I expect this weekend to be the peak weekend for the rut, but before then a nice first antlered buck from youth season by John Kalady.
He made his memory near Savanna. He was hunting with Fred Hebeler (back above) on a trip his dad Gus Kalady bought at a National Wild Turkey Federation banquet.
“The second hour on stand, a small six meandered out and my son asked for me to pass him the 20-gauge Browning A5,” Kalady emailed. “I told him, `No, this deer was too young; let him grow up.’ He replied, `No Dad, the deer behind him,’ which I did not even see.”
The 14-year-old from Schaumburg made a perfect shot and his father proud.
BOTW, the celebration of big bucks taken by hunters around Chicago outdoors, began last week, a bit early this fall. Send nominations on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).