I don't post here much, but I do lurk. But, I have to brag on my 15 year
old son. Sorry in advance for the long story, but it's a good one. Last year, he was planning to bowhunt, but hyperextended his elbow
playing football, and was unable to shoot his bow. He had a beautiful 10
point on camera everyday of most of bow season, but the buck disappeared
later in September, and we only got a couple of pictures of him during the
gun season.
My son joined a new youth archery club last spring, and has really been
practicing shooting. Early in September, he knew he was going to get to
bowhunt this year. The trees to put his stand were north of his feeder, and
not good for our predominant south wind. We put up his stand and moved his
feeder about 40 yards to the opposite side of the trees. He ranged his
t-posts on the feeder pen, and knew he could use his 20 yard pin for any
deer in the pen. Also, he practiced from the stand and realized why his dad
and I preach to bend at the waist, and not to drop your arm.
His 10 point was back almost as soon as we started the feeder. The last
couple of weeks, you could set your clock by him. 6:45 am and he stayed for
about an hour eating. Then again at 7pm and stayed until dark. Sometimes
he would make an appearance during the day.
Fast forward to yesterday. He couldn't hunt Saturday because of a High
School Fishing tournament. He said we needed to leave the house at 4am,
arrive at 5:15, and be in the stand by 6:00. He actually got in the stand
at 5:40am. The buck didn't arrive until 8:30am. As he approached, some
does that were there ran off, downwind. The buck watched them, and got
spooked and took off. Son was disappointed, but determined. We picked him
up at 10, and he was not happy that we picked him up. We pulled the game
cam card, and pictures showed him there at his regular times, plus an
appearance at 1pm Wednesday. So, he got back in the blind at noon and sat
until 3pm. It was hot, too. Nothing showed, and he was disappointed. From
3-5pm, he had to study for a Chemistry test that he had to take today.
Bummer, but if he was going to hunt the evening hunt, he had to do that at
camp.
Got back in the stand at 5:30. The wind had steadied at 8-10 mph, with the
feeder and usual travel route for the deer upwind. Does and young bucks
came in around 6:30, and he saw the big one and his running buddy coming in
from about 100 yards away. His heart was beating very hard. He said they
got behind some trees and he stood up, but the running buddy heard his stand
squeak a bit, and stopped to look. He had to stay in a half-crouch for
awhile until he started walking again. They finally made it to the feeder
pen. The big one started eating with his head down and facing him. He
couldn't draw, so he just watched, which allowed him to calm down a bit. He
said he kept facing him eating forever. Finally, he turned broadside, and
he was able to draw. He wanted the deer's head to be down, but he said the
deer had his head up forever. He wasn't facing him, so it was ok to shoot,
but my son thought he needed to have his head down when he shot. He finally
began to shake from holding at full draw, so he brought the pin down to his
spot and let the arrow fly. He was able to watch him for awhile before the
deer went into the woods, and then he calmed down and called me on the
radio. I knew when he called that he must have shot, as it was only 7:10
pm. Here's the conversation: "Him: Well, we've got to wait an hour. Me:
Did you shoot the deer? Him: Yes. Me, grinning from ear to ear: How do you
feel about the shot? Him: Well, blood was gushing out both sides. Me: Was
it coming from the right places? Him: The entry was a little high, but it
came out lower and looks good." The conversation went on about marking the
spot where he last saw him, but not getting out of his stand yet. He could
tell I was nearly crying on the radio. I'm his mom, and was super happy for
him. He told me later than after he watched the deer run off, he calmed down
some, put his head in his hands, and cried. His emotions over this deer
were really special.
When his dad and I got to him, he got down and found his arrow. Then we
started following blood. Spots at first, but got better as the deer ran
further. We were not in a hurry, as we were only going to the treeline
until the hour passed. Blood drops starting looking like they were
splattered, and realized that's where he was spraying blood from his nose.
We only had 1 good light, and needed to make room in the UTV to load the
deer. So I went back to camp to unload the bow cases and grab another
light, gloves and the Havalon knife. Before I got back, they called and
said they had found the deer. The shot was a perfect double-lung pass through. Hugs and congratulations were given. He told
me that he only wants to bowhunt from now on. He's hooked.
