I love hunting, specifically archery hunting. I grew up in a family that never hunted, so when I was 11 I told my dad I wanted to hunt, he said then you are going to bowhunt and that is all how it started. I met a guy at the local archery shop that took me out for my first deer (doe) and i was hooked.. I still recall everything about that day.. my bow, arrow, head.. release.. where the deer was, date , time.. you name it. In the 20 years since that first doe I have become extremely serious and while I am no Jason phelps, or any other rockstars... I have been fairly successful. Anytime I can help a kid get into hunting I Jump on it. I had that chance this weekend and it was a great experience. I took a 15 yo boy and his mom out. The non typical buck I was after was still around and i had a hunch I could get him on that buck. We arrived at the spot and a 3x2 was already feeding in the meadow... I said lets wait on him and go look for the other buck, I had found his bed earlier that week and hoped he would be in it. as we crept over, I saw his head and told Kolby to get ready. he knocked a arrow and drew back, I told him to step to the right as he was aiming through brush, but it was his first time ever drawing on a deer and he shot... the arrow skipped, missing the buck and he just stood up! this time he moved over and smoked the buck behind the shoulder, only issue was he was quartering too a bit and he only got 1 lung. The buck jumped down the hill... we watched him for probably 30 sec... he was not moving fast but I knew he needed another arrow. We crept over the edge and the buck took a few steps, eventually he stopped 30 yards below us , it was a very steep downhill angle.. he rushed his first shot and the arrow flew 2 ft over his back. I said "you need to calm down, put your 30 on the back rib and make this shot!" he did and the next arrow hammered him perfectly.. two steps later he was taking a dirt nap. What a experience! Since the 3x2 was not far off and we had many other bucks on camera... we hiked back out to the truck and let his mom take a seat in the blind. 25 min later I get a text saying I just smoked that 3x2... sure enough... she made a perfect shot and it was a short recovery. We had 2 bucks on the ground in under 45 min..... it was one of those days you will never forget and you thank the lord above for blessing you. Yes that buck was the one I was after, yes i could have not hunted him and hoped he made it this winter and into next year and was even around come season... BUT for me.. watching that young man take that buck was 100000x times more rewarding then if I did it myself. If you ever have the chance to help a kid... do it... the smile on his face and seeing his mom in tears after he killed that buck made it all worth it 500000x times over. Good luck to all of you with tags left to fill.
