Post by wtlhaven on Oct 12, 2009 18:47:09 GMT -5
Well folks, this is the best year I have ever had deer hunting, and I haven't even got a shot at a deer yet. After sitting with Tristan on the youth hunt a couple weeks back and being with him to take his youth deer, I thought the season was off to a great start. Actually if no other deer fell to us, it would have been a great year. Little did I know, the season was about to get even better. Well, last night Tristan took his first deer with his bow. We've been hunting hard since Oct. 1st, but have been having a tough time getting on a deer in bow range. Actually I think the closest deer up until last night has been at 60 yds.. We had plans on hunting our bean patch last night, but on the way we would have to pass our Alfa-Rack plot. As I peeked up and into the field, there stands this button buck feasting away. He was right at 22 yds.. We were in the shadows and he had no idea we were there at all. This gave me the chance to get Tristan postioned up in front of me. At that time the deer was lined up with a fairly large tree, so I told Tristan to take a couple steps closer but to stay in line with the tree so he wouldn't get picked off. Well, he made it that few extra feet cutting the distance to 20 yds. The deer finally turned and started feeding to our left which brought him out from behind the tree, but still no shot due to a patch of ragweed to the right of the tree. Between the tree and weed patch there was about a 6" gap, or hole, that I asked him if he thought he could shoot thru. He says "I think so". From seeing him shoot thru the summer, I was completely confident he could make the shot, so I told him to go for it. He did have to take one step to the left so he could line himself up with the vitals a little better and as he did that the deer heard or seen him and looked up just as Tristan was drawing his bow. Knowing the deer would drop especially since it was alert and since his bow isn't very fast, I told him to take a heart shot. He did great taking his time aiming just like he should and when he released the arrow, I seen it hit centered top to bottom, but just a little bit back. With his low poundage bow, I've been telling him it's better to aim a bit back from the back of the leg instead of trying to squeeze it in right behing the leg and taking the chance of hitting the shoulder. Well here's where I made a mistake. When he was getting ready to shoot, I didn't realize the deer's leg was back until he shot and I seen where the arrow went as it turned to run off and I seen the arrow sticking out of both sides back a little further than wanted. In the middle of all the excitement, it's amazing the things you just don't pick out until it's too late. But fortunatly, the arrow placement was a killing shot. Knowing it was a marginal shot, we elected to go ahead and hunt the bean patch until dark and then go recover his deer. WOW, was that the longest hunt ever! Once it got dark, we headed back up and picked up the blood trail where it had ran into the woods from the field. After a good 30 yd trail, blood started getting sparse. We followed it another 30-40 yds and I chose to back out and return this morning so we didn't risk jumping it and never finding it. I knew the temps were going to be cool enough that it should be fine over night as long as the yotes didn't find it, so we backed out. After a restless night, we returned early this morning for Tristan to find his deer not 20 minutes into the search. After a bunch of hugs and high fives, it was time for some pictures, and then for the work to begin.
This day by far was better than any other hunt I've ever had. I couldn't be prouder of him for what he's accomplished so far. I'm one proud Pops!!!!
I'm sure that there are a few poeple out there that would object to a kid being this young and bow hunting. But, this was a hard earned, and well deserved deer for him. I'm not saying that because he is my son, but because he's earned it. He's been shooting this bow for the past 2 years and has grown into it and will continue to grow into it. Back in March he joined a youth archery club at a local Fish & Game club and has shot each week with a group of other youngsters like him. He learned a lot from that such as repetition and form. When here at home, I had it set up so he could go out and shoot any time he wanted to from 20 yds at a bag target, plus I set up a Delta deer target in the woods in the bottom so he could shoot it from in top of the hill as if he was taking a tree stand shot. He's put the time in, he's made the legal draw weight, and he was determined. That's all I needed to see for me to let him go after his first bow deer! Can't be any happier with my decision either! ;D
His brothers getting in on the excitement!
This day by far was better than any other hunt I've ever had. I couldn't be prouder of him for what he's accomplished so far. I'm one proud Pops!!!!
I'm sure that there are a few poeple out there that would object to a kid being this young and bow hunting. But, this was a hard earned, and well deserved deer for him. I'm not saying that because he is my son, but because he's earned it. He's been shooting this bow for the past 2 years and has grown into it and will continue to grow into it. Back in March he joined a youth archery club at a local Fish & Game club and has shot each week with a group of other youngsters like him. He learned a lot from that such as repetition and form. When here at home, I had it set up so he could go out and shoot any time he wanted to from 20 yds at a bag target, plus I set up a Delta deer target in the woods in the bottom so he could shoot it from in top of the hill as if he was taking a tree stand shot. He's put the time in, he's made the legal draw weight, and he was determined. That's all I needed to see for me to let him go after his first bow deer! Can't be any happier with my decision either! ;D
His brothers getting in on the excitement!