After a great season of hunting, we wrapped up the year with a great youth weekend hunt the last 2 days. My son connected on his 2nd doe of the season Saturday morning so we were 100% antler hunters the rest of the weekend.
Saturday evening started with 7 deer at the feeders when we arrived- Only small bucks to show. After all the good shooters I had seen on trips during the week, they must have had an inherent fear of my 12 year old. By the way, his birthday was Friday, 1-16. He opted for the hunting trip, citing that parties can be had any weekend but youth weekend is only 2 days. (smart boy)
We had turned all the feeder time back so Sunday morning, I drive right to a pop-up blind in an area we refer to as the Honey Hole. Hammered the area with corn with the tailgate feeder while my son got set up in the pop-up.
I had not been back and in the blind more than 10 minutes when we could see the shapes of deer moving in. There were 2 shooter bucks and @ 6:55 am when we could finally see good enough to decide on one or the other, the .243 sounded off. The buck gave hte patented hind leg kick. I looked at Justin and you smoked him dog!!
He was borderline hyperventilating with his breathing. Knowing it was a good shot, we wasted no time crawling out to look for sign. It was still dark enough that you couldn't even make out blood yet. No need, a quick glance to the left of where he took the shot, lay the buck not 20 yards from where he shot him. After cleaning, it was clear why it didn't go far. The heart was the consistency of mashed jello.
AFter many hunts and letting immature bucks live another day, his patience was rewarded with his personal best buck to date.
It will be euro mounted and his bar just got set a little higher for next year. All that and he still gets a birthday party- What A Deal!!
Enjoy the pics. A little more blood than I like to show but we covered it up better than it was.
Saturday evening started with 7 deer at the feeders when we arrived- Only small bucks to show. After all the good shooters I had seen on trips during the week, they must have had an inherent fear of my 12 year old. By the way, his birthday was Friday, 1-16. He opted for the hunting trip, citing that parties can be had any weekend but youth weekend is only 2 days. (smart boy)
We had turned all the feeder time back so Sunday morning, I drive right to a pop-up blind in an area we refer to as the Honey Hole. Hammered the area with corn with the tailgate feeder while my son got set up in the pop-up.
I had not been back and in the blind more than 10 minutes when we could see the shapes of deer moving in. There were 2 shooter bucks and @ 6:55 am when we could finally see good enough to decide on one or the other, the .243 sounded off. The buck gave hte patented hind leg kick. I looked at Justin and you smoked him dog!!
He was borderline hyperventilating with his breathing. Knowing it was a good shot, we wasted no time crawling out to look for sign. It was still dark enough that you couldn't even make out blood yet. No need, a quick glance to the left of where he took the shot, lay the buck not 20 yards from where he shot him. After cleaning, it was clear why it didn't go far. The heart was the consistency of mashed jello.
AFter many hunts and letting immature bucks live another day, his patience was rewarded with his personal best buck to date.
It will be euro mounted and his bar just got set a little higher for next year. All that and he still gets a birthday party- What A Deal!!
Enjoy the pics. A little more blood than I like to show but we covered it up better than it was.