After a little bit of monkeying around got me a respectable one.

I had something to do first thing this morning but I said as I left that if any of the kids wanted to hunt today to be ready when I got home. Daughter #2 was suited up and ready to go when I got home so off we went. She’s my tough as nails, unemotional daughter. Athletic for an 8 year old. My other daughter is a red head.

Spot #1 had a rig. Went to backup spot. Lots of snow. Hiked about a mile down an old logging road. Lots of deer tracks and rubs. Surprisingly no people tracks.

Started calling and rattling. Nothing. Systematically starting working muskegs. Nothing. Time to hit the timber as they were bedded.

Hiked to a steep old growth stand that I had seen before, and thought about before, but never hunted. And it was steep. I love the stuff. Once I got in it I knew a buck was going to be around. And I had seen a big track heading into it. I will say that at the base of the timber was evidence of a big fight. Complete with blood in the snow. My 8 year old tagged along, not making a noise.

Methodically worked the benches on the steep slope. My favorite way to hunt. You can get mature bucks to take a look if you call below the bench. They creep to edge and look over. On my third calling spot I recall thinking how good it looked as I was near the top and that's typically where the dominate buck will be. It had all the ingredients for a mature buck. About a minute after I called my kid goes “dad, a buck”. There he was peering down off a bench at me. He snuck in. Kinda nice he was exactly where he should have been.

One shot to the chest with a 270/145 Eldx and he was done. I have killed a lot solo and with dudes before, but it was awesome sharing that with my daughter. Definitely a few high fives. Quick bone out, a text to my buddy via my Delorme just in case I croaked on the way out he could come find my girl. Heavy for sure and slick coming down.

Pretty cool buck and will be a hard experience to top. In a few years my daughter will be pulling the trigger and I will be the packer.

Fine buck and great company…. Congrats.

Excellent!

Calvin: Good for you - congratulations.
That is a dandy Sitka Blacktail.
And how great that you shared the Hunt with the daughter.
Keep up the good work.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Congratulations on an awesome experience. Yall will both remember that forever. Thanks for sharing!

Wow, what a fantastic blacktail buck. You really took me there. Great memory for you and your daughter.

You did some excellent hunting, and tolcd it well. Extra special that it happened with your daughter.

Awesome!!

Simply wonderful... congrats!

Nicely done!

Doesn't get any better than that - awesome experience for the two of you...

Rad man.

Calvin;
Good evening to you sir, I'll assume you're all doing well after that grand hunt.

Thanks so much for sharing your special family hunt with us.

I'd opine that the photo of your daughter holding that very nice Sitka is about as fine a trophy as any father could imagine or hope for.

Hearty congratulations on the buck and having your daughter along with you.

All the best to you all and good luck on your remaining hunts.

Dwayne

Cool, thanks for taking us along!

Way to go Joel, great buck and glad you had your daughter along cherish the time together.

Beauty of a buck, always icing on the cake having kid(s) with, congrats.

Doesn’t get better than that. Congrats.

Those girls have grown up since you seen them last. Had daughter #1 on a big bear this spring. She decided at 50yds that she didn’t want to kill it. I was fine with that. They both get to come to admiralty this spring to help me kill a brown bear. Sink or swim kiddos. Grin.

That's a good one! Awesome!

Good work! Can’t wait til mine are old enough to take along.

Beautiful buck and memories for a lifetime.

Way to go, Joel!

Super in every way!

Awesome hunt Calvin! Having your daughter there through the whole thing is just wicked! Congrats

Good stuff - congrats to you all!!

Nice buck, congrats!

That's fantastic!

Thats a great story. So great having the kids along. Not to knowledgeable about blacktails but that looks like a great deer.

Cool one, two punch. Daughter spotter, Dad shooter. Congrats.

Big Congrats, Joel! Awesome having the kids along.

That is fantastic and a nice buck too! Very cool.

Outstanding!! The only thing better than hunting with your kids is hunting with your kids and taking a good animal.

Calvin, congratulations, thanks for sharing! It can't possibly get any better than that!

Nice work man!

Excellent!

That’s a pretty fine buck. Congratulations on the great hunt with your partner. Who says girls don’t hunt?

Good job! Sitka’s are special deer. At least to me.

Good stuff!! Congrats on all accounts!

Better keep that kid around - she's a good spotter!

Congrats for the buck and thanks for the write-up.

Deflave will be along in a minute to tell you what a putz you are.......

Nice buck,even better that she spotted it you,a natural.....

Great hunt and a very nice blacktail!

Thank you for sharing that. That will be a a memory for life for you and your daughter.

Frame that pic!

Outstanding! Loved the story!

Enjoyed the story, Congrats. Good thing your daughter brought along.

You will carry that moment until you depart this earth. Thank you for sharing. Sounds like you have a natural guide in your family. Oh, beautiful buck!

Way to go, Joel

Great buck, and having your daughter there makes it even that much more special!