Hunter Kysela bags a big buck in Blaine County

During muzzleloader season, which ends today, Kysela returned to the same hunting spot and killed the biggest buck he's ever taken, a 15-pointer.

“It didn't weigh as much, probably 150, but still huge,” Kysela said. “I couldn't believe our luck that myself and my son could take two huge bucks from this property. They will both feed our family the rest of the year.”

By Joe Kysela

On the morning of the youth hunting season, Hunter and I were sitting in a buddy stand between a wheat field and the hillside.

At 7::20 a.m., I saw a large deer crossing the hillside in the plum thickets. I looked through the binoculars and saw it was a nice buck, but since it was so early, we couldn't really tell how big.

I ranged the deer at 179 yards. I didn't want Hunter shooting that far. I had him switch places with me since I was on the side of the deer. I told Hunter to get ready and I would grunt at the buck that was now moving farther away with each second.

Hunter was shooting an AR-15 in 6.8 SPC as he had the two previous seasons, and he is deadly with it. I grunted and the buck stopped and looked our way. I grunted softly one more time and here he came.

The buck was coming hard. I told Hunter to get ready. The next time I lased the buck, he was stopped, quartering to us at 79 yards, well within range. I told Hunter to stay calm and aim for the crease where the neck and shoulder meet, and to slowly squeeze the trigger.