September 25, 2017 by Shawn Chittim
In 2016, when the Rickert family entrusted us with the wildlife management and restoration on their Bella Vista Ranch, we knew it had the genetics and historical foundation to become a destination location for quality blacktail hunting. We dreamed of producing quality hunting oppourtunities for our clients. We are extemely fortunate to have a partner in the Rickert family that understood the long term commitment it would take to build this program. In 2017, when we decided to participate in the Private Lands Management Program offered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, we knew it would be a great tool to meet our long term goals and offer great benefits to the residential and migratory deer that utilize this 5,200 acre gem.
However, we never expected to put a Buck-of-a-Lifetime on the ground so soon, nor can we expect to top this "Huge Shasta County Blacktail anytime in the near future.
As part of our conservative management approach we elected to harvest only 3 bucks in 2016. In 2017, we increased our harvest to 4 bucks. Our new opening was quickly snatched up by a savy hunter. When a returning hunter elected to vacate his deer tag for our 2017 Landowner Archery Elk Tag, Chris L. filled his spot. Neither Shelley nor I knew that decision would lead to a buck of this caliber, who could of.
We had previously only seen this buck on two occasions in the last year. We originally thought he was a migratory deer but in late July in fading light, we spotted him with another buck in full velvet. He was a resident valley buck of the oaks, he some how had eluded our constant surveillance and web of trail cameras that we monitor 365. A special blacktail buck, cagey to the end.
We had postedponed Chris's hunt on 3 differnt occasions, it was early in the season, it was hot, he was hunting elk in Oregon, family and business priorities. In the meantime, we had conducted 2 other sucessful blacktail hunts. On Sunday, we decided that we'd hunt that morning and basically tour the ranch, "who knows we might get lucky". We looked for bucks that we knew were around but no avail, we watch bugling bulls sort their harem of cows, and we even passed on an oppourtunity to kill a boar, which we rarely do. Elected to go down a really bad road instead of another, park in a spot a little farther back then normal, had we changed our timing or any of these series of events, we would most likely not stumbled on to this buck in his bed.
Very rarely is justice served in hunting, I've been around it along time and I'm sure you hunters can relate. You do everything right, work hard, hike farther and do the moral and ethical things that only you know is done during the hunt. In the end, you've had a great hunt but that cherry of success on top eluded you.
Shelley and I had not met Chris L. until this past Sunday morning and it did not take us long to know that he was as passionate as us about hunting. For those of you that don’t know Chris L., he is a man of faith, a family man and dedicated to his business and his friends, I had known this from our mutual acquaintances. He’s a deserving guy, that talks the talk, walks the walk and does things the right way. He likes to support and share what he values about hunting as he has done in the past with Ventures West @ventureswesttv
When Chris and I walked up on this super buck laying in his bed in the oaks, it was a surreal event. This buck had lived long enough to know he was had but his instincts kicked in, we were at a standoff at 139 yards. We were stuck with no option for a shot unless he stood up, but the fear of him going from bedded to running was real. We couldn’t lay down for a shot the grass was too tall, we couldn’t grab a rest on a nearby oak because the angles were wrong. We had from his right eye guard his head, 8 inches of neck and about 4 inches of the top of his shoulder, no chance of a shot. Of course, we had no idea exactly how big he truly was, we just knew he was “a shooter”.
As Chris and I contemplated what to do, I opted to head back for the Bog Pod. Shelley who had been watching us had already figured that out and was headed our way with them. As I turned to meet her I told Chris to put him back down if he got up, I turned my back took 3 steps towards Shelley and this buck figured he had his chance and stood up to leave, just as quickly the rifle reported and it was over. There was justice in hunting today.
As Chris, Shelley and I walked up to this buck, we realized how super he was, he grew with every step. Only a hunter's heart knows the elation you feel when you take such a magnificent animal and only a true sportsman knows the reverence, admiration and remorse you have simultaneously. It a tough balance for those who appreciate and value the very animals we hunt, but no one is a bigger conservationist than a sportsman. This was very apparent as we approached this super buck.
We share this buck because he is magnificent and a true buck-of-a-lifetime and deserves to be shared and admired, we owe him that. We assisted in providing an opportunity in hunting and harvesting him, everything else is owed to this super buck. He eluded everything and everyone including our trail cameras, he had at some point broke his right back leg and it had grown back solid and welded. He is somewhere north of 7 ½ years old and has a heavy, long, wide rack. It’s 27” wide, 5 x4, green gross scores 181 5/8” and has 6” bases. He made one mistake and we just happened to be there to capitalize on it, nothing less and nothing more.
Shelley and I appreciate the opportunity to be involved in the hunt and being there with Chris on his successful hunt. Thank you for hunting with SC2 Outdoors!!!
Posted in: California Deer Hunting
