1st Hunt-1st Shot-Monster Doe
 

This Saturday was opening day for deer gun season (for youth hunters.)

I am so proud of my 14 year old son I just wanted to brag on him for a minute. My wife and I work hard at trying to build confidence in his abilities yet he is never sure of himself and holds his head low (even though he is almost 6 feet tall...lol).

My son, who is very shy, has had to overcome major learning disability's in his education, and that has given him little confidence in himself.

He finally gained the courage to fire a gun last year. And to our dismay, he could hit bullseye's at 50 yards using the new H@R Riffled 20 gauge slug gun I bought him as a gift. We then took him to a hunters safety course where with tremendous trepidation he passed with a score of 97.

As he gained confidence with shooting and practicing playfully on paper targets within the home I became confident he could hunt this upcoming youth season.

I had two safety concerns that had to be addressed. One, his line of sight must be unabated (edge of field), and his mother (who also hunts) must sit with him and give the ok before the gun could be fired. To keep him from being to nervous, I would sit in a stand 50 yards to his backside.

I wanted him to have the experience of a lifetime so I set him up on a spot where I consistently see 20 to 30 deer each day (no big bucks of course) during the rut weeks.

So in his stand at 5:15 in the am (with small grumblings) -way before light, he and his mom sat.

However, the morning of the hunt was warm, and no deer was seen until 8:30 am, out at 190 yards. By lunch we called it quits on that field and I took him to some other woodlands to post, while I drove the brush and hopefully the deer to him. Unfortunately, no deer were seen at all.

Thankfully he just smiled and enjoyed the day. It simply was a gorgeous day with lots of sun and cool breezes. I told him there was just one more chance. To go back to where we were in the morning.

It was a long sit for a young man. I put him and his mother in the stand two hours before dark, knowing the deer would come out just before dark.

Well, that just what happened. It was so incredible to see the orange silhouette of my son aim and shoot in front of himself out into the soy field.

Tuns out, he had 20 dear around his stand and another dozen in the open field. But the largest deer, the "big ones" as he called it were at 100 yards. To my wife's amazement, he choose to not shoot the smaller deer close by but rather picked a large older deer in the open pack.

With a quit whisper, he got the ok and then fired my wife said.

Mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. I tell you. My heart never beat so hard. I was so excited as a father to see what happened.

By the time I got to his stand all I could see is my son bopping up and down saying I got him, I got Him!!!!

Got HER he did. Classic bang - flop! Deer dropped flat? Unbelievable!

With all the deer I have shot, that has never happened...lol

Anyway, we hugged, hi-fived, and jumped for joy. This 170 lbs doe stands at 6 foot 9 inches in the picture (you can see me in the back. I am 6'4 and 300lbs.)

Largest doe I have ever seen up close. My doe I took with a bow this year was half this size...lol!

So his first hunt, single shot, and ultimate harvest. Man, you got to love that.


D

Indeed i do!

Doug100g

A BIG Congratulations to your son!

Great read and what a perfect story....

Thanks Ron and Sabotloader.

Because I usually tag out early each year, I made Muzzleloading my hobbie for 2010, in order to bring fresh interest into deer hunting. This will be my first year using a muzzy for all season's. It was a tough choice because we all know what opening day is like.:devil:

However, my largest deer harvested did not get my heart racing like watching your own kid on his first hunt pulling the trigger. I got to tell ya, I had no idea how this memory will always effect me. I was still shaking the next morning...lol

When my daughter starts to hunt, which will be soon, I think I will have a heart attack from the excitement. She is 12 and has always helped process the deer since she was little, but soon it will be her turn to pull the trigger.




D

Fantastic write up. Congratulations there young man on one of the best doe I saw in a long time. I have shot a lot of doe in my life and I can tell you.. that is a big doe.

What kind of rifle were you shooting? What load were you shooting? By the way, great shot. Congratulations on a great deer. Also great job Dad for getting your son into this sport ...

Thanks cayugad.

The gun was a single shot Harrington & Richardson and New England Firearms, 20 gauge (riffled) with a true glow red dot 30mm sight.

The sabot was a Lightfield, 20 guage, 2 -3/4 Hybred exp.

The stand was a two seat-er at 14 feet.

The shot was ranged by my wife and I at 97 yards. It was a spine shot directly above the crest of the shoulder. Great right to left but 5 inches high.

The lead barley mushroomed and was in perfect shape. It is sitting on my sons bed as we speak.


D

Also, my son wanted me to tell you that we have a local Amish man who makes our deer scent. I have no idea what is in it, but them deer love it.

We also take 20 frozen apples (locally grown) and rub them on the trees and on ourselves. And throw the rest out into the open.
We then take the deer scent and make 6 scrapes and 4 walk lanes right to the stand. And the deer lanes (travel trails) are 200 yards (fanned) in the upwind direction.

The deer followed the west trail right to the stand. He had a large 6 point buck right under his stand...lol They could see him munching on one of the apples. I have never seen that before. Apples are for cover scent. But he must have been hungry for it.

I just told my son to realize that what happened that day is not the norm, rather to just enjoy the memory and realize that hunting is a lot more work than this.;)

D

great story Doug100g.isn't it great when our children do good.congrats to you and your son,i'm sure you will cherish that moment forever......karl

That was one great story! Congratulations to your Son.

Good times! Congrats to your son.