Priceless Memories! (long)
11-27-2007, 09:53 AM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Virginia / West Virginia
Posts: 4,906
Priceless Memories! (long)
I had to share a story that has been a huge blessing for me in my life recently. It started on Sat, Nov 17th... it was the rifle opener here in VA. My son Garrett (10) and I had planned all year for this hunt. After makeshifting some clothes together for him (he grew like a weed since last year) we were all set to go to our favorite stand (my favorite anyhow 
). The morning was clear and cold @ 24 degrees. We walked out of the house, and were on stand by 6:25, a tad late actually. First shot was 10 mins after we got there, and a few more the first half hour. We saw 3 sets of deer during the first 90mins, all does and fawns. He was excited, but it was waning quickly the colder he got. I urged him to hang in there, that he couldn't get a chance at his first buck ever....if we were back at the house. He agreed to tough it out a while longer, and he did. About 8:20 we heard some rustling and I scoped it out with my binocs. I could see a deer making its way up through the thick stuff about 100yds away, and saw it had some antler. I had no idea what it was, but told him it was a buck. He got ready....man was he pumped. He had his gun resting on the top rail of the stand, waiting for the deer to get clear. His adrenaline was pumping, and so was mine - for him. Add that to the cold...he was literally shaking like a leaf. He had to kinda stand/squat to get into postion...which made it worse. I would have felt better if he was sitting, but it was so quiet, we couldn't risk moving his seat and making any noise. I even put my arm behind him to make sure he didn't fall, betweenhis shaking like a leaf and the awkward position, it made me feel better at least. I told him to try to calm down, and to take his time. The deer was locked up in a thicket, for literally acoupleminutes, it seemed like forever. Finally he started to move...and was on the go. There was only 1 spot to even get a shot at him...a shooting lane thatwe cut out 2 years ago. I knew by his body language that he wasn't gonna stop, so I told Garrett to get ready and I'd try to stop him. As he entered the lane...I let out a baaaa...he didn't stop. One more time, louder....he stopped right in the lane. I said....there, aim good and take him. Bang...the deer goes down in a forward flip, jumps up and takes off and is out of view in a flash. He was soooo excited he almost started crying, saying "Oh my gosh, I just got my first buck!" over and over. I was excited for him, and tried to calm him down. He said he was right behind the shoulder...I didn't doubt him and based on the deer flippingI figured he took out the offside shoulder on the quartering away shot. I figured that he probably didn't go far. After a 30 minute wait, and alot of talk and hugs....we get down to go check the blood. It was a great trail....he followed it right up on his own, probably 75yds or so. I was elated when we found him...and even more excited to see it was a nice 2.5yr old 7pt buck. Whata great deer for a first buck....and the memories for both of us are priceless. He did a great job putting a perfect double lung shot on him at 80yds....that little .243 is awesome! Here he is.... (see part 2 below...the rest of the story)
Here is where we found him....where he fell...
Here we are together..... what a morning!
Now....for the rest of the story! Sorry guys, I am still excited!!!
We head to WV for our annual opening week at "hunt camp" on Sunday. He's already beaming as we roll into camp...the pressure is off. He has the horns with him to show to all his relatives and friends...and gets lots of praise. Oh, and by the way....5 hours after his kill he says, "dad, my face hurts...I can't stop smiling"
Fast forward to opening morning in WV, Nov 19th....we are on stand before light. We see a few deer and had a doe and little one come right up to us and lock on us for 10 solid minutes, at 20yds. He did a great job not getting busted. We were sitting in a fallen tree top, right on a logging road and they were coming right at us. Momma knew something wasn't right and they eventually turned and went around and down out of sight. It was pretty foggy that morning....couldn't see too well. Right after they left....along comes another one, heading in the same direction, following the doe. I see it, but can't make it out...he says "its a buck dad". I ask, are you sure? He says, yep. I say ok....get ready, I'll try to stop him. 4 tries before he finally stopped at 60yds. Bang, the deer jumps with a mule kick and off he runs out of sight....we heard him crash. He said "Dad, I wasn't even nervous this time" .... just as he began to get the mega shakes after the shot. LOL - it was too funny, we both laughed at him wobbling all over the place! We gave him about 20mins since we wanted to be sure.He went about 75yds as well and was piled up. Garrett (and Dad) couldn't be happier! Here he is....his first WV buck, and just2 days after taking his first buck ever! What a great couple of days! This deer ended up being 2.5 as well....hard to believe but true. I guess my little bud did his job on the management end as well!
