My little boy got it done!

[jburkett]

My 12 year old son had a great deer season! He drew a second deer tag in washtucna, so made the decision to hold out for a buck on his general tag. We spent the first two and a half days working together with a friend to put his 10 year old daughter on her first deer. Monday morning she was able to make it happen on a white tail doe. With her tag filled we set out on finding my son a buck. He was able to shoot a white tail buck two years ago so he had his heart set on his first mule deer. We got to our glassing knob and set up behind the glass. Within the first minute we spotted a group of 38 mule deer, some bedded, others feeding in the middle of a wheat stubble feild. In the group was two small but legal bucks, several two points and a few spikes, and many does. After about ten minutes of looking him over and discussing what our approach would be my son made the decision that he would be very happy with the larger of the two legal bucks.  We made a plan and set in after them. The deer were about a mile or so from us so we hopped in the truck and drove to the bottom of the hill they were on which cut out about 1/4 of the distance. We worked our way up the hill in a brushy draw until we hit their elevation, after that it was 350 yards of army crawling through the stubble. As we got  to 200 yards from the herd now all bedded, we ran out of terrain to cover our approach. We made the decision for me to stay back. He made the final 40 yards all on his own, exposed to the herd the whole way. He reached the crest of the hill and was looking down at all 38 of the deer now only 160 yards away.  From my vantage point all I could see was my son and three sets of ears. He sat perfectly still, and in plain sight of the deer for 40 minutes waiting for them to start getting up. The buck was the last deer to stand, and when he did he was surrounded by other deer.  Finally the deer started spreading out and feeding and a shot opportunity came. But my son didn’t take it, he ranged the deer several times as it started walking away and up hill. Now I could clearly see the buck working away from us slowly. I looked over to my son just in time to see him adjust the turret on his scope and settle behind the gun, he took his shot at 162 yards quartering away. He hit the deer in the middle of his body and it exited out of the off side arm pit. Perfect shot! The buck took three labored strides and piled up. After high fives and hugs I asked him why he waited so long to take the shot and he told me that he could see wheat stubble in his scope and was waiting for the buck to feed up hill a bit. That little boy sure has come along ways in three years of deer hunting, making good conscious decisions to wait until thing are clear to make good clean shots I couldn’t be prouder!  After that we headed north into the unit for his second deer tag. Not a lot of a story on that one. Found state land, found a mule deer doe, made a short stalk and finished with another heart shot on a slightly quartering deer.

[brokentrail]

Congrats to you and your son!  Awesome that he knew to wait and did so, that would be from good teaching, Dad.  Reading over your story brought back the memory of each of my 3 boys first few successful hunts and how much they learned over time.  Memories that you will never forget for sure and lots of meat for the freezer!

[Rugsnfeathers]

Congratulations! What a great story, one that you and your son will never forget.

[knighttime25]

Congratulations to your son and great write up  Excited for the day that I can share those types of experiences with my son!

[Blacktail Sniper]

Great job, congratulations!!

[pianoman9701]

Congratulations on a beautiful buck!

[OutHouse]

Great job dad! And tell you son he's got the hair cut of the year!

[bearhunter99]

Congrats to the young hunter!  Love seeing the smiling kids on here every year!

[buglebuster]

Great job!

[jdb]

That’s awesome joe! Very well written as well!

[Alchase]

This is awesome!
Thank you for sharing. Your "little boy" is well on his way to becoming a young man!

I still catch myself thinking about my youngest son as a young man. And he is 6'2" and 275 lbs, 28 years old  :'(

 

[2MANY]

Only a Father can understand the joy in this post.
Congrats.

[Taco280AI]

That's awesome, congrats 

[jburkett]

 

Great job dad! And tell you son he's got the hair cut of the year!

[dvolmer]

What a fine young'n you got there!  Wise beyond his years!  Nothing better than watching your kids hunt and learn. I took my 24 year old son to Wyoming this year and he shot an antelope and a mule deer buck (I was just the guide because I didn't draw).  I remember when him and his six sisters were the age of your son and figuring it all out!  Time flies so enjoy it while you can!