Kaden's Monster Buck

  

On Saturday morning, Keane had decided there would not be enough time for him and Kaden to go to the tripod he was wanting to hunt in, near a place we captured a few pictures of some decent bucks earlier this year, because Kylie had a basketball game an hour away at 9:00 a.m.  However, we got Kaden up early to be prepared for Sunday morning's early rising.  As anxious as they were, they still decided to get Keane's .270 and their hunting gear, and they headed outdoors toward the lake. 

Keane spotted a deer.  He could tell it was a buck.  It was following a path that deer usually walk from the field in front of our house, around the field to the north of the house, and then around to the back by the lake, and across the dam.  The buck was by itself, just trotting along.  Keane could tell (in his new binoculars) that it was a nice one. 

That's when Kaden took his first shot....nothing happened.  The deer didn't move.  Keane rushed Kaden to put another shell in and take another shot, but taking his time in his aim and trigger.  This time he hit the deer, dropping him!

Our morning timeline was rearranged...as in nobody got breakfast, Kylie and I had to leave shortly after the boys field dressed and loaded the buck up, and the boys left a little after us (making it at Kylie's halftime), after calling and checking the deer in and cleaning themselves up. 

Kaden's deer was bigger than they had originally thought it was!  It turned out to be a 15-pointer with all tines over an inch long.  Its mass is huge, and although it was originally a main frame 8-point, its left side is unique, probably due to a hit while in velvet, making it a deer of a lifetime.  It was a mature deer, at probably 4.5 years old, with a huge body, and huge neck!

Kaden had gotten an 8-point buck his first year youth hunting, and he had just asked Keane that if he got a buck bigger than his 8-point, could he get it mounted.  Little did Keane know that in less than 24 hours, Kaden would get a buck bigger than any of his own.  Needless to say, it is getting mounted -- at Kaden's ripe old age of 9. 

This makes Kaden's 4th deer, and 6th kill.

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In the winter of 2009, his very first kill was a squirrel (age 5);

 

...and then a rabbit in the same year (age 5).

 

Then he shot his 8-point buck opening day of youth season, on October 29, 2010, with his .243 (age 6).

 

The following year, they didn't have much luck.  They were able to go hunting a lot, and saw quite a few deer, but never were able to get a good shot (age 7). 

 

April 12, 2011 (youth turkey season)

"They can't shoot a turkey if they're sleeping; that's really weird." - Kylie

 

But on December 30, 2012, youth season, he got a button buck (thinking it was a doe) with Keane's .270 (age 8). 

 

This year, on October 6, 2013, as mentioned here, Kaden got his very first kill with his brand new bow (age 9) -- a big doe, doubling up with his dad who also shot a doe with his bow shortly after.

And then on opening day of youth season, November 2, 2013, he shot his big buck, with his dad's .270, that he likes to call Iron Buck...or Pumpkinator (age 9).