John O Report post Posted November 25, 2008 I can't tell you how proud I am of my two boys. They worked hard for 3 days, and my oldest son was fortunate enough to take this buck during the junior hunt. (Sorry, the date stamp was a month off on my camera) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjw2222 Report post Posted November 25, 2008 Wow what a great hunt! Can't beat hunting with the family thats for sure. Any more of a story on the hunt? I always enjoy a little narrative especially when its about the kids, takes me back to huntin with my Dad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Young Report post Posted November 25, 2008 First of many i'm sure. Big congrats goes out to your son on a great first buck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Redman Report post Posted November 25, 2008 That is a great looking dear, I am glad it all worked out for you.Deer in the prickly pears, love that. Please tell him congrats!! Redman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
willhunt4coues Report post Posted November 25, 2008 That is a great first buck. Congrats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coues7 Report post Posted November 25, 2008 John and Jake......I knew your persistence would pay off!!!!!! Great job Jake! You'll be hooked for life. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronaldo Report post Posted November 25, 2008 very nice!! Like to see the kids out. Ron Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stanley Report post Posted November 25, 2008 Outstanding! Congrats to the hunters!!! S. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllBoutHuntn Report post Posted November 25, 2008 Congrats to your son, thats a fine first buck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cramerhunts Report post Posted November 25, 2008 Awesome first buck! Congrats to him and you for getting them out in the hills. Phil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Browning'sCustomMeat Report post Posted November 25, 2008 Great buck!! Congratulations. -Jeremy- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John O Report post Posted November 26, 2008 Wow what a great hunt! Can't beat hunting with the family thats for sure. Any more of a story on the hunt? I always enjoy a little narrative especially when its about the kids, takes me back to huntin with my Dad. OK. I have a little time on my hands- I went out scouting the Wednesday before my sons youth hunt started. I found a great area, that had no sign of foot traffic into it during the first two general hunts. It is about a mile hike back from the road and an 800 ft. elevation climb. I arrived at noon, followed 9 pigs up to the glassing point, and then watched them push out deer after deer going up the opposite hill. I saw 13 does and 6 bucks over a 1 hour period. I figure we had it made! So I took the boys out of school mid-day Thursday, and we headed out. We camped just off the road, and were up well before light to hike into the spot. It was just beginning to light up during hour hike in, when two bucks crested the hill in front of us at about 150 yards. They moved quick and were over the hill and out of sight before we could even think of getting set up for a shot. We got to our spot, and set up to glass. The boys had brought a favorite book and their gameboys to play during the long expected hours of glassing. From time to time they would get out their binos and glass a little, then put them away and back to their reading or games. After an hour or so, I glassed up a little forkie working his way along the top rim of a huge bowl at about 700 yards. He eventually started in our direction, and I figured when he got to 350 yards we would be ready for him. We had practiced most of our shots at just shy of 300 yards, so I knew Jake could make the shot. Just as he was coming into range he made a U-turn and went up over the hill, and out of sight. The next 5 hours were spent glassing up the same 6 or seven does over and over and over and over, while trying to find some antlers or hoping some bucks would show up. The day ended and we headed back to camp. The boys wanted to try the same spot the next morning so we followed the same routine. The next day was a real surprise to me. I saw 1 doe all day! With the slightest amount of increase in road traffic, and a few distant gun shots, the deer had totally changed their behavior. It was almost as if they had all turned nocturnal. We hiked to 4 other vantage points to glass that day with nothing found. I figured it was time to change plans, so we packed up in the afternoon and headed home. On the way home I decided to hit up a spot that was more mule deer country for the last hour of daylight. Low and behold there were deer on every hill I looked at. We did see some bucks, but it was right at dark. We took Sunday off, ready to hit it again on Monday. We arose early, hit the circle K for donuts and gatorade for breakfast, and headed towards our new spot. I must have glassed up 25 does before I finally found some bucks at about a half a mile. Amazingly enough, they were whitetails, when I was expecting to see mule deer. It was 11 am, and my younger boy was hungry, and ready to head back to the car and get some lunch. I encouraged him to just hang with us a little longer. We snuck up on the hill just short of where I had seen them. They were gone. I put my binos on a tripod and picked apart every bush, tree, and shadow looking for an antler or ear flicker. Nothing. I remembered reading on this site so many times, that if you loose a whitetail, go back to where you saw them last, and they will be nearby. I figured that late in the day they would be looking to bed down. We had the sun at our backs, so I needed to change our position to be able to glass into the shadows. After much coaxing, I convinced my younger son to hike up one last hill. As we snuck up to the top, I pulled up my binos, and immediately saw a buck standing in the bottom of a small draw, hidden from where I had been glassing before. He didn’t know what we were, so he just froze and hung tight. We had plenty of time to set up the .270 with the bi-pods. He was facing us at 185 yards, and I told Jake he had time to wait for him to turn broadside. He did, and then all of a sudden the wind got really gusty. Jake asked me to dial the scope power to 9, so he could zoom in. I told him to shoot when he was ready (we had practiced this many times). The shot rang out, an I could see the buck stumbling. Jake had already chambered another round, and I told him to take another shot. This time he tumbled hard, and we could see he was down. I was so proud of my boys, especially my younger one who was willing to hike up one last hill. We made great memories, and I feel really blessed that we were given an opportunity at success. I also have come to learn what "hunting" really is: Hunting is reloading with your son, to get the rounds ready for his hunt (even if all he did was clean out the primer pockets) Hunting is going shopping for camo with the boys Hunting is talking about what mindset and pre-shot routine to follow at bedtime night after night Hunting is all the scouting trips, and all of the great wildlife you see along the way Hunting is camping out with the boys, and all of the laughs and "man time" Hunting is working really hard to find bucks, and coming home empty handed day after day And once in a while, a small part of hunting is being able to shoot and tag a good buck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron G. Report post Posted November 26, 2008 Congrats to your son on his first deer! It sounds like you guys had a great time and your story made me look forward to when my kids are old enough to deer hunt. Ron Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted November 26, 2008 Wooohooooo! Congrats! That's what it's all about right there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Archer Report post Posted January 2, 2009 Nice buck great job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
