2015 - Dan Dalzell shoots first buck at age 31
Unlike 11-year-old Cameron Richards, who recently made headlines with an impressive 13-point buck, it took a little longer for Dan Dalzell to harvest his first whitetail buck.
November 17, 2015 • Voyageur Press
The 31-year-old finally reached that milestone on opening weekend, bringing down a 177-pound, eight-point buck near Lawler, Minnesota.
Dalzell, who has hunted off and on since he was old enough to purchase a license, admits there have been a few missed opportunities along the way.
“I’ve missed some deer,” Dan said. “This time I finally had one stop close enough, and I was prepared.”
Originally from Sartell, Minnesota, Dalzell enjoys traveling north to Lawler each fall to take part in a family hunting tradition that has continued for decades.
“We hunt on my uncle Steve’s property that was purchased in the late '80s,” he explained. “We typically come up in the fall for prep work and to open the cabin. We have a great bonding between uncles and cousins.”
The annual gathering is about much more than hunting. Family traditions include stops at Jack’s Shack and Jackson’s Hole for dinner, while lunch is often enjoyed around the fire pit on the back side of the property.
“It is there that we exchange stories about who saw what,” Dalzell said.
This year's wildlife sightings provided plenty of conversation. His cousin Blake spotted both a lynx and a porcupine. In previous years, the family has encountered a pack of four wolves, bears and other wildlife.
The hunting group also has its own traveling trophy for the biggest buck — a hat proudly labeled “Buckmaster.” Unfortunately, Dalzell's eight-pointer wasn't quite large enough to claim the coveted prize.
That honor remains with his cousin Nash, who continues to wear the Buckmaster hat.
Although Dan didn't bring home the traveling trophy, he did leave Lawler with something just as meaningful: his first buck and another memorable chapter in a family hunting tradition.