We ended up taking a few other bucks that week in camp... no whoppers, but some pretty nice ones for where we hunt.My son also got 3 squirrels after he tagged out, and had a great time hunting with his cousins. We had 2 -10yr olds, and 2 - 13yr olds, hunters in training. All in all a great week, and I never even fired a shot!
Passing the torch is a great thing...I know some of you are doing the same thing, or have already done it. How exciting to see the young kids evolve and grow, and the memories we make are truly priceless.I know for a fact thatmy sonwill never forget one single detail of this week, nor will I. Thank God for the great sport of hunting, and thanks to you guys for listening to me ramble! Now its Dad's turn...back at it with the bow...still looking for a shooter
). The morning was clear and cold @ 24 degrees. We walked out of the house, and were on stand by 6:25, a tad late actually. First shot was 10 mins after we got there, and a few more the first half hour. We saw 3 sets of deer during the first 90mins, all does and fawns. He was excited, but it was waning quickly the colder he got. I urged him to hang in there, that he couldn't get a chance at his first buck ever....if we were back at the house. He agreed to tough it out a while longer, and he did. About 8:20 we heard some rustling and I scoped it out with my binocs. I could see a deer making its way up through the thick stuff about 100yds away, and saw it had some antler. I had no idea what it was, but told him it was a buck. He got ready....man was he pumped. He had his gun resting on the top rail of the stand, waiting for the deer to get clear. His adrenaline was pumping, and so was mine - for him. Add that to the cold...he was literally shaking like a leaf. He had to kinda stand/squat to get into postion...which made it worse. I would have felt better if he was sitting, but it was so quiet, we couldn't risk moving his seat and making any noise. I even put my arm behind him to make sure he didn't fall, betweenhis shaking like a leaf and the awkward position, it made me feel better at least. I told him to try to calm down, and to take his time. The deer was locked up in a thicket, for literally acoupleminutes, it seemed like forever. Finally he started to move...and was on the go. There was only 1 spot to even get a shot at him...a shooting lane thatwe cut out 2 years ago. I knew by his body language that he wasn't gonna stop, so I told Garrett to get ready and I'd try to stop him. As he entered the lane...I let out a baaaa...he didn't stop. One more time, louder....he stopped right in the lane. I said....there, aim good and take him. Bang...the deer goes down in a forward flip, jumps up and takes off and is out of view in a flash. He was soooo excited he almost started crying, saying "Oh my gosh, I just got my first buck!" over and over. I was excited for him, and tried to calm him down. He said he was right behind the shoulder...I didn't doubt him and based on the deer flippingI figured he took out the offside shoulder on the quartering away shot. I figured that he probably didn't go far. After a 30 minute wait, and alot of talk and hugs....we get down to go check the blood. It was a great trail....he followed it right up on his own, probably 75yds or so. I was elated when we found him...and even more excited to see it was a nice 2.5yr old 7pt buck. Whata great deer for a first buck....and the memories for both of us are priceless. He did a great job putting a perfect double lung shot on him at 80yds....that little .243 is awesome! Here he is.... (see part 2 below...the rest of the story) Here is where we found him....where he fell...
Here we are together..... what a morning!
Now....for the rest of the story! Sorry guys, I am still excited!!!
We head to WV for our annual opening week at "hunt camp" on Sunday. He's already beaming as we roll into camp...the pressure is off. He has the horns with him to show to all his relatives and friends...and gets lots of praise. Oh, and by the way....5 hours after his kill he says, "dad, my face hurts...I can't stop smiling"
Fast forward to opening morning in WV, Nov 19th....we are on stand before light. We see a few deer and had a doe and little one come right up to us and lock on us for 10 solid minutes, at 20yds. He did a great job not getting busted. We were sitting in a fallen tree top, right on a logging road and they were coming right at us. Momma knew something wasn't right and they eventually turned and went around and down out of sight. It was pretty foggy that morning....couldn't see too well. Right after they left....along comes another one, heading in the same direction, following the doe. I see it, but can't make it out...he says "its a buck dad". I ask, are you sure? He says, yep. I say ok....get ready, I'll try to stop him. 4 tries before he finally stopped at 60yds. Bang, the deer jumps with a mule kick and off he runs out of sight....we heard him crash. He said "Dad, I wasn't even nervous this time" .... just as he began to get the mega shakes after the shot. LOL - it was too funny, we both laughed at him wobbling all over the place! We gave him about 20mins since we wanted to be sure.He went about 75yds as well and was piled up. Garrett (and Dad) couldn't be happier! Here he is....his first WV buck, and just2 days after taking his first buck ever! What a great couple of days! This deer ended up being 2.5 as well....hard to believe but true. I guess my little bud did his job on the management end as well!
