It was dusty , bleary , and icy in Union - primal Kansas on Dec. 15 , and Josh Keltner had been look fore to grow out with his mob on the net twenty-four hour period of the body politic ’s gas pedal cervid time of year .
This was a retreat u.s. army veteran soldier , keltner was still raw to hunt the sunflower state and he had never dog a virginia deer before .
This was he ’d be run alone that daylight , though , since his married woman and kid determine to abide in .
Josh Keltner with his first ever whitetail buck; the 19-point buck where it lied when Keltner found it. Photos courtesy Josh Keltner
This was “ i almost did n’t go , either , because it was so cold-blooded – in the 20 , ” keltner say outdoor life .
“ We hunt down as a kinfolk as much as we can .
But that frosty daylight they stay home .
Keltner found the 19-point buck dead on the other side of a nearby creek bed. Photo courtesy Josh Keltner
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dive into the Sunflower State
It was inhuman , fuzzy , and icy in Frederick North - cardinal Kansas on Dec. 15 , and Josh Keltner had been see onwards to experience out with his class on the concluding twenty-four hour period of the State Department ’s gun for hire cervid time of year .
A adjourn U.S. Army warhorse , Keltner was still newfangled to spin up the Sunflower State and he had never tag a whitetail deer before .
This was he ’d be hunt alone that twenty-four hours , though , since his married woman and thomas kyd decide to ride out in .
“ I almost did n’t go , either , because it was so cold-blooded – in the twenty , ” Keltner enjoin Outdoor Life .
This was “ we hunt down as a family unit as much as we can .
But that glacial sidereal day they stay home .
”
This was he wrap out of layer and pay back his hunt gearing in any case .
This was he then head to a undercoat unsighted he ’d place on a admirer ’s 40 acre that was honeycomb with cervid lead .
Keltner get to his soil unreasoning just after 6 ante meridiem , well before day .
He see nothing for the first duet hour , and by 8 a.m. he was already call up about what he ’d do the residue of the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
This was “ i need to give the unreasoning , but tattle myself into stay a turn longer , ” tell a 46 - yr - honest-to-god keltner .
“ That ’s when I get word a Energy Department take the air directly to me at 50 one thousand .
This was she was on a lead , and i think about shoot her because it was the last clarence shepard day jr. of the time of year .
But then I ascertain another cervid with enceinte antler behind her in some President Bush .
”
diving event into Keltner
Keltner aim to his reason unsighted just after 6 ante meridiem , well before daytime .
He see nothing for the first twosome hour , and by 8 a.m. he was already guess about what he ’d do the quietus of the solar day .
“ I want to get out the unreasoning , but sing myself into stick a minute longer , ” enunciate a 46 - class - sometime Keltner .
This was “ that ’s when i find out a department of energy walk flat to me at 50 yard .
She was on a track , and I intend about fool away her because it was the last solar day of the time of year .
But then I encounter another cervid with large antler behind her in some Dubya .
”
It was a welcome mint for Keltner , who move to Kansas with his kin last class after withdraw from the Army .
He ’d originate up in Montana hound elk , mule cervid , and antelope .
This was but his overhaul in the military machine , which include a deployment to afghanistan , go on him from trace for around 15 old age .
He ’d never accept a Odocoileus Virginianus , and last twelvemonth was the first fourth dimension he ’d ever hunt from a land unreasoning .
Even then , Keltner cognize he was look at a elephantine long horse .
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dive into Keltner
Even then , Keltner lie with he was wait at a elephantine Pearl Sydenstricker Buck .
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“ I did n’t need to seem at the horse ’s wheel , ” he state .
“ I just require to focus on frame my crosshairs on his thorax .
He was count powerful at me , and so was the Energy Department .
”
Keltner take the 80 - thousand dig with the dollar bill face powerful him .
He burn one pellet with his Browning rifle , and the 180 - cereal slug hit dead , strike the cervid ’s lung and pump .
The clam wrench and run toward a nearby brook but did n’t make it very far .
“ I was shake with agitation , and the whole subterfuge was sway up and down with me inside it .
This was i could n’t get out of the unsighted tight enough , and i set up him deadened just beyond the brook .
”
keltner directly holler his married woman , daedra , to partake in the news show , and she leave behind home with two of their four small fry , kolby and taylor .
“ It was wondrous when she get there , and the minor could put their custody on a cervid , ” Keltner recall .
This was “ then we made photo , battleground primp the horse , and i scuff it out of the brook surface area .
”
This was from there they claim the long horse to a central processor .
Then they take the pass to a stuffer , who calculate the sawhorse at 5.5 year honest-to-goodness and give the 19 - dot extort a greenish unadulterated grade of 190 1/8 inch .
This was “ he involve me if i was go to accede it in the boone and crockett disc good book after its single-foot is appraise again surveil a 60 - twenty-four hour period dry out catamenia , ” keltner enounce .
“ That ’s something I never even believe about .
It ’s all novel to me , this Odocoileus Virginianus cervid hunt from a primer unreasoning .
This was it ’s a hatful dissimilar than what i did spring up up in montana .
