Page 25 - September/October Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine

That evening, father and son made their way PROVIDED
to the blind, hoping to ambush a nice young
eight point that had been a regular on the
game camera. Parking the four-wheeler among
the cows, they were in the blind by 5 p.m.
Walker was set up, and Weston was helping
him watch outside. They talked about hunts in
the past, and father shared stories with his son
about much how hunting has changed since
he took his first deer many years ago.
The cool evening air was relaxing. Then they
saw a big buck moving through around 6:20 p.m.
It was more than 125 yards away and never pre-
sented a shot that was reasonable for a 7-year-
old. Walker has killed deer and hogs before,
putting every shot behind the shoulder out to 80
yards. But Weston felt his son’s range needed to
be limited to under 100 yards, and Dad held to it
as they let the buck walk out of sight.
Walker was disappointed. But less than 15
minutes later a young five-point came out and
gave him a broadside shot within his range.
Weston assumed Walker would shoot it, but Right then Walker said he sees a deer com- Walker Lovell’s big buck
green-scored 183 7/8ths.
his son turned toward him and asked, “Do you ing in fast, and it was the big one! It came
think the big one will come back?” within 50 yards! Unable to see the deer himself
“Maybe,” Weston told his son. The young because his view was blocked, Weston knew
protégé watched the little buck graze through he wasn’t able to say much for certain as he
the opening in the blind. coached Walker to take his time, pick a spot
After watching it for 10 minutes or so, Walker behind the shoulder, and squeeze the trigger.
decided to shoot. For the first time in his life, Weston said it seemed like a really long wait,
he missed a deer! Somehow he slipped in his but Walker took the shot!
chair and bumped the tripod rest just as he The buck dropped in its tracks! Walker
squeezed the trigger. But the deer just ran went super happy, almost tearing the blind
a short distance into the woods, and Walker down to get out and race to the buck. The
made a nice scope-ring bruise above his eye! Thompson Contender in 300 Blackout had
Bruised or not, Weston got his son out of the done its job. Weston said he walked up to the
blind to go check for hair and blood. They largest white-tailed buck he’d ever seen on
didn’t see the small buck until they got close the hoof. That buck green-scored 183 7/8ths,
to where it had been standing, and the little and easily topped the whitetails Weston him-
buck trotted off unharmed. self had taken.
Double checking to make sure there was no Walker stayed up until 2 the next morning,
blood, Weston told Walker they had about 15 helping his dad with every aspect of harvest-
minutes of legal shooting light left. They head- ing both deer. The boy is learning how to do it
ed for the blind. Weston got in with him and all — and how to do it right!
started texting his wife to tell her about the Needless to say, the young man is a hunter.
hunting trip’s results. And chances are he will be a hunter for life!

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