Josh B
11-19-2007, 10:36 PM
Well I am going to take a step back to last weekend when I was home before going onto this weeks events:
Last friday I watched something I have been waiting a few years to see. A good family friend shot his first deer ever. I have been taking him and his dad for several years and both have never shot a deer.
Finally, his mom let him take the day out of school 10 days ago and we were able to get him out. He shot his first deer too. While it was not a big one, it created a huge memory. She dressed at 55. Here is his picture with his first deer:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_6794.jpg
This was the best day I have had afield in my short life. I have seen Ian shoot his first goose and first and second turkey. Now it was his first deer. He has grown from a young kid that would tag along to an ethical hunter that is going to be a blossoming contributor to the future of this sport. Even though I am still only 19, to me nothing is better than taking a kid like him out.
The next day I took a stand on a separate piece of property with a friend of mine. I got a text message at 3pm from Ian saying that he and his dad had just seen a spike. About 1/2 hour later I get a message saying that his dad had just shot a nice buck but they couldn't find blood or the deer. I had told them to call me if they needed help as they had never tracked a deer before. I send my buddy a message to tell him what I was up to and was 10' down the tree when Ian called and said they found it. The deer had been crossing at about 60yds when Ian tried grunting at it to no avail. He then took 2 sheds he had previously found and rattled with them and the buck turned at ran/charged them. At 30yds his dad shot it. They walked in the direction they saw it run and could see it at the edge of the swamp in the valley.
I finished my hunt for the night and then went and helped them gut the deer. It is not a monster deer, but it wasn't bad for his first deer. One of the best things was his birthday was the next day and what a birthday present, having his son shoot his first deer the day before and him shooting his the day before his birthday. After some convincing, he is getting the deer mounted. While it isn't a monster, it is perfectly symetrical and who knows how much he will hunt. He doesn't have much time and this could be his buck of a life time. This deer dressed at 145.
Here is the picture of his deer:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_6800.jpg
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_6807.jpg
Yesterday I sat in a stand on property where the guy doesn't want does shot. I watched 4 does at 10-30yds for 1/2 hour but could only watch. One doe was in heat (tail extended out and peeing frequently) but no bucks following.
Today I got out of work at 3 and headed to a property I got permission at today. I walked in about 300 yards and then decided to go back 50 yds and sit on a stone wall that had a nice 70-80 'opening' between some of the thickest laurel I have ever seen.
At about 4pm I saw a small deer at about 60yds making its way across the opening. I had no shot but was looking at the openings in the laurel hoping to get a shot. I turned back at the opening and saw a large doe in the middle. I raised my gun and centered the cross hairs. I squeezed off the shot and when the smoke cleared, I saw her laying on the ground and the bushes rustling as she twitched.
I fumbled for reloads as I shook with adrenalin. I got the powder in when I heard crashing. I looked up to see a small doe running out of the laurel to my right and up the hill at me. She stopped at 20yds and had no clue I was there. I decided that I would take her too if I was able to reload the gun and get a nice shoot seeing as the other one didn't require any tracking.
After fumbling around, I got the bullet seated and the gun primed. The deer was now 15yds away broadside and had no clue I was there. She stepped into a clearing and I settled the cross hairs behind her shoulder. I squeezed of the shot and she went trotting off, clearly in pain. She went 15yds and piled up right in front of me.
I couldn't believe it. 2 does in about 2 minutes. When I went to get a closer look at what I had shot, multiple deer took off from the surrounding laurels. I really think that this spot is going to produce!
What a night. Here I am with my does:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_6864.jpg
The doe in back was 135 live weight and the other was about 75 or 80 live weight.
What an awesome day!!!
Gotta get sleep so I can chase the buck in the am.
Josh
Last friday I watched something I have been waiting a few years to see. A good family friend shot his first deer ever. I have been taking him and his dad for several years and both have never shot a deer.
Finally, his mom let him take the day out of school 10 days ago and we were able to get him out. He shot his first deer too. While it was not a big one, it created a huge memory. She dressed at 55. Here is his picture with his first deer:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_6794.jpg
This was the best day I have had afield in my short life. I have seen Ian shoot his first goose and first and second turkey. Now it was his first deer. He has grown from a young kid that would tag along to an ethical hunter that is going to be a blossoming contributor to the future of this sport. Even though I am still only 19, to me nothing is better than taking a kid like him out.
The next day I took a stand on a separate piece of property with a friend of mine. I got a text message at 3pm from Ian saying that he and his dad had just seen a spike. About 1/2 hour later I get a message saying that his dad had just shot a nice buck but they couldn't find blood or the deer. I had told them to call me if they needed help as they had never tracked a deer before. I send my buddy a message to tell him what I was up to and was 10' down the tree when Ian called and said they found it. The deer had been crossing at about 60yds when Ian tried grunting at it to no avail. He then took 2 sheds he had previously found and rattled with them and the buck turned at ran/charged them. At 30yds his dad shot it. They walked in the direction they saw it run and could see it at the edge of the swamp in the valley.
I finished my hunt for the night and then went and helped them gut the deer. It is not a monster deer, but it wasn't bad for his first deer. One of the best things was his birthday was the next day and what a birthday present, having his son shoot his first deer the day before and him shooting his the day before his birthday. After some convincing, he is getting the deer mounted. While it isn't a monster, it is perfectly symetrical and who knows how much he will hunt. He doesn't have much time and this could be his buck of a life time. This deer dressed at 145.
Here is the picture of his deer:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_6800.jpg
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_6807.jpg
Yesterday I sat in a stand on property where the guy doesn't want does shot. I watched 4 does at 10-30yds for 1/2 hour but could only watch. One doe was in heat (tail extended out and peeing frequently) but no bucks following.
Today I got out of work at 3 and headed to a property I got permission at today. I walked in about 300 yards and then decided to go back 50 yds and sit on a stone wall that had a nice 70-80 'opening' between some of the thickest laurel I have ever seen.
At about 4pm I saw a small deer at about 60yds making its way across the opening. I had no shot but was looking at the openings in the laurel hoping to get a shot. I turned back at the opening and saw a large doe in the middle. I raised my gun and centered the cross hairs. I squeezed off the shot and when the smoke cleared, I saw her laying on the ground and the bushes rustling as she twitched.
I fumbled for reloads as I shook with adrenalin. I got the powder in when I heard crashing. I looked up to see a small doe running out of the laurel to my right and up the hill at me. She stopped at 20yds and had no clue I was there. I decided that I would take her too if I was able to reload the gun and get a nice shoot seeing as the other one didn't require any tracking.
After fumbling around, I got the bullet seated and the gun primed. The deer was now 15yds away broadside and had no clue I was there. She stepped into a clearing and I settled the cross hairs behind her shoulder. I squeezed of the shot and she went trotting off, clearly in pain. She went 15yds and piled up right in front of me.
I couldn't believe it. 2 does in about 2 minutes. When I went to get a closer look at what I had shot, multiple deer took off from the surrounding laurels. I really think that this spot is going to produce!
What a night. Here I am with my does:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_6864.jpg
The doe in back was 135 live weight and the other was about 75 or 80 live weight.
What an awesome day!!!
Gotta get sleep so I can chase the buck in the am.
Josh