2 brothers, and for each of the 5 years we've been married, but the stars never lined up until now. And I am so proud to be have been there for it. Despite being 65* and windy, we grunted up 2 bucks, rattled in 1 and had seen a large buck cruising the day before.

Our schedules/commitments have only allowed us to go hunting once per season for the last several years, and it was beginning to look like we were going to go home empty-handed again this year. But at 9:10am, he walked into the 15-foot wide lane, I whistled, he stopped cold and threw his head up. I whispered, "Shoot that buck!" Without hesitation, she made the 220 yard shot, and the celebration began. Funny thing is the scope was still set on 4x, as she had just looked at a small buck that was about 40 yards away.

We had prayed for God's favor with our hunting trip, but know that killing deer is not necessarily that important in God's greater plan. But it sure is fun when He allows it to happen.

Congrats on the first buck!

That is awesome. Absolutely awesome. A deer like that coming from public land is the trophy of all trophys. Congratulations to your wife and thanks for sharing it.

Very nice!

Good Job

Awesome buck! and very cool rifle. I hunt with my grandad's Remington Gamemaster 760 rifled in .244 Rem. Which model is yours? I traced mine back and it was manufactured October 1956.

You need to submit that 3rd pic to some Outdoor Mags, that's gotta be one of the best photo's I;ve seen in along time. Everything is in focus, the subjects are well illuminated with sunlight, the back ground is perfect for the subject matter, the side ways pose of the buck is interesting and your wife's smile is contagious it is so genuine. I'd have that pic blown up and framed on the wall to look at the rest of my life.
What a great story too.
Ron

Lucky man, Lucky wife, Great pictures and story. Very Nice looking buck. Very well done for public lands. Congratulation to you & your wife.

Thank you Jon, banderpass1 & Redneck78! I will pass your congrats on to her. Thank you for the thoughtful comments, John. She is super excited, and yet I don't think it has fully set in how fortunate we are to have this kind of success. We are very thankful, and happy to share with everyone. I will pass your words on to her.Thanks, Live Flyway Action! This is a Rem. 7600. Really fun gun to shoot. Have owned it for about 13 years or so. Not sure on the mfg. date though. I'll have to look into that. Hey Ron, thank you much for your thoughtful comments as well. We have also wondered if any publishing groups may be interested in that photo. That's so interesting that you noticed that different angle the buck's head is at too. I don't know why, but it seems to give it a graceful sight line to follow, just a little different from the normal straight-on pose. And you are right, we're putting this pic in a frame very soon! We may even send Christmas cards using this! : )

Yes, Yes, and Thank you JEH! I will pass along your sentiments. This deer won't go into any record books, but I feel more equity in her taking this deer under the circumstances. Warm & Windy, and on public land. We were surprised to say the least!

ta the Mrs. on the story

Wow, I can't believe I'm just getting around to checking this out. Shooting a big buck like that on open public land doesn't happen on accident. That is one heck of an accomplishment! Congratulations to her!

Congrats on a nice public land deer!

1st place I'd talk to would be one of the editors at whoever puts together the TP&W magazine to see if they are going to feature sucessful hunting stories for TP&W hunts.

The fact that ya'll took this deer on SNF Public Land and the back story of your wife's several years worth of determination to score and was rewarded with this Toad is the kinda stuff that sells magazines.

Don't overlook the Field & Stream/Outdoor Life/Petersens/NRA Hunting kinda outlets either who are always looking for success stories from the Average Hunter...and there is the huge push for more Women Hunters to get involved these days too.

Lots of angles to explore. I don't think this will be a big time moneymaker for you, but you never know. I wouldn't sell the Copywright Rights without going thru the motions and talking to an attorney who is familiar with the Publishing world, and might even consult one of the Texas based Pro Writers for ideas like Ray Sasser who regularly writes not only for the Dallas Morning News, but also has tons of published articles for the last 25+ years in all sorts of outlets.
Best Wishes
Ron

That is simply awesome. Her smile says it all. Congrat's on one heckuva buck.

Congrats! A real trophy!!

Thanks Janie & mphunter!! I will pass your words on to her!

Ron, thanks for the insight & suggestions. I agree, I don't think this deer is going to make anybody famous, but it would be neat if the state or a publisher had a use for a photo. We will just see if anything develops.

In 2005, Outdoor life published a small photo & write up of me with a 136" buck I took. I was 17. Actually had an up & coming outdoor network offer me a job in outdoor advertising/hunting show host, but there were a few stories this group told me that raised red flags (XXX-wild parties at the ranches I would be hunting at). Kind of unbelievable, I know. Prayed a lot about it, went to college and have a 'normal' job instead, and don't regret it.

Nice!

you're squeezing him in half and he's about to POP with those rachet straps!! LOL nice deer!!!!!!!!

This ^^^

sweeet, your a lucky man

Dam you didn't gut it or cut its balls off yuck man why u waiting to do all that or are you guttibg is the first thing u do when you find your deer