tree_ghost
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure even sure where to start here because I have so much ground to cover from our weekend event but I'd like to start by thanking this website for providing such an amazing community for me to be a part of and I'd like to in particularly thank the following members, @Mag @Apostolic Outdoors @TN Larry for providing crossbows for the kids to hunt with. Friday around lunchtime everyone started rolling in. We got our tents set up and did some crossbow education and then a little target practice prior to heading out that evening. The afternoon hunt was slow with the warm temps but one group did manage to have a small buck in range but were unable to get a shot opportunity. Friday evening was spent around the campfire with chili, s'mores, and lots of laughs.
Saturday morning rolled around and after some biscuits, eggs, and coffee we headed out to the timber. The cooler temps were great for deer movement. All our hunting parties saw deer that morning inside bow range so that was very cool. And one young hunter had an unfortunate clean miss on a nice 8 pointer due to an arrow deflection off of a sapling…so we attempted to turn it into an overall positive by helping to educate on the intricacies of archery hunting. The afternoon was spent down at the creek fishing and cooking hotdogs over the fire. The kiddos were having such a good time a couple of the Hunting parties elected to spend the evening there instead of going back out in the warmer temperatures. The other half that ended up going out hunting that evening had a very slow sits with only one deer being spotted that evening. We finished up Saturday night with ribeye steaks and baked potatoes by the fire and just enjoying the company of one another in conversation and playing cornhole.
That brings us to Sunday morning, which was our final hunt of the trip. Everyone set out that morning with high hopes and full bellies thanks to biscuits, eggs and a little backstrap. Everyone decided where they were going to go and struck out a little before daylight. my oldest son and myself decided to make a trek in to a hard to access ridge up on the backside of our property. we made our way up and picked a white oak that had a double trunk that was split directly at the base of the tree. He ascended the tree in his climber ahead of myself and I went up behind him with my stand and sticks. Shortly, after daybreak, we could hear some movement higher up the ridge and to our left. After a few minutes, I decided to make a couple soft grunts. As soon as I stopped, my grunt sequence we heard steady footsteps working down the Ridgeline towards us. as the steps got closer, we began to see movement and a grey form appearing out of the dense undercover. As the deer moved inside of bow range I instructed my son to get ready and take the safety off. a few seconds later, the spike buck cleared out of the sapling cover and stepped to about 17 yards. As he naturally came to a stop, my son executed a perfect shot on his very first Whitetail!!! Now it's always a special moment to be with your son as he takes his first deer, but for me this one was a specially sweet because early on in my sons life I did not go about introducing him to deer Hunting in the best format, I put a lot of unnecessary pressure on him and almost messed deer hunting up for him permanently. However God gave me a second chance and I didn't waste it and that led us here, celebrating with one another 16' up a white oak. We decided to go back and get the rest of our crew for the track job, and have all of the family be a part of it. As all my relatives hiked that ridge behind my oldest son as he blood trail that deer I was so incredibly humbled…80 yards into his blood trail my son took hold of his first, and what will be the most memorable deer of my lifetime. As we gathered around and celebrated and gave congratulations, I was simply overcome with the joy of the moment and the pride I had in my son. It is a moment I will carry with me in my heart forever.
I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story…
Saturday morning rolled around and after some biscuits, eggs, and coffee we headed out to the timber. The cooler temps were great for deer movement. All our hunting parties saw deer that morning inside bow range so that was very cool. And one young hunter had an unfortunate clean miss on a nice 8 pointer due to an arrow deflection off of a sapling…so we attempted to turn it into an overall positive by helping to educate on the intricacies of archery hunting. The afternoon was spent down at the creek fishing and cooking hotdogs over the fire. The kiddos were having such a good time a couple of the Hunting parties elected to spend the evening there instead of going back out in the warmer temperatures. The other half that ended up going out hunting that evening had a very slow sits with only one deer being spotted that evening. We finished up Saturday night with ribeye steaks and baked potatoes by the fire and just enjoying the company of one another in conversation and playing cornhole.
That brings us to Sunday morning, which was our final hunt of the trip. Everyone set out that morning with high hopes and full bellies thanks to biscuits, eggs and a little backstrap. Everyone decided where they were going to go and struck out a little before daylight. my oldest son and myself decided to make a trek in to a hard to access ridge up on the backside of our property. we made our way up and picked a white oak that had a double trunk that was split directly at the base of the tree. He ascended the tree in his climber ahead of myself and I went up behind him with my stand and sticks. Shortly, after daybreak, we could hear some movement higher up the ridge and to our left. After a few minutes, I decided to make a couple soft grunts. As soon as I stopped, my grunt sequence we heard steady footsteps working down the Ridgeline towards us. as the steps got closer, we began to see movement and a grey form appearing out of the dense undercover. As the deer moved inside of bow range I instructed my son to get ready and take the safety off. a few seconds later, the spike buck cleared out of the sapling cover and stepped to about 17 yards. As he naturally came to a stop, my son executed a perfect shot on his very first Whitetail!!! Now it's always a special moment to be with your son as he takes his first deer, but for me this one was a specially sweet because early on in my sons life I did not go about introducing him to deer Hunting in the best format, I put a lot of unnecessary pressure on him and almost messed deer hunting up for him permanently. However God gave me a second chance and I didn't waste it and that led us here, celebrating with one another 16' up a white oak. We decided to go back and get the rest of our crew for the track job, and have all of the family be a part of it. As all my relatives hiked that ridge behind my oldest son as he blood trail that deer I was so incredibly humbled…80 yards into his blood trail my son took hold of his first, and what will be the most memorable deer of my lifetime. As we gathered around and celebrated and gave congratulations, I was simply overcome with the joy of the moment and the pride I had in my son. It is a moment I will carry with me in my heart forever.
I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story…
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