First-time buck still in velvet

Eleven-year-old Zack Pletcher had a big surprise when he shot his first buck last week — the mule deer was still in velvet, which is rare this late in the year.

Under the state’s new hunting regulations, Zack is allowed to hunt before he turns 12 so long as his birthday occurs before the year ends. Zack’s birthday falls on Dec. 29.

The Pletcher family had been hunting most of the season and were trying to help Zack get his first buck, his mother Anita explained.

“We were on the east side of the mountains hunting on Nov. 18 when my husband Dave spotted a herd of deer in a ravine about a mile away,” she said. “He told Zack, ‘I think there might be a buck in the group. Do you want to go after them?’”

Zack said yes and the family group, including 16-year-old brother Kodi, got their stuff together and headed out. They climbed a ridge where they could see the deer and spotted a buck. While Dave tried to line up that buck, he spotted another and their plans changed.

“Dave and Kodi got Zack lined up on this buck, and Zack was just waiting for the buck to turn broadside for a shot, but when the buck turned broadside, he immediately bedded down,” Anita explained.

The buck was 345 yards away. Dave told Zack which dot in the scope to use and where to hold it on the buck, and Zack made a perfect shot.

“When we walked up on the buck, we were all shocked that it was still in velvet but knew it was a once in a lifetime buck, and it was Zack’s first deer,” Anita said.

Zack has gone hunting with the family for the last few years and always looked up to his brother Kodi, who loves to hunt. Kodi got his first buck four years earlier — also on the last Sunday before Thanksgiving Day.

“Hunting is one thing we enjoy to do as a family because it makes great memories and we always have a great time spending time together in the wilderness — even with all the hiking,” Anita said.