And I'm REALLY happy with it!

I've been thinking about doing a post on this deer since last November. I don't mind posting pics of my kids, but I'm hesitant to post my own pics because I don't want to seem like I'm bragging or anything. I decided to post this because I just wanted to say thanks for the positive comments and help that have made this deer my most memorable animal.

A few years ago I got on here and made a post called "Whitetail Whining". In the post I complained that I couldn't get a whitetail buck and how frustrated I was with a degenerative eye disease I have that makes things really challenging.

I wasn't sure if I'd be able to, or even want to keep hunting after the whining post. Several guys here shared words of encouragement. Burleyboy helped my oldest get his first deer (I am unable to drive, walk through the woods without being led, spot game, etc.).) He also drove me around to look for powder and primer. Thaks again Burleyboy!

BCJR, who I didn't even know at the time, read my post and flew down from Alaaka and took me hunting. After a few days he put me on a good buck, out in the open during broad daylight, and I still couldn't see it. The idea that someone would go so far out of there way and donate so much time, effort, and money to help a stranger is amazing.

After I messed up that chance I thought again it was time to stop hunting, but I really wanted a buck. (Mainly, I just want to keep hunting as long as I can!)

2014 I moved to SW MT and was a non-res and couldn't hunt bucks. Last year I decided to keep trying. Since my original post my eyes have gotten even worse, so it was a challenging hunting season! (Blind in the lrfteye, 2% of my vision in right. It's like looking through a very tiny, purply straw. I have NO night vision and black out a lot from big "floaters" covering up the tiny bit of live retina.) Needless to say, when I hunt it's only because I'm with someone very patient!

My brother drove over from Spokane. We hunted for three and a half days and the last morning I passed on this buck, two fork horns, and blew a shot on a big 10 point because I couldn't see him in time. (Again!)

To summarize this too long story, I went back to the field where we'd seen this buck. This buck is 25 days of hunting this year. (It would have been three with a little better vision.)

My wife, for years now, would drive me out to the stand after work. Friends took me out. My kids would go with me a lot. My mom would drop me off early. Many people have helped me, and I just wanted to say, "Thank you" for this deer.

This deer means a lot to me, and I appreciate it. I am often amazed at the caliber of people I've meet who share my love of the hunt.

Awesome! Glad you were able to get it done! Still feel bad we didn't get that one that day , but you stuck with it , that's a trophy as far as I'm concerned.

Hoping the eyes stabilize and you get out this fall again. Lot of fun chasing whitetails around.

Congrats, well done!

Sometimes its not the size of anything, but the fact you got something!!

This is awesome. Far more important than any deer is Boone-&-Crockett-class friends and family - and it seems you've got that in spades.

Nice buck, and I salute you and your drive to get it done and all the luck in the world on your future hunts.

ID: Good for you! Well done!

Congrats on one heck of a trophy!

I know a lot of guys who have spent a lifetime chasing whitetail and never killed a buck that size.

Could not have said it better. Congratulations!

Awesome. I'm in awe of your tenacity.

=1!. And great story. Thanks for sharing

ID -

I'm so very sorry for your handicap. I ADMIRE your determination. It is indeed victory for you to GO. The buck is icing on the cake.

I applaud your family & friends that help you out.

Keep it up and may your vision stabilize OR improve.


Jerry

You have both my respect and congratulations. I admire your persistence and resolve to overcome the obstacles laid in your path in life and go out and Get-R-Dun. Thank you not only for your post, but for the reminder to enjoy life no matter what it throws at you. Well done!

Congrats on a nice buck and an inspiring story. Some of the most memorable deer are not always the ones with the biggest racks. They are the ones you really had to work for or are a composite of a lot of different factors and experiences that went into a particular hunt. I've gotten a very few really big racks in my life but some of my most memorable hunts involve a doe or a small fork horn and how I got them. That's where some of my fondest hunting memories are. You surely put in the time, effort, and persistence on this one and I'm glad it paid off for you. Now that you've written your story down, keep it always. I've known old timers who chronicled some of their most memorable hunting experiences and 30 or 40 years later they could re-read them and then recall everything about that day. Otherwise, they say you forget a lot of the small details that go into the entire story. So even if your brain gets fuzzy in old age you can still relive some great experiences.

A Trophy is in the hunt and memories, not the size of the animal.

Keep at what you love, and kudos to your tenacity.

A greater trophy never graced 24HR! Thanks for posting.

Congrats! I stand in awe of your determination.

All the best to you.

Wayne

Congratulations!! That is the best by far hunting story that I have ever read in my life.

Agree 100%. You're the man ID, a hearty congrats from West Texas to you sir!

Ive got good eyes, and Ive killed a large bunch of whitetails...most were that size or smaller...a very few were bigger and not by much....

but none were as important as that one you pictured.


Mucho congrats!

Outstanding. Just outstanding. That's special stuff, right there.

Congratulations! There is no better feeling than when tenacity and persistence pay off, particularly when there are circumstances working against success. A salute to you and the folks who went out of their way to help you. Great people, all!

Thanks for sharing the story, and have no fear, it was far from too long.

Well Said I completely agree. Well done Sir that is a fine Trophy.

Charles

You are the definition of what it is to be a hunter.

Atta boy....and congratulations!!! Keep getting out there all that you can.

S A L U T E'. --ID, Couldn't agree any more.

Jerry

This is the OP.

Thanks for all the positive comments and sharing in my good fortune.

Again, I'm just the trigger guy who is too dumb to stop when I should. The people who helped are the the ones deserving of any credit.

Thanks again.

Big congrats!

Hi IDmilton, your spirit and drive is amazing mate. Congrats on getting your buck.
Huge respect also to BCJR, Burleyboy and others that have helped you out. Very inspiring!

Congratulations! That is a fine, fine buck.

Well done!

Holy Hell, that is a better trophy than I could imagine ever getting.

Not to mention, that's a really cool looking rack! A HUGE congrats to you and your patients!

Congrats! Should I be faced with a similar situation, I hope I can face it with the grit and grace you did. Well done.

This story actually put my hunting into an entirely different perspective.

This 100x...congrats to you and may you lots of success in the future.

Can do attitude ,Hats off to you.

+1 to what Tzone said - And a big congrats to you on taking a fine buck. Wishing for many more seasons of hunting for you!

Sorry about your eye condition but a big congrats to you on an awesome trophy! Great story too!

P.S. Don't ever be afraid to post pics of yourself and your game. It's not bragging. You're just showing your buddies something you're very proud of.

Rooster

Awesome buck and awesome story!! Thanks so much for sharing it with us.....

Congrads on a Dandy Buck!

Great story. Congrats.

Wonderful story! I'm happy and proud of every deer I take. The size of the antlers has nothing to do with the size of the trophy.

Now that is the best trophy deer story I have heard. It brings to mind a quote fromGene Hill the best deer you'll ever. take is your first one the second best is the one you help someone else get. Congratulations to. Everyone involved.

Us folks here understand effort and attitude.

Outsiders may not.

They do not matter.

IDMilton,

Congratulations on a fine deer- you have more to be proud of with that deer than most hunters do with a B&C deer!!! Your tenacity as spoken about before is a testament that if there's a will, there's a way, and I'll think of you and your deer whenever I get frustrated when things aren't going my way in the deer woods! Thanks very much for sharing!

I'm certainly glad I found and read this story - congratulations to you on taking your buck. You must be a good man to have so many friends and family wanting to assist you!