son's last day Utah buck
one hunting fool
11/1/10 6:33pm
Well to start i have to say my son did not get to hunt with me at all this year. his Grades where bad and he was grounded from hunting until he got them up. so this weekend he finaly got them up and we planned a trip for Saturday (which never turned out because he forgot he had a family reunion) So we went up sunday.
We got to the mountian and started hiking and just as we neared the top it started to rain. weather said it would move off quickly so we toughed it out. i was starting to get cold( i only brought a jacket and not rain proof to boot) so i suggested we hike up higher, "at the very least" i said "we can get warm hiking" We got to the top and as soon as we did the clouds covered the top and the valley below. so we moved down just about 20 feet and waited for it to clear.
As it cleared we started to look over the valley and the nice bowl we where on the problem was we could not see anything to the north of us because it was such a steep drop where we where. so i suggested we move a little farther north and get to where it isn't as steep. as we do i see 4 deer .. then 5 as another comes out of the scrub oak about 300 yards away and straight down hill. I tell Taylor and his breathing gets fast and he brings up the scope to look them over. I say "i don't see any horns." he reply's he does not either, so i tell him to hold on and i pulled the tissue out of my pocket and cleaned the binos from the foggy lense. i see what looks like horns on one standing broad side. i tell him to move to scope to 9 power and look at that one. he says "I SEE HORNS" a little louder than he should have do to his excitement. I said i thought so to but lets make sure. (wishing i had my spotting scope) i pulled the binos up and as i do the little buck starts to rake the sagebrush in front of him. i said "yep he is a buck" and i hear "click" the safety comes up i said "you sure your on the right one" he said "he just lifted his head" (after raking the sage) I said "yup thats him" "hes over 300 yards away" i told him, "Your going to need to hold it right at the top of the back" I said "shoot when your ready"
and Boom. I see hair fly off his back and the deer drops in his tracks. Right away i know the mistake i made telling him to hold at his back (bullet drop at sever down hill angle's). Luck for me God did not punish him for my mistake and he broke the deers back just abouve the lung. the bone shattered and the parts shot through the liver and the lung killing the deer before we fot to him. not the cleanest kill but it made for a successful harvest. My son was so excited he grabbed me and hugged me and we both almost went tumbling down the hill. I told him "i couldn't be more proud if it where my first buck with a rifle" this is only his second year hunting deer and last year he took his deer with a muzzy.
He was not really interested in hunting and i didn't want him to feel he had to do it so i only took him when he wanted to go. and 2 years ago he saw his brother kill his first buck and he was hooked so next year we all got tags and he took his first buck.
ok enough chatter here is what you all really came to see.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa90/bgledhill/taylors2010deer2.jpg " alt="" />
Look at how fat this deer was.. it was a rough drag but i am so glad that he and i did it together.. he said "I love hunting with you dad we always have somthing to exciting happen"
I told him not all hunting is this easy. he said " no i am not talking about just that, but everything even the dragging it out and the rain and everything"...
I am one happy and proud dad.. next year he will be 18 and from that comment i know he is going to be fine.. its not just the harvest but the whole experiance that makes it great to do what we do, i am glad he understood that...
Brian
We got to the mountian and started hiking and just as we neared the top it started to rain. weather said it would move off quickly so we toughed it out. i was starting to get cold( i only brought a jacket and not rain proof to boot) so i suggested we hike up higher, "at the very least" i said "we can get warm hiking" We got to the top and as soon as we did the clouds covered the top and the valley below. so we moved down just about 20 feet and waited for it to clear.
As it cleared we started to look over the valley and the nice bowl we where on the problem was we could not see anything to the north of us because it was such a steep drop where we where. so i suggested we move a little farther north and get to where it isn't as steep. as we do i see 4 deer .. then 5 as another comes out of the scrub oak about 300 yards away and straight down hill. I tell Taylor and his breathing gets fast and he brings up the scope to look them over. I say "i don't see any horns." he reply's he does not either, so i tell him to hold on and i pulled the tissue out of my pocket and cleaned the binos from the foggy lense. i see what looks like horns on one standing broad side. i tell him to move to scope to 9 power and look at that one. he says "I SEE HORNS" a little louder than he should have do to his excitement. I said i thought so to but lets make sure. (wishing i had my spotting scope) i pulled the binos up and as i do the little buck starts to rake the sagebrush in front of him. i said "yep he is a buck" and i hear "click" the safety comes up i said "you sure your on the right one" he said "he just lifted his head" (after raking the sage) I said "yup thats him" "hes over 300 yards away" i told him, "Your going to need to hold it right at the top of the back" I said "shoot when your ready"
and Boom. I see hair fly off his back and the deer drops in his tracks. Right away i know the mistake i made telling him to hold at his back (bullet drop at sever down hill angle's). Luck for me God did not punish him for my mistake and he broke the deers back just abouve the lung. the bone shattered and the parts shot through the liver and the lung killing the deer before we fot to him. not the cleanest kill but it made for a successful harvest. My son was so excited he grabbed me and hugged me and we both almost went tumbling down the hill. I told him "i couldn't be more proud if it where my first buck with a rifle" this is only his second year hunting deer and last year he took his deer with a muzzy.
He was not really interested in hunting and i didn't want him to feel he had to do it so i only took him when he wanted to go. and 2 years ago he saw his brother kill his first buck and he was hooked so next year we all got tags and he took his first buck.
ok enough chatter here is what you all really came to see.
Look at how fat this deer was.. it was a rough drag but i am so glad that he and i did it together.. he said "I love hunting with you dad we always have somthing to exciting happen"
I told him not all hunting is this easy. he said " no i am not talking about just that, but everything even the dragging it out and the rain and everything"...
I am one happy and proud dad.. next year he will be 18 and from that comment i know he is going to be fine.. its not just the harvest but the whole experiance that makes it great to do what we do, i am glad he understood that...
Brian
7,314
great job dad! and congrats to your kid. i hope the one thing that doesn't get lost in the next generation of hunting is the family traditon.
man thats great, i'm excited for you just getting to read it!! :thumb :thumb
Tell your son CONGRATS!!