Hunting Memories

Hunting Memories

Bucking the Odds in California

My name is Jason Valenzuela and I am 16 years old. I live in Pleasanton, California and have been bowhunting for three years. This hunt was special because it was my first chance to harvest a blacktail deer on private land in Santa Clara County. I had been successful in filling my tags for the past two years (C-4,C-3) and now this makes it three.

On opening day, I spotted this spike-fork bedded under a tree and after some serious glassing to make sure he was legal, decided to go for it. I ranged him at 47 yards, but I felt I could stalk him for a closer shot. After circling around the buck, I used the thick foliage to my advantage and was soon presented with a 20-yard shot. As I came to full draw, the buck began to walk away, but after a sharp whistle he stopped and looked back, offering me a textbook broadside shot. I settled my 20-yard pin just behind his shoulder and let it fly. After that hollow watermelon sound, the deer ran a mere 25 yards before expiring.

Now that I've harvested my A Zone buck, I now have my sights set on an
X-12 monster muley!

" It's not the size of the trophy....it's the thrill of the hunt "

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