Son's 07 CA Archery Deer
BOHNTR
10/14/07 6:02pm
After several weekends of close encounters with some decent bucks, my 13 year old son, Cody, was chomping at the bit to fling some arrows. With a buck tag AND a doe tag in his pocket, he finally decided that if the opportunity came, he would take a doe with his bow and hunt for a buck later.
This morning, it finally came together for him. He spotted a doe without a fawn on a ridge above us that was in a good position for a stalk. I followed him up the ridge and was pretty darn proud of how slow and quiet he was. I guess all the scoldings of being quiet over the years paid off. :)
As we closed within 35 yards of the deer, I ranged it and whispered the yardage to him. You should have seen how excited he was when the arrow went completely through her chest, piercing both lungs. After making him wait a full hour (not an easy task with young'uns), we went to where she was standing and located his arrow. It was covered with good blood. I watched as he followed the trail down the canyon. When I pointed her out to him laying in the bottom a mere 50 yards away, he darn near ran the rest of the way. Saying he was a bit excited is an understatement. It's what hunting dads live for.
As we both boned the meat out and split the meat between both our packs, we were just about ready to don them, when I saw a doe feeding just below us about 80 yards away. I pointed it out to him, and he said, "I can only shoot bucks now dad, let's go." I explained to him the time of year it is and sometimes where there's a doe there may be a buck. Sure enough, out stepped a TOAD of a blacktail hybrid. A legitimate 20" 3x3 with eye guards that would score about 120". So the sneak was on. Trouble was, we were in the bottom of the canyon under some oak trees......which shed a bunch of those noisy oak leaves.
We ended up about 50 yards from the buck.....a bit out of Cody's range. The buck finally felt something wasn't right, so he moved out of the canyon and into the adjacent bottom.
As we walked back to get our packs, Cody informed me that he's going to get that buck next weekend. I smiled and told him I hope so, but these deer aren't easy, especially with a bow. But I'm sure we'll have fun trying. Hope you enjoy the photos.
The blood trail:
http://www.jesseshunting.com/photopost/data/548/medium/Cody_s_Doe_07_019.jpg " alt="" />
http://www.jesseshunting.com/photopost/data/548/medium/Cody_s_Doe_07_020.jpg " alt="" />
I told him when your arrow looks like this, you'll be packing some weight soon enough:
http://www.jesseshunting.com/photopost/data/548/medium/Cody_s_Doe_07_021.jpg " alt="" />
My favorite photo:
http://www.jesseshunting.com/photopost/data/548/medium/Cody_s_Doe_07_016.jpg " alt="" />
This morning, it finally came together for him. He spotted a doe without a fawn on a ridge above us that was in a good position for a stalk. I followed him up the ridge and was pretty darn proud of how slow and quiet he was. I guess all the scoldings of being quiet over the years paid off. :)
As we closed within 35 yards of the deer, I ranged it and whispered the yardage to him. You should have seen how excited he was when the arrow went completely through her chest, piercing both lungs. After making him wait a full hour (not an easy task with young'uns), we went to where she was standing and located his arrow. It was covered with good blood. I watched as he followed the trail down the canyon. When I pointed her out to him laying in the bottom a mere 50 yards away, he darn near ran the rest of the way. Saying he was a bit excited is an understatement. It's what hunting dads live for.
As we both boned the meat out and split the meat between both our packs, we were just about ready to don them, when I saw a doe feeding just below us about 80 yards away. I pointed it out to him, and he said, "I can only shoot bucks now dad, let's go." I explained to him the time of year it is and sometimes where there's a doe there may be a buck. Sure enough, out stepped a TOAD of a blacktail hybrid. A legitimate 20" 3x3 with eye guards that would score about 120". So the sneak was on. Trouble was, we were in the bottom of the canyon under some oak trees......which shed a bunch of those noisy oak leaves.
We ended up about 50 yards from the buck.....a bit out of Cody's range. The buck finally felt something wasn't right, so he moved out of the canyon and into the adjacent bottom.
As we walked back to get our packs, Cody informed me that he's going to get that buck next weekend. I smiled and told him I hope so, but these deer aren't easy, especially with a bow. But I'm sure we'll have fun trying. Hope you enjoy the photos.
The blood trail:
I told him when your arrow looks like this, you'll be packing some weight soon enough:
My favorite photo:
6,735
Congrats to your son!
That'll definitely give your son a 'shot' of confidence for a buck next time.
CONGRATS! :thumb
Boy, his smile (and your's) says everything!!
Next thing you know he'll be outhunting you!