We ended up taking a few other bucks that week in camp... no whoppers, but some pretty nice ones for where we hunt.My son also got 3 squirrels after he tagged out, and had a great time hunting with his cousins. We had 2 -10yr olds, and 2 - 13yr olds, hunters in training. All in all a great week, and I never even fired a shot!
Passing the torch is a great thing...I know some of you are doing the same thing, or have already done it. How exciting to see the young kids evolve and grow, and the memories we make are truly priceless.I know for a fact thatmy sonwill never forget one single detail of this week, nor will I. Thank God for the great sport of hunting, and thanks to you guys for listening to me ramble! Now its Dad's turn...back at it with the bow...still looking for a shooter
11-27-2007, 10:35 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Hampton Virginia
Posts: 1,607
RE: Priceless Memories! (long)
I know what you mean, my 8 year old also got his first deer on the opening day of Va. gun. His was a 97lb doe at 20 yards with a 20 gauge. Congrats to you and your son!!
11-27-2007, 10:45 AM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Virginia / West Virginia
Posts: 4,906
RE: Priceless Memories! (long)
That is great! Congrats to your son as well! I love seeing these youngins take up to the sport. My son got his first last year at 9....a nice doe. This year his goal was to hold out for a buck...LOL, I guess he surpassed his goal! Now I have my 7yr old daughter itching to get one as well. She's still too small, but enjoys going with me.
BTW...sorry for trespassing into the Deer hunting forum
...I normally stay over in the Bowhunting forum...haven't posted here in a really long time, but I felt this one was worth it.
-Mike
BTW...sorry for trespassing into the Deer hunting forum
...I normally stay over in the Bowhunting forum...haven't posted here in a really long time, but I felt this one was worth it. -Mike
11-27-2007, 09:01 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: cazenovia, NY USA
Posts: 2,973
RE: Priceless Memories! (long)
WV - Soooooooooooooooo glad I found your post - thats GREAT and a can relate to every detail with a hint of jealousy. In NY - Our sons cannot gun hunt deeruntil they are 16 years old! Garrett has a lots to be thankful for in a Dad that did it RIGHT! Make sure you tell him its not always so easy!
My Son's 12 - and we hunt together - this was the 1st year Ryan could hunt small game - he took a turkey, some squirrel and we made a ton of memories, that nobady can ever ever take away from us.
Thanks again for the post.
FH
My Son's 12 - and we hunt together - this was the 1st year Ryan could hunt small game - he took a turkey, some squirrel and we made a ton of memories, that nobady can ever ever take away from us.
Thanks again for the post.
FH
11-27-2007, 09:22 PM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Virginia / West Virginia
Posts: 4,906
RE: Priceless Memories! (long)
FH, thanks bud! Yes, you can be sure that he has already gotten the talk about how its not always that easy!
(Heck I bowhunted in IL for a week this year and didn't kill one, and on TV there is a P&Y behind every tree!) LOL
Congrats on you and Ryans hunts as well. I feel bad for you guys that can't have your kids hunt deer until they are so much older. I feel the states are doing a disservice to their youth. I can agree that many kids under 16 are very immature, and I can only assume that is why they have the rules that way - maybe they feel they will just be out hunting. I will probably have him hunting WITH me for quite a while....no way he is ready to be on his own for several years maybe 3 or4. The law should be they can't go without an adult.I know the memories we made this past week can never disappear....and he has the fever now. He loves it and I'd say there is a good chance he will be a lifelong hunter. Either way,I am blessed.
-Mike
(Heck I bowhunted in IL for a week this year and didn't kill one, and on TV there is a P&Y behind every tree!) LOL
Congrats on you and Ryans hunts as well. I feel bad for you guys that can't have your kids hunt deer until they are so much older. I feel the states are doing a disservice to their youth. I can agree that many kids under 16 are very immature, and I can only assume that is why they have the rules that way - maybe they feel they will just be out hunting. I will probably have him hunting WITH me for quite a while....no way he is ready to be on his own for several years maybe 3 or4. The law should be they can't go without an adult.I know the memories we made this past week can never disappear....and he has the fever now. He loves it and I'd say there is a good chance he will be a lifelong hunter. Either way,I am blessed.
-Mike