Happy New Year’s Eve! It’s crazy that we are already saying goodbye to 2025. From a personal outdoor standpoint, it was an outstanding and bountiful year that included bobcats to woodcocks, and everything in between. Even an unfilled bear tag wasn’t too disappointing because it was a hoot sitting over a bait station waiting for the big black bruin to show up. The best way to end the year was by bagging a buck during the deer season. In case you’ve been wondering, here is my report on how my cronies did.  

Whammer, Garret and Dan. The first two are my natural born brothers and the latter is my unofficial brother. All three pitched a shutout but not for lack of opportunity. They had chances, just not chances at a mature buck. That makes them selective, which is a good trait to have if you want a chance at a bigger buck next year.

Uncle Frank. The old buck hunter went buckless this year and not because he was selective, but because not a single buck walked by him. How do I know that? Because if one had, it would have ended up in the back of his truck. He never met a buck he didn’t want to shoot. I should add that Uncle Andy bagged a real nice eight-pointer and Uncle Chuck bagged an eight-pointer and a doe.

Ricky, my Canadian musky net man. To be clear, he’s not from Canada, he goes with me to Canada. He had an interesting opening day of deer season. He spent the day in the boat trying to get his girlfriend Aimee a musky because she had fished all season and had not boated a thing. Both were rewarded when Ricky dipped a 48-inch musky for her. Not only was that her first of the year, it was also her new personal record. That’s not much of a deer story but it’s an awesome musky story.  

Big River Rich. He finished the seasons with his buck tag still intact and in his back pocket. His lack of success does not match the level of time invested in that he has become skilled at the game of patience. He will sit all day and then some. I’m sure that he will make it out during the late metro season so the report on BRR is TBC. 

Max. He shot a nice buck with his bow earlier this year, making it easier to pass on bucks during the gun and muzzleloader seasons. A buck in the freezer goes a long ways towards handing out free passes during the latter seasons.

Ted. He bagged a really nice archery buck. Normally it would have been a buck big enough to buy a round of drinks for your friends to celebrate but it was unusual in that the buck was wounded and would not have survived. Ted put the buck down and tagged it. There wasn’t a skillful shot or a magic moment of truth, just a value judgment for mercy. Hats off to Ted for making the just decision.  

River Falls Rich and his 88-year-old father Chuck. No report received so I suspect that equals no buck. I do expect to hear from them this coming April for the spring turkey season.

Darla Fisher. She is my deer hunting idol and she bagged one of the biggest bucks within my inner circle of hunting cronies. This great grandmother didn’t just luck into a buck, she collects mature bucks. Congrats again Darla.

Another season has come and gone and all that’s left are the stories because everyone who hunted has a story. If you want to share your story, log onto Facebook at the address listed below so that we can all read about it.

Didn’t get enough Dave this week? Visit “Outdoor Trails and Tales with Dave Beck” on Facebook or at  ottwithdavebeck on Instagram for photos and video of Dave’s adventures. You can share your own photos and video with him there as well, or by emailing him at dave@piercecountyjournal.news Also, check out OTT content on Instagram @thepiercecountyjournal