For a number of reasons. First reason is my 8 year old boy shot his first deer, in his first season deer hunting. She was a BIG doe. Hanging weight was 129# and I managed to get 68# of meat off of her.
The second reason I'm crying is that his first shot spined her, right through the loins
Both loins and the back half of both backstraps were bloodshot and dirty beyond being salvageable. Still got the front half of the backstraps though. I told him it's his deer and he could have it processed any way he wanted. He wanted 2 steaks and the rest into hamburger, pepperoni sticks, and pastrami. I didn't tell him but, I'm keeping his backstraps. No way those are going into the hamburger bucket.
The third reason I'm crying is that, while processing her, I cut my hands about 8 times.
We had a wonderful time at Garry's place (wild country guide service). Garry was great. He was super patient with my son, setting him up for a perfect shot and following him through the final kill shot.
His cameraman Matt was awesome. He managed to call in deer in his own special way, using his ass flute. A great guy. Showed me some nice areas to go find my deer.
Garry's family was great. They hung out with my son like he had spent his whole life at that house. Very accommodating, nice, generous, and a family I would love to have my family around all the time.
We went out in the morning and didn't see anything. The weather was changing. The wind was blowing hard and the deer just weren't moving. We went back to the house and spent a few hours eating biscuits and homemade sausage gravy, talking about future hunting spots, playing with Garry's HUGE shed collection, and making fun of the hunting shows on TV.
Afternoon came around and we hiked to a small ridge overlooking a food plot and set up a portable blind. After an hour and a half, we had does surrounding us. Finally, one big one stepped forward and started snorting and stomping. We sat still and let her stomp her way into range. When she gave up on us after 10 minutes of bluffing us and getting no movement, she moved perfectly broadside with her head behind a bush where she couldn't see us standing at 180 yards. Garry moved my son into position and set up the shooting sticks.
It is here that I should mention my son has a broken arm and a cast from his hand to up past his elbow. He has also never taken a shot past 100 yards during his range time.
Garry got him lined up and talked him through the entire shot.
Jon's first deer shotI was getting ready to turn to see the deer when he shot and the shot scared me enough that I dropped the camera.
The shot goes off and the doe goes down, sort of. He shot her in the spine breaking her back. She tried to get away by dragging herself down the hill with her front legs. She was going to need a second shot. Here's where I thought my son might buckle. Nope. He took the gun and, with Garry on his hands and knees acting as the gun rest, shot her again from 20 yards. Being able to pull the trigger up close and personal like that was really impressive, especially after his balking at killing rabbits at Hunterman's house a few weeks ago.
The entire experience is one that will never be forgotten and I cannot thank Garry, Matt, and Garry's family enough for making this happen.
Garry's wall
Garry's shed collection
Jon with his favorite shed
Jon and Garry in the blind
The after shot. No flash on the cameraphone
