Once in a Lifetime Opportunity!

[Cootkiller]

I have been looking forward to this morning for 4 years now, I woke my 4 year old boy up to go deer hunting with dad for the first time. I know what your thinking 4 is too young, not with this spot.  So I took him down to the store and bought chocolate milk and doughnuts the breakfast kids dream about, headed on down the road to the hunting spot.  The spot is private property on 20 acres with a barn and a nice open field.  We set up under the awning 2 chairs and our doughnuts.  I was a little worried about how long this hunt would last 4 year olds don't have much patience but my son was fantastic.  He talked to me in a whisper and hung out in his chair without making much noise.  About an hour into the hunt we hear some movement in a brush line 15 yards from us, and I can see his ears pop up and his eyes get big. This noise is too big to be a rabbit or bird so we are both very interested.  The noise continues as we see the  bush moving, and just then we both see a flicker of an ear.  As we watch this deer he begins to make his way out in the open and he is a small but respectable spike.  Normally, I would have passed on this deer, but for my sons first experience it was a shooter.  The deer walks out into the open, I raise my gun, click the safety and the deer looks directly at us, we both freeze.  I can almost hear my sons heart pounding as the excitement grows.  He turns his head, and BOOM smoke and fire resonate from my gun and the deer disappears. My sons first comment, daddy that was loud.  I stand up and see the deer is down, I sit my son on my lap and tell him we need to give the deer sometime to pass, and say a little prayer thanking the deer for giving us nummies for the table.  We walk over to the deer and my son is excited though not jumping around just appreciating the situation.  He helps me hold the legs while cleaning, we load the deer and he can't wait to get home to tell mommy.  Fantastic, that the situation happened like it did to introduce my son to the addiction of hunting.  He wasn't afraid of the guts just interested in what everything was and why they had it.  This is by far the best hunt I have ever been on with the most joy after the kill I have ever felt, not for the deer but for the experience it shared between me and my son.

Noticed after I posted I didn't clarify my hunt location I hunt on Whidbey Island which is open for any deer.

[Fish4Fun]

Way to go,      start the kids young, it is never too early to get them in the woods and the memories you make will last a lifetime.     

[NWBREW]

That's great coot. Thank you for sharing. 

[GoldTip]

Very very cool.  Congrats Dad on what sounds like a great introductio0n to hunting for another generation to come.

[superdown]

that's really cool to see the little guy out there so early and being such a good sport.

[MoleyMolson]

What a great experience.  Congrats!
I tried that with my 5 year old last year, we didn't see anything.
I went back alone the very next morning and shot a 3pt that was basically standing in the spot where my son and I had our blind setup.  SOOO wish he could have been there.

[whacker1]

Love the picture and story - very cool

[7mag.]

Very cool. I am taking my 5 year old boy with me next week. He is excited. He can already tell the difference between a blacktail, a whitetail, and a muley. He's right about 75% of the time. I hope I get a chance at a shooter when he's with me.

[elkoholic]

Thats awesome- I shot a deer a few years back with my boy on my back in his backpack(archery)..

[Skyvalhunter]

Very very cool. Congrats on making that dream come true!!

[Charlie]

Kids are all different for sure. My oldest son was 4 when he went out with me on his first hunt. My next son was at least 6. You will always treasure the times you spend in the field, or fishing, with your kids. Congrats to you both!!

[buckhorn2]

Looks like a new hunt wa member in the making congradulations to you both

[pods8]

Very cool.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

That is cool !, I know I am getting tired of my girls wondering "when is dad going to get a deer?"
We see them quite often (except during season) and I always laugh when my 5 year old daughter says "that one looks delicious !"

[KillerBeee]

As soon as my 5 year old learns to be more quiet in the field, he will become my new partner. He has been on some scouting trips and has been fun to be around.

      That is awesome that you shared that experience with him. I'm sure it will be a great memory for both of you for a long time.