BUCK

Last evening of the last day of Eastern Washington’s rifle mule deer season was a sweet one for Clay Hanson, here with his first big game critter. He bagged this buck with his dad Cole’s .243, a first for the firearm as well.

(COAST PHOTO CONTEST)

Cash Craig, 11, stuck to it after striking out the first three days of his anydeer youth tag, tagging this two-point within 30 minutes of taking the field on his hunt’s second weekend. He bagged it with a 100-yard shot out of his .243 and was “pretty stoked to get a buck for his first deer,” stated his dad, Nathan. (COAST PHOTO CONTEST)

“Another year in the books” –our Big Game Yearbook, that is, for Jack and Carly Benson! Their dad says it’s getting harder to get his kiddos afield, what with school and sports, but he appreciates the time they do get to spend hunting. Carly got first dibs last October, anchoring her nice three-pointer (bottom) on opening weekend, then Jack (this image) “was super patient, looking over a couple smaller ones until he found one worth taking.” Both Benson bucks were harvested in Walla Walla County. (COAST PHOTO CONTEST)