gotcoues Report post Posted August 27, 2012 My son Dillon has been anxious to try bowhunting again after launching an arrow over a small forkies back last year. D has been shooting, sometimes twice a day for the last few weeks really trying to take this serious. We had a blind set up in a good area with some decent bucks coming in pretty regularly. He had hoped he'd get a chance at one we named "Big Red" who was a tall buck that might of made 90. To date this is the reddest coues deer I've ever seen or had on camera. Sunday morning, Dillon, myself and our good friend Tracy slipped into the blind in the darkness only to realize two treestand hunters had packed in climbers and were climbing up trees 50yards to our right. I confronted them and asked why the heck they would set up soooooo close to our blind. I was positive (in my mind) they were setting up over our salt pit and I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. After a brief conversation it was obvious that they were there to stay. They had assured me they knew nothing of our blind and were setting up on a buck they had seen the night before from further up the ridge. Shocked and amazed we stuck to the plan for the moment. We thought the two bucks we were hoping to see would come in from our left based on cam pics and we really had no Plan B in place. A few minutes after daybreak we heard an arrow fly and the unmistakable sound of an arrow reaching its mark. One of the hunters shot a nice wide 3x and it died 60 yards behind the blind. We got out and treated them with the utmost respect and congratulated him on a fine archery kill. Tracy offered to help them get the deer out and we asked if we could have the area to ourselves the rest of the day. They turned out to be really nice guys and I think (I think…..) they truly had no knowledge of our blind. I know its public land, but I was still in awe guys with climbers could randomly set up in the dark 50 yards away from us. The nice buck they shot was running with Big Red and we were concerned that they had not seen another buck with him. I asked them twice if there was another buck with the one they shot. Dillon was heartbroken and all the wind was completely and totally knocked out of his sails. We decided to continue to sit the blind knowing going home was not going to produce a buck. A few hours later Tracy and I discussed leaving and checking other cameras to see if we could work out a Plan B for the holiday weekend coming up, we planned on hunting 3 days and needed to figure out what we could do to salvage Dillon's archery hunt. Dillon wanted to stay in the blind while Tracy and I went and check cams, so we got out, took a pee break and had a quick discussion. Amazingly, while were standing behind the blind, T spotted a decent buck up higher in the draw. He ran off about 200 yards and settled down. I decided anything was possible at this point and decided to stay with Dillon and Tracy would go check cams. Unbelievably, not five minutes after we settled back in the blind, I see deer 100 yards away coming up the draw. It was a spike and doe heading our way. Dillon started shaking; almost violently as soon as I told him it was a buck. I really thought he would pass on such a small deer, but to my surprise he said he would try and shoot it. I knew I had to calm him down if he had any chance in the world to make this happen. I whispered over and over to breathe and treat this like target practice. For the longest time the spike stood quartering slightly to us and I told him we needed to wait for a broadside shot. The doe never came all the way in and she turned and started to walk away, she knew something was not right. The spike turned to look and her and I told Dillon to draw. As he drew his bow and settled his 20 yard pin on the buck I never stopped whispering "breathe and target practice". WHACK!!! The arrow met it's mark, a perfect mid-body double lung pass through! We watched the deer turn and run, it looked like someone turned on the faucet. I had no doubt this would be an easy recovery. When I told Dillon perfect shot and started celebrating, he became completely overwhelmed with emotion, it took him a minute to regain his composure and with a tear in his eye, he told me he's never been happier! I was so proud of him, and so happy the hunting gods gave him this opportunity. I text Tracy and met him back at the trucks. When we got back to the blind, Dillon tracked his deer and fortunately it was a fantastic blood trail. I knew he didn't go far, but I wanted D to go through the motions and learn the right way to go after an archery kill. Sorry about the long read, but I felt to leave out the "other guys" wouldn't have really told the story. D man tagging his buck Dillon with his first archery animal, 13 years old! Dillon, Tracy (left) and me Big D and I 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
200"mulie Report post Posted August 27, 2012 Congrats to the young hunter! He'll remember this hunt for a long time to come. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaffer62 Report post Posted August 27, 2012 Congrats Dillon! That is a great deer! You should be proud! Dont know many 13 year olds with an archery coues under their belt! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigorange Report post Posted August 27, 2012 Awesome story...even the "other guys" part! BIG CONGRATS to all. Dillon's smile says it all. This is the kind of experience I'm looking forward to with my kids! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs125coues Report post Posted August 27, 2012 (wiping away the tears) Totally awsome, Congrats to Dillion. That is what makes hunting so great!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowfishAZ Report post Posted August 27, 2012 ATTA BOY DILLON!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hawkens Report post Posted August 27, 2012 Awesome Job !!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLW Report post Posted August 27, 2012 (wiping away the tears) Totally awsome, Congrats to Dillion. That is what makes hunting so great!! excuse me I got a little dust in my eyes! LOL! Great story! Congratulations to the young lad! Great job Dillon! James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
270wsm Report post Posted August 27, 2012 Way to go! Now thats a true example of a trophy hunt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Non-Typical Solutions Report post Posted August 27, 2012 Great story and kudos for handling the situation that fell in your lap. That can be really tough to work through. Most of us would have left thinking that surely nothing else would come through. What broadheads was Dillon shooting?? If I may ask?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gotcoues Report post Posted August 27, 2012 Thanks a lot for the kind words everyone, Dillon asked if I was going to post a story for his hunt. He'll be really stoked about all the responses when he gets home from school and football practice tonight. He was second guessing his inability to hold out for a bigger one. LOL...... I had to tell him, "Well, remember this for next time, you can't shoot a big one if you shoot the small one first." Dillon's broadheads this year were purchased at Wally-Mart, they are three blade fixed with a cutter tip (like rage two-blade). We had to shoot a fixed blade because of the mesh covering his shooting window. Ironically, the guy in the treestand shot his buck with the identical head, Dillon noticed right away their broadheads were the same. I believe they were called Troita by carbon express, bought them on clearance after season last year. They got the job done in pretty impressive fashion, two bucks down in less than 100 yards between both deer. Dillon is shooting about 45lbs and he broke a rib upon entrance and slipped through the ribs on the way out. I won't hesitate to use them again for Dillon's set up. I like the devastation rage two blade heads provide, but these seemed rock solid and dirt cheap (less then $10 for a three pack). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted August 27, 2012 Awesome job Dillon, way to go. Nice write up Justin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Non-Typical Solutions Report post Posted August 27, 2012 Tell Dillion size matters but not really.............can't say anything but buck down with a bow and that is awesome. Thanks for the info on the broadheads...........congrats to dad and son team............ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobbyo Report post Posted August 27, 2012 Dillon, Congratulations on a nice buck. The bigger ones will come. This weekend I was shaking myself even though I am old. Really strange how I still do it even if there is little chance I would shoot. Also remember to stay with school. You don't want to be a stupid redneck that cannot even spell Dillion.LOL. Awesome job! Bob P.S. GC ask those tree stand guys if they found my cameras like they found your spot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted August 27, 2012 Congratulations Dillon!! You rock!! Way to hold it together and make a perfect shot on a fine buck! We are all really proud of you! Big Red will just be bigger next year 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
