After a doe each of the last two years, my son decided to wait for a buck this year. He passed on a thirty yard shot at a doe on the first morning of youth season. Then, he passed on shots at a doe two more times, but never saw a buck. He worried all last week about ML season. He just had to have one, but I've never found one small enough for him to shoot. So, on Tuesday, I gave in and went to the local gun shop and purchased a cheap muzzle loader and brought it home. I put the stock in my vise before it was ever fired and sawed two inches off the stock and replaced the butt pad. Seemed like a good fit for him (LOP=11.75"). We set the scope and much to my surprise, it shot really well with light loads.

Saturday afternoon, he shot this buck. I had to tell him to breathe twice. He was so excited! The rack is a mainframe 10 with some stickers. He dressed 181 lbs. clean.

Congratulations to both of you. Sure is a fine Buck which will make a nice mount for his room.

I'd guess his classmates will be green with envy!!!

Wonder who had the biggest grin ? Dad or the
proud hunter?

Memory to last a lifetime.Congradulations to the young man.
A buck like that fills all of us old timers with envy.Great buck.

Awesome!

That is wonderful! Congratulations to the both of you.

Now that is what hunting is all about-- you'll never forget a memory like that like. Nor will Dad! Fabulous.

Thanks guys! I hope he is an old pro after this weekend. My daughter and son were both drawn for a youth quota hunt for this weekend. We saw a lot of deer on the hunt last year including a couple bucks, but no shooters (15" minimum spread).