North Dakota early season is a whitetail hunters dream, Velvet deer, long days and usually nice weather. This years early season paid off only for two of the four that made the long 14 hour trip. My wife Michelle and my good friend Boone both shot velvet deer.(Something I am still tring to do) Michelle's which was mentioned in an earlier story was a good 9 point which was filmed for the Archers Choice TV show and shot on her first night in stand.

Michelles Velvet Buck

Boone was the next up to bat and hit it out of the park with a great looking main frame 10 point with matching stickers off his G-2's and stickers off his bases.

Boone and his full velvet trophy

So the year started out great but the weather turned ugly so Dad and I came home empty handed (which wasn't the first time and probably not the last).We headed back home and hunted a lot but just couldn't wait to get back to the North Dakota woods. We called our buddy Eldon at Two River Outfitters to ask if he had any late season openings and what the chances of us coming back out to bug him again were. We talked a few times and decided to head out to start hunting the Monday after Thanksgiving or the day after Rifle season ended. Things looked good as one of the early season bucks we were after had made it through the gun gauntlet and was hopefully waiting our arrival.

Early season velvet photo

Late season photo 4 days before our arrival

Along with this buck he was getting 4 or 5 other good shooter bucks. Things were looking good.

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These are the other four we knew of. Dad and I were ready to get back in the stand as was another hunter in camp Ken. Ken was primed and up for the task as were Dad and I so we thought. Late season in North Dakota can be a very unpleasant thing at the end of November as we soon found out. Monday morning greeted us with 18 below wind chills and not a much brighter outlook for the week. However Dad had a great morning seeing 5 different bucks along with two good shooter bucks. The better of the two ran a doe within 15 yards of him but wouldn't stop when he needed him to and when he finally did he wouldn't step out from behind the pucker brush for a shot.

My morning was uneventful and cold. The afternoon found us battling cold winds. Sticking it out was our only option and worth the wait as just minutes before legal shooting hours ended the big nine point stepped out of the brush following a hot doe and my Spitfire tipped Beaman found its mark 34 yards later. The buck went only 50 yards before coming to his final resting place. Going to the truck to get help we find Ken and Dad waiting and let them in on the news. It is going to be a long night but well worth it.

The -15 degree buck Took off my outer layers for pics and last about 5 minutes(crazy)

Dad and I with the deer

After the long night things get worse in the weather department and wind chills hit the - 30 plus below mark. The next two days are hoping for a break but we don't get one and Dad comes home empty handed. My hats off to him though as he did try it but just couldn't hack the cold. See 15 years ago Dad had his Aortic valve replaced and is now on blood thinners and other meds that make him get cold easily so for him just to try it and have the will to go out in weather like he did makes me have the utmost respect for the man and there is always next year. I want to thank Eldon and Archers Choice Media, my wife, dad and friends. Also I want to say congrats to Ken for shooting a good 8 point on his last day as he was only able to hunt a few days due to the weather also.

Ken and his last day buck (three days after we were home) Weather at least warm into the low 20's in positive numbers

Lastly I want to thank Ken and Eldon for the great job they did dragging my deer out of the timber so I could admire him : > ) Ok so I didn't make them drag it all the way out!!