A few weeks ago a friend of mine shot himself a young buck. He drilled It good sending his Snuffer tipped arrow right on through. There was blood everywhere and he also saw It go down 30 some yards away. He called me and told me he hit one and said that It's down and he also said this would be a good one to bring my daughter Lydia with on and let her track It along with my 2 nephews. Perfect I said as she's never been on a blood trail yet. My daughter and my 2 nephews did a good job trailing the deer finding blood. They were all about 3 feet from It when my daughter says "there he Is"!! She showed up the boys! Years ago when I was In that 4 to 5 year old range my dad brought my brother and I on a good number of blood trails If he or the person doing the shooting figured the deer was down being they knew they made a great shot. Us kids would get to do most of the tracking then. Great learning tool folks for youngsters!! Ever since that night she's been talking about It allot. She's 4 years old and I haven't been able to get her on a blood trail prior to this year being It's usually In single digits or below zero when I do finally arrow a deer In the last week of the season here. I live and hunt In a one tag zone. Sucks for her sake as well as I'd love to shoot a doe but no way In heck do I want to do that being I'd burn my tag for a buck. About an hour north Is a 2 tag area so I asked a dairy farmer that I pick up milk at If he'd mind If I did some bow hunting. He was all for It as he says there's way to many deer around his farm. Him and his dad own about 400 acres where I'm hunting, 100 or so of this Is woods that borders I'm guessing 600 acres of solid woods In rolling hills type country. I'm only going to hunt the outside edge of the woods and fence line a long side a cut cornfield. He told me his brother In law hunts during the gun season and Is big Into managing It and doesn't want anyone In there but the farmer told me I could go In and hunt In the big woods anywhere I wanted If I wanted to. Let me tell ya, It's PRIME stuff!! I told the farmer no and that I'd just hunt the outer edges of the woods so I wouldn't cause any problems with him and his brother In law. After all I'm just after a doe anyway. Last week I went and put a stand up on the fence line that ties In with the big woods 100 yards south of me. Saw 9 doe's and fawns my 1st sit. Got winded being the wind was blowing like a mother that evening In every direction. I get home an Lydia ask's are we going tracking? Nope I say and tell her why and what happened. The next sit I see 7 doe's and fawns but none came close enough. I get home and my daughter again ask's are we going tracking? Nope I say. I'm thinking damn I've got to get a doe and get her out there! Yesterday I went back out there and saw 12 doe's and fawns and one little buck who was chasing doe's around all evening. The closest any of these got to me was about 30 yards which Is too far for me and my recurve. Again when I get home my daughter ask's the same question and I say no Lydia, they weren't close enough. After seeing that slight look of disappointment In her eye's I told myself It's time to get serious so today I drove up there this morning and took my stand down and moved It to the edge of the big woods where I've been seeing the majority of the deer come out. This evening I went back out there and hunted, I got there a tad late. Just as I climbed up the tree I hear leaves being walked on so I quickly pulled my bow up. Seconds later I hear the snort and see the doe who did It. Sure ****, she was coming down the trail that came by my tree at 12 yards. Man I was pissed at myself for being late! I ended up seeing 5 more deer. I let 2 doe fawns come by at 10 yards, one of the fawns only had 3 legs. The back right leg looked like It was half gone but couldn't tell for sure. She was In alright shape but was at least 3 to 4 Inches shorter then her sister who was right behind her. I get home and Lydia ask's, did you shoot a deer so we can go and track her? Nope again I say. This time I tell her I could've but passed on 2 small ones hoping to get one bigger. She then says ok dad, at least your getting better. I got a good kick out of that. The pressure Is on big time!! I need to get an arrow through a doe to get her back out there. This Is the stuff a dad dreams of when their kids show Interest In stuff we want them too (In my case, hunting). On a side note, I saw one of the biggest tracks I've ever saw In 26 years of hunting when I was walking the field edge to the big woods to put the stand up. I ended up making a mock scrape 15 yards Inside the woods from my stand. I couldn't help It after seeing that track. I can shoot anything I want here so If a 130's+ buck walks on by he's going to get an arrow. I'm not counting on It though being where I'm set up but anything Is possible I guess. Wish me luck on getting a doe!
Good luck Steve. It's great that you are getting your kids involved in hunting this way. I promise you, after she gets older she will always remember this time with you. Cherish every moment. Blessings......Pastorjim
Great read sir, I look forward to hearing the final chapter! Best of luck, when it happens make sure you take plenty of pictures to share!
Good luck Steve you will get it done.. Kids are so great, thanks for the story brings back alot of memories when my daughter was young.. Now go get your daughter a blood trail to follow..Walt
Cool story. When you find yourself in a position like this it puts a whole new perspective on the task at hand. Can't wait to read the next chapter!
awesome story i cracked a big smile when she said "at least your getting better" cool read man and good luck i wanna see those pictures of her smiling and holding up that big doe on your lap!
Good Luck Steve! That is my one goal this year as well - get a deer down and get the kids or whole family to come track with me.
You aren't a kidding there Craig!! Thanks all! Lets hope the evening hunt today prevails (weather permitting).
