Thread: Jacob's first deer

Last thursday I came home with high hopes of helping my 8yr old Jacob get his first deer.There was a tractor in my cousins field getting hay ready,and my parents were in the pecan orchard on one side of the field mowing,and collecting pecans.This was a little discouraging for what I had in mind.

Last Monday my wife saw a doe in the creek bottom,and jumped some at the fields edge on her way out at a water oak.Last Tuesday I sat on the other side of the field with my 300 win mag,(unloaded) to see if I could see any deer at dark.Nothing.I figured it was just because she jumped them the day before,so I decided to look last wen. after church.

About 7:10pm I saw a doe streak by,then 2 fawns.A few minutes later the doe came back to feed on water oaks,and then I saw what looked to be a nice buck.He had his head down,but the posture and everything else said he was a good one.I told Jake and he was fired up.

So here I am on thursday with a dilema.Will they be scared of the noise around the farm or not?I walked over to talk to mom,and didn't get the impression they would leave the pecan orchard until dark.I told her I was going to take him across the field to a ground blind I had made with brush,but we would be shooting the other way..I guess that was enough to convince mom and dad to leave at 6:30pm....lol

So to my suprise at 6:45pm I see a doe on the fields edge under the oak tree.Where in the heck did she come from?Oh well,hey son get your gun on her slow and easy.Do some practice/pretend shots,and let's wait for that buck.

We generally don't shoot does on the farm because we don't have many,but we knew we would let him shoot one out there for his first deer.He knows we take anything on the wma,but here we are picky.After 10 minutes of pretending he was really wanting to give it a shot.I had been talking to him quietly as he kept the gun on her,explaining what angles were bad shots,and what angles were good shots.He has taken 3 hogs this year,and made 3 perfect shots on them,so I knew I had great confidence in him.

This would be about a 60yd shot..his longest ever.He doesn't have the best eyesight near dark..It was starting to get late,and I decided to give him the go ahead.He was nice and calm.I said take off the saftey,put it on her,just behind the shoulder,squeeze the trigger..take your time...She was perfect..broadside..About 3 seconds later..Boooomm.. the 30-06 roared,and the doe stumbled forward..she spun and went to our right disappearing behind the brush she had appeared from 15 minutes earlier.

He was very excited,but as I walked around looking for her he got increasingly worried and upset.I got her dad!I know I got her!I was right on her shoulder!How could I miss!..lol..I said IDK jacob you may have,but I don't think so,lets look...He started to panic.."You don't have faith in me!You think I missed!..No jacob I didn't say that..lol...This youngin is getting tore up!..On and on he went,he was so sure of the shot...I had faith in him..We went over to the oak tree,and I hit my light..here's what I found scattered amongst the acorns..(note acorns)



I picked up the trail which was a pure out stream..I said this looks real good bo,he lit up with excitement!I knew I got her!...A little farther and I found where she went through the fence..



And a chunk of lung,she ain't going far like this...



I figured it was safe to say we wouldn't be tracking long,so I gave him my light,and he began to track his first deer.You can see blood where he is pointing his light..





He suddenly said Oh man when he saw this..I knew we were getting close..she was slowing down...



I saw her out the corner of my eye,but I let him track her down...Next thing you know..



I had actually gotten this doe on cam during the summer..



Proud daddy,and his deerhunter..



It feels so good to take my own son out into the woods.Teach him the food sources,how/what/why the deer do what they do,what shot angles are good and bad,patience for the shot,remembering where the animal was standing,and where it went,teach him how to bloodtrail,and find his own deer...It's a great feeling.

It feels so good to take my own son out into the woods.Teach him the food sources,how/what/why the deer do what they do,what shot angles are good and bad,patience for the shot,remembering where the animal was standing,and where it went,teach him how to bloodtrail,and find his own deer...It's a great feeling.

That sums it up perfectly.



DC

Congratulations!

absolutely awesome!!!!

pretty cool when they have a defining mark like that to know there the one you killed eh?

Awesome !!!!!!! Way to go Jacob....You da man and yes I bet it does feel good to be there Daddy I too can recall many a years ago with my son....

Congrats Jacob!!!!!!


Thanks for sharing this with us PLP.

That's so awesome of you and your son.

Congratz to him.

Wish I had a father of such caliber.