Lightning
01-06-2004, 07:31 AM
Thought I would share this with y'all.
Background: I hunt in South Carolina. Deer season runs from August 15 - Jan 1. Jan 3rd is a youth only hunting day. Here, we are allowed shoot one-hour after legal sunset provided no artificial light is used.
This past Saturday (Jan. 3rd) I took my son on our last hunt of the year. He had a bad season - missing two nice does early on. His misses, as it turned out, were a result of a broken scope mount which I did not discover until a week after his second miss. On the second deer, he called the shot saying that he watched the cross-hairs lift off of the deer. He was frustrated and could not understand why he missed an 80yd shot. Well, I replaced the mounts and the rings and he was back to shooting 1" groups at 100yds.
Anyway, on this last day, we selected a stand on our club that had very little pressure this year. The reason was because it was so difficult to get to because of hills to climb and creeks to cross (it took 35 minutes to walk to it from where we parked our 4-wheeler). My son was worried about getting a deer out of there and I told him not to worry, "You shoot it, I'll get it out." We got in the stand around 4:00. Sunset was at 5:30 and the moon was close to full so I knew the deer would move late.
At about 6:00, I hear a noise close to the feeder in front of us (about 15yds away). I pick up my binos and notice something moving around the tree that was holding the feeder. Something was moving on both sides of the tree about chest high. I kept looking and finally realized that what I was seeing was antlers! The deer had come out of the thicket on the other side of the feeder and walked up keeping the tree between us and him. Did I mention this was at least a 16" pine tree? Then I could see his belly on both sides of the tree. The tines that I could see were huge and the beams looked tremendous! I whispered to my son that a deer had walked up to the feeder (I didn't want to tell him that he was huge - he would see that soon enough). My son got his rifle up and looked through the scope. He was quiet for about 20 seconds. I said, "Tell me you can see him?" My son was quiet for another 10 seconds and then said, "Oh my God, Dad, he's huge!" Then he said, "He's behind the tree. I have nothing to shoot at." I told him to sit tight that he would come out shortly. About this time, another deer stepped out behind him in clear view to us - a nice 8 point (tall tines with a spread as wide as his ears). Then another smaller buck stepped out. The big guy would not move and never even acknowledged the smaller deer behind him. We could hear him crunching on the corn and see his antlers moving but he would not budge.
By 6:10, I figure I better do something. I decided to use my bleat can to see if I could get him to move. I hit it and and was stunned to see that he didn't even ackowledge it. The deer never even looked up! So, we continue to watch it. The other deer have stepped out into the open. Finally, at about 6:15, he takes one step forward presenting his shoulder. I look at my son and say, "there his is, take him when you are ready." My son sat there silently, trying to adjust his head to the scope. After a few moments, he lifts his head and says, "Dad, I can see the deer but I can't see my cross-hairs." I told him to keep trying. After a few moments, I told him to aim at the lighter ground so he can see the cross-hairs and then lift it to the deer. He tried it and finally said, "I am not comfortable with it. Dad, I am sorry, but I don't want to shoot unless I know I can hit him." I smiled and put my arm around him and told him he was making the right decision. It was the right thiing to do. We sat until about 6:35 watching the deer until finally we had to go. The deer eased off when we started climbing out of the stand.
On our walk back we were talking excitedly about the deer and how big it was and how amazing it was that the other deer came out with him. Then it occured to me - Why didn't I tell my son to shoot the 8 point!!!! Aarrrggggg!!!! I couldn't believe it, I was so fixed on the really big deer that I never even thought about the very nice and very mountable 8 point.
On the ride home, I told my son how proud I was of his decision with the deer. I told him that there are many adults that would not have that sort of restraint when presented the same situation. His response was, "We always have next year."
It was a special hunt that I thought I would share with y'all. I was really proud of his decisions and discipline. I apologize for the long post.
Lightning
Background: I hunt in South Carolina. Deer season runs from August 15 - Jan 1. Jan 3rd is a youth only hunting day. Here, we are allowed shoot one-hour after legal sunset provided no artificial light is used.
This past Saturday (Jan. 3rd) I took my son on our last hunt of the year. He had a bad season - missing two nice does early on. His misses, as it turned out, were a result of a broken scope mount which I did not discover until a week after his second miss. On the second deer, he called the shot saying that he watched the cross-hairs lift off of the deer. He was frustrated and could not understand why he missed an 80yd shot. Well, I replaced the mounts and the rings and he was back to shooting 1" groups at 100yds.
Anyway, on this last day, we selected a stand on our club that had very little pressure this year. The reason was because it was so difficult to get to because of hills to climb and creeks to cross (it took 35 minutes to walk to it from where we parked our 4-wheeler). My son was worried about getting a deer out of there and I told him not to worry, "You shoot it, I'll get it out." We got in the stand around 4:00. Sunset was at 5:30 and the moon was close to full so I knew the deer would move late.
At about 6:00, I hear a noise close to the feeder in front of us (about 15yds away). I pick up my binos and notice something moving around the tree that was holding the feeder. Something was moving on both sides of the tree about chest high. I kept looking and finally realized that what I was seeing was antlers! The deer had come out of the thicket on the other side of the feeder and walked up keeping the tree between us and him. Did I mention this was at least a 16" pine tree? Then I could see his belly on both sides of the tree. The tines that I could see were huge and the beams looked tremendous! I whispered to my son that a deer had walked up to the feeder (I didn't want to tell him that he was huge - he would see that soon enough). My son got his rifle up and looked through the scope. He was quiet for about 20 seconds. I said, "Tell me you can see him?" My son was quiet for another 10 seconds and then said, "Oh my God, Dad, he's huge!" Then he said, "He's behind the tree. I have nothing to shoot at." I told him to sit tight that he would come out shortly. About this time, another deer stepped out behind him in clear view to us - a nice 8 point (tall tines with a spread as wide as his ears). Then another smaller buck stepped out. The big guy would not move and never even acknowledged the smaller deer behind him. We could hear him crunching on the corn and see his antlers moving but he would not budge.
By 6:10, I figure I better do something. I decided to use my bleat can to see if I could get him to move. I hit it and and was stunned to see that he didn't even ackowledge it. The deer never even looked up! So, we continue to watch it. The other deer have stepped out into the open. Finally, at about 6:15, he takes one step forward presenting his shoulder. I look at my son and say, "there his is, take him when you are ready." My son sat there silently, trying to adjust his head to the scope. After a few moments, he lifts his head and says, "Dad, I can see the deer but I can't see my cross-hairs." I told him to keep trying. After a few moments, I told him to aim at the lighter ground so he can see the cross-hairs and then lift it to the deer. He tried it and finally said, "I am not comfortable with it. Dad, I am sorry, but I don't want to shoot unless I know I can hit him." I smiled and put my arm around him and told him he was making the right decision. It was the right thiing to do. We sat until about 6:35 watching the deer until finally we had to go. The deer eased off when we started climbing out of the stand.
On our walk back we were talking excitedly about the deer and how big it was and how amazing it was that the other deer came out with him. Then it occured to me - Why didn't I tell my son to shoot the 8 point!!!! Aarrrggggg!!!! I couldn't believe it, I was so fixed on the really big deer that I never even thought about the very nice and very mountable 8 point.
On the ride home, I told my son how proud I was of his decision with the deer. I told him that there are many adults that would not have that sort of restraint when presented the same situation. His response was, "We always have next year."
It was a special hunt that I thought I would share with y'all. I was really proud of his decisions and discipline. I apologize for the long post.
Lightning