This was a really special deer. He hunted him last year with a gun and
never saw him. He put in lots of work and practice time with his bow this
year, and then spent 10.5 hours in his stand yesterday to get him. I don't
know many that will spend that much time in the stand, especially with the
heat and humidity we had yesterday. I'm super proud of my son, and so
thankful to God for the gifts he has given us.
old son. Sorry in advance for the long story, but it's a good one. Last year, he was planning to bowhunt, but hyperextended his elbow
playing football, and was unable to shoot his bow. He had a beautiful 10
point on camera everyday of most of bow season, but the buck disappeared
later in September, and we only got a couple of pictures of him during the
gun season.
My son joined a new youth archery club last spring, and has really been
practicing shooting. Early in September, he knew he was going to get to
bowhunt this year. The trees to put his stand were north of his feeder, and
not good for our predominant south wind. We put up his stand and moved his
feeder about 40 yards to the opposite side of the trees. He ranged his
t-posts on the feeder pen, and knew he could use his 20 yard pin for any
deer in the pen. Also, he practiced from the stand and realized why his dad
and I preach to bend at the waist, and not to drop your arm.
His 10 point was back almost as soon as we started the feeder. The last
couple of weeks, you could set your clock by him. 6:45 am and he stayed for
about an hour eating. Then again at 7pm and stayed until dark. Sometimes
he would make an appearance during the day.
Fast forward to yesterday. He couldn't hunt Saturday because of a High
School Fishing tournament. He said we needed to leave the house at 4am,
arrive at 5:15, and be in the stand by 6:00. He actually got in the stand
at 5:40am. The buck didn't arrive until 8:30am. As he approached, some
does that were there ran off, downwind. The buck watched them, and got
spooked and took off. Son was disappointed, but determined. We picked him
up at 10, and he was not happy that we picked him up. We pulled the game
cam card, and pictures showed him there at his regular times, plus an
appearance at 1pm Wednesday. So, he got back in the blind at noon and sat
until 3pm. It was hot, too. Nothing showed, and he was disappointed. From
3-5pm, he had to study for a Chemistry test that he had to take today.
Bummer, but if he was going to hunt the evening hunt, he had to do that at
camp.
Got back in the stand at 5:30. The wind had steadied at 8-10 mph, with the
feeder and usual travel route for the deer upwind. Does and young bucks
came in around 6:30, and he saw the big one and his running buddy coming in
from about 100 yards away. His heart was beating very hard. He said they
got behind some trees and he stood up, but the running buddy heard his stand
squeak a bit, and stopped to look. He had to stay in a half-crouch for
awhile until he started walking again. They finally made it to the feeder
pen. The big one started eating with his head down and facing him. He
couldn't draw, so he just watched, which allowed him to calm down a bit. He
said he kept facing him eating forever. Finally, he turned broadside, and
he was able to draw. He wanted the deer's head to be down, but he said the
deer had his head up forever. He wasn't facing him, so it was ok to shoot,
but my son thought he needed to have his head down when he shot. He finally
began to shake from holding at full draw, so he brought the pin down to his
spot and let the arrow fly. He was able to watch him for awhile before the
deer went into the woods, and then he calmed down and called me on the
radio. I knew when he called that he must have shot, as it was only 7:10
pm. Here's the conversation: "Him: Well, we've got to wait an hour. Me:
Did you shoot the deer? Him: Yes. Me, grinning from ear to ear: How do you
feel about the shot? Him: Well, blood was gushing out both sides. Me: Was
it coming from the right places? Him: The entry was a little high, but it
came out lower and looks good." The conversation went on about marking the
spot where he last saw him, but not getting out of his stand yet. He could
tell I was nearly crying on the radio. I'm his mom, and was super happy for
him. He told me later than after he watched the deer run off, he calmed down
some, put his head in his hands, and cried. His emotions over this deer
were really special.
When his dad and I got to him, he got down and found his arrow. Then we
started following blood. Spots at first, but got better as the deer ran
further. We were not in a hurry, as we were only going to the treeline
until the hour passed. Blood drops starting looking like they were
splattered, and realized that's where he was spraying blood from his nose.
We only had 1 good light, and needed to make room in the UTV to load the
deer. So I went back to camp to unload the bow cases and grab another
light, gloves and the Havalon knife. Before I got back, they called and
said they had found the deer. The shot was a perfect double-lung pass through. Hugs and congratulations were given. He told
me that he only wants to bowhunt from now on. He's hooked.
This was a really special deer. He hunted him last year with a gun and
never saw him. He put in lots of work and practice time with his bow this
year, and then spent 10.5 hours in his stand yesterday to get him. I don't
know many that will spend that much time in the stand, especially with the
heat and humidity we had yesterday. I'm super proud of my son, and so
thankful to God for the gifts he has given us.
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