fireman32
"Useless Billy" Fire Chief.
Took my boys rifle hunting Sunday evening and Monday morning. We hunted Sunday evening then camped that night and went again Monday morning.
My oldest sat with a fellow GON member as he’s already shot his first deer, my youngest was with me as we were trying to get his first. Sunday was warm, sitting on an oak hill surrounded by bottom land. First off he forgot our 4 wheeler key at camp, (my fault should have made sure he had it). Camp is a considerable distance (20 minutes) from the spot we start our travel to the stands, which is accessible by truck. No biggy, we get to the stand and he’s moving all around, thinks every squirrel is a deer, pulling leaves off the tree above us, rubbing his boots on the stand platform. I keep reminding myself, he’s just a boy. Evening ends with no deer sighted.
Camp is good, we eat beef, pork, chicken and veggie stir fry cooked on a Coleman stove then sit around the fire a bit. The boys enjoy some chocolate chip cookies.
Monday’s hunt starts, he forgets his recoil pad. Still figgety, then nods off for 30 minutes. Oldest boy is seeing deer all over the place, but none legal or either close enough to shoot. Our spot is dead. He finally comes too about 8:50, and dang if a deer doesn’t blow just out of sight. Finally see a doe, about 75 yards out. She’s not comfortable, pretty sure she’s catching our scent. Then another doe is with her and they ease out of sight. Well dang they’re gone, but wait they come back. Baby boy is all excited, we watch them for a few minutes and one of them presents a perfect broad side shot at about 60 yards, which is 10 yards further than I intended to let him shoot. I’m talking to him, calming him down, repeating deep breaths right behind the shoulder. Take your time, you’ve got all day. Rest is good, he seems decently relaxed. Take your time, squeeze the trigger when your ready. Boomwhop he fires, but flinches and the doe runs off. I’m fairly sure it’s a clean miss, 30 minutes of looking confirms my suspicion.
I’m kicking myself, I should have made him wait for a closer shot, shouldn’t have been aggravated about the key. Shouldn’t have worried about the recoil pad.
Lessons learned, two hunts and a camping trip equals time well spent with my boys. Things are forgotten, even by me. Waiting for a possible better opportunity is often times the best thing to do. Letting your kids be kids is important. Focus on the good times fellas, there aren’t ever enough of them. Til the next hunt.
And congrats to all the kids getting their first deer this year, love seeing the pics.
My oldest sat with a fellow GON member as he’s already shot his first deer, my youngest was with me as we were trying to get his first. Sunday was warm, sitting on an oak hill surrounded by bottom land. First off he forgot our 4 wheeler key at camp, (my fault should have made sure he had it). Camp is a considerable distance (20 minutes) from the spot we start our travel to the stands, which is accessible by truck. No biggy, we get to the stand and he’s moving all around, thinks every squirrel is a deer, pulling leaves off the tree above us, rubbing his boots on the stand platform. I keep reminding myself, he’s just a boy. Evening ends with no deer sighted.
Camp is good, we eat beef, pork, chicken and veggie stir fry cooked on a Coleman stove then sit around the fire a bit. The boys enjoy some chocolate chip cookies.
Monday’s hunt starts, he forgets his recoil pad. Still figgety, then nods off for 30 minutes. Oldest boy is seeing deer all over the place, but none legal or either close enough to shoot. Our spot is dead. He finally comes too about 8:50, and dang if a deer doesn’t blow just out of sight. Finally see a doe, about 75 yards out. She’s not comfortable, pretty sure she’s catching our scent. Then another doe is with her and they ease out of sight. Well dang they’re gone, but wait they come back. Baby boy is all excited, we watch them for a few minutes and one of them presents a perfect broad side shot at about 60 yards, which is 10 yards further than I intended to let him shoot. I’m talking to him, calming him down, repeating deep breaths right behind the shoulder. Take your time, you’ve got all day. Rest is good, he seems decently relaxed. Take your time, squeeze the trigger when your ready. Boomwhop he fires, but flinches and the doe runs off. I’m fairly sure it’s a clean miss, 30 minutes of looking confirms my suspicion.
I’m kicking myself, I should have made him wait for a closer shot, shouldn’t have been aggravated about the key. Shouldn’t have worried about the recoil pad.
Lessons learned, two hunts and a camping trip equals time well spent with my boys. Things are forgotten, even by me. Waiting for a possible better opportunity is often times the best thing to do. Letting your kids be kids is important. Focus on the good times fellas, there aren’t ever enough of them. Til the next hunt.
And congrats to all the kids getting their first deer this year, love seeing the pics.
