Best Laid Plans

Excerpt from a story by Greg Busch

Dad dispelled any doubts I may have had regarding his recovery from the fall a year earlier.

I pushed him pretty hard over the next 45 minutes while making a long, difficult stalk that would have tested any hunter. When we crawled over the lip of the butte overlooking the creek bottom below, it took me about five seconds to find the buck. He was still bedded and sprawled out like a black lab laying in the sun on a warm afternoon. He had his head and antlers stretched out on the ground and was oblivious to everything around him.

Dad had a difficult 200 yard shot at a steep downward angle. In addition to being a great father, he was a Marine and served in Vietnam back in the day.

The shot he made would have put a wide grin on any “Leatherneck’s” face. At the report of dad’s 7mm Remington Magnum, the buck flinched slightly, never raised his head and never moved again!

I couldn’t believe it and could do nothing but give my father a huge bear hug. After the celebration, we worked our way down the steep slope of the butte to the creek bottom below and dad’s first mulie buck. It was indeed the unique 3x3 with browtines we had stalked opening weekend, and dad had a smile that covered most of his face!!