That Buck Fever Just Won't Break!

Opening day for deer and elk is October 25th and as each day winds to an end, all the hunters out there will be slashing another day from their mental calendars with anticipation. As you can probably imagine most twelve year olds right now are chomping at the bit, anxiously awaiting that first day and its first light that will bring them closer to harvesting their first animal.

38 year old Mark O'Toole was no different. Born and raised in Sidney, he has left no rock unturned, no trail unexplored, dedicating untold hours and miles to that small window of opportunity we are allowed each year to shoot our prey. He remembers getting his first buck when he was twelve. A mule deer to be precise, with his father by his side. "I remember the excitement I felt and I still have the horns. It was a two by two and I got him out by Richey. My dad was there with me and his friend, Andy Bidwell, the Middle School science teacher at the time." However, O'Toole jokingly admits that he wasn't brave enough to clean an animal until he was around fifteen.

Mark has his own family now with his own child to pass his skill set to. His wife Tami and daughter Abby both started using bows for the first time this year. "I like to bow hunt but I love getting out there with my .300 Winchester during deer season. I just like being there with my family or friends. Last year I met Kelly Lambert and his 14 year old son Trenton. They weren't familiar with the area or know a lot of places they could go, so I offered to take them with me. We went out a few times and saw a lot of deer but the opportunity never presented itself. We came back the next week and must have walked over a mile without seeing anything so we turned around and began the long walk back to the truck. As we were almost to the doors, this huge buck mule deer jumps out from this coulee across from us. It was a six by six and Trenton ended up shooting him with his .243."