Northern Alberta White-tailed Buck Hunt

by Mac Olsen
(Donnelly, Alberta, Canada)

I shot this outstanding five-by-five buck in northern Alberta in October 2011. Just before dawn, I got set up at the edge of a tree line and glassed a hay field, looking for deer. A few minutes later, I saw a deer stand up by a bail of hay. At first, I wasn't sure if it was a doe, if it was, I couldn't shoot it because I'd maxed out my antlerless deer tags. But, eventually, I saw some points on its head. So, I got my .300 win mag set up on my Bog Pod, put the cross hairs on what I thought was its spine and pulled the trigger. I then set up for another shot, but as I looked through the scope, it wasn't there. I could think of only two scenarios - either I missed it and it ran into the bush and I wouldn't see it again; or I injured and it ran into the bush and I wouldn't see it again. But I had to look for it. So, with gun in hand I started walking out to the hay bale where I saw it stand, prepared to look for a blood trail. However, as I crossed the field, I saw the buck had gone down about 100 yards from where I shot at it. I felt relieved that I had bagged it, and was happy that I was going to fill my tag. But, as I walked up to it, it wasn't a six-pointer, it wasn't an eight-pointer. It was a TEN POINTER! I was ecstatic! I couldn't believe that I had just got a trophy buck! Then I looked at where I placed the shot, and the bullet went high into the shoulders. And it went down just a hundred yards from where I shot at it, and it died fast - a clean, ethical kill, as I wanted. And it was my first trophy buck, too! I've seen so many hunting shows, read so many articles, about hunters who got their trophies and I wanted my own trophy, too. And now I have one. So, I put the head in the freezer for the winter. I took it to a taxidermist a couple of weeks ago and he'll be measuring the antlers. If it can be put into the Alberta Boone and Crockett record book, I will send it in. I should have the head on my wall next February.

I have an update for my 10-point white-tailed buck. I had him scored for Boone and Crockett recently. His gross score was 103 5/8 and his net score was 99 7/8. So, I won't be able to enter him in the Alberta Boone and Crockett book, but I still very pleased with him as a trophy. I never dreamt I'd be able to get a 10-point for my very first trophy animal!