Wow !! Where do I start...lol. What a day. One of those days as Dad's, we live for. My 16yr old, recently decided he wanted to bow hunt. Last winter, he bought a used bow from a buddy at school. I was pretty impressed with that for starters..lol. He spent countless hours last winter, & this spring practicing, & dialing er in. He's a pretty good shot. His groupings are usually tighter than mine with my much higher dollar bow, & much more experience... Well, in July put up a two man ladder stand, & have been patiently waiting for bow season. Opened two weeks ago. My son can only hunt on the weekends as he plays HS football, & doesn't get home from practice until about 15 minutes before dark, & closing. He's watched about every bow hunting show on tv, & spent plenty of time on the net trying to learn as much as he can, & see what works for some. Have had plenty of opps to take a doe. Havn't yet, as been waiting to take a buch, & don't want to kill any does until post rut. We don't have a lot of monster bucks on our property, & want the does to lure em in still ...... or at least that's the theory. Im okay with it. Had a weird feeling earlier today. Actually told him, that I felt like today was the day. When he asked, I said I thought he would get a shot tonight. Well, did he Not a monster buck mind you, not even a trophy to most....but, he got one tonight!! I was in the stand with him. We got set up about 4pm. By 6:30 nothing. Only about a 1/2 hr left, & havn't seen squat. Which is unusual because, ...we've seen does, & or fawns every sit so far. So, bout 6:30 he pulls out a call he bought at wal mart. Throws out a few grunts. I'll be damned...a few minutes later, a spike walked in on us. He was about 15yds away but, not a good angle. Boy is up & ready..... waiting, waiting....finally he turns & give my son a mostly broadside shot. He calmly draws, & lets her rip.... WOW..!! What appeared to be a great shot. He jumped up, & took off. We were both elated to say the least. We listened to him running through the woods, & what sounded like him crashing. What a moment. I mean, to be there with him, & see and experience it with him...priceless. So.... we calm down & continue to listen. Havn't heard anything since we heard him hit the ground. Sounded not to far away either but, we wait about 30 minutes anyways. Once we got the to tracking, had a great blood trail. Even in the dark, was a piece of cake....lots of blood. Feeling pretty good about it, moreso the further we go. Bam... there he was, expired, about 60yds from where he was shot. Nice blood spot, nice hole. We get him out of the woods, & get to gettin him prepped. Boy got the lungs, & the center of the heart. Couldn't have gotten a much better shot. That ones gonna be tough to outdue for Dad...lol. Anyways, here's a few pics of the whole thing. What a night..!! Certainly not a trophy buck by any means. However, there's one stoked teenager in the other room sleeping the adrenalin rush off. It's the best buck in the world to him, cause he killed it.....with a bow..! Tomorrow night, we'll be eating some tasty loins I know this won't be his last, and certainly won't be his biggest, but Im sure, he'll remember it forever as it was his first. Just glad I got to be there & experience it with him. Many thanks to the forum, & all the info that everyone shares. The info obtained certainly helped us have a pricelss Dad/Son moment that will hopefully live on forever.
Tell him congrats! He will never forget this day! It's awesome that you was able to share it with him!
Oh, I beg to differ! That is probably his BEST trophy EVER! Nothing like that first one... many more will likely come, but he'll remember every detail of that kill forever. Congrats to him and you! :D
Thanks man! Was an exciting night for sure! Hard to say which was more obvious, his euphoria, or my pride. I know we all thoroughly enjoyed it though. I know I'll never forget it that's for sure This was much more exciting to me than my own first kill. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy harvesting a deer as much as anyone but, witnessing, & being a part of your son's first.....priceless. Im sure it'll be the first of many. I hope one day, he has a son & gets to experience the same as I did, from a Dad's perspective. I think part of the pride for me comes from the fact that, I havn't pushed it on him. Meaning, he's really taken it by the horns...lol. He seems to be all about it. Has the gene. He's not doing it because I want him to, or anything like that. I believe it'll be a lifestyle for him. Something he carries throughout his life. Just elated that I got to experience it with him.
That's awesome. My boys are 4 and 6 and they are already asking to come out with me. Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
I hear ya. I remember my son's first deer (age 9) and daughters first deer (age 12) like they were my own kills. Great lifetime memories for everyone. To me, anymore....thats some of my funnest times afield. Seeing the young kids get so excited and evolve into good little hunters is what its all about. I could care less if I get one.