First and foremost, a huge "THANK YOU" to Mike "txchicken" for allowing my daughter and me to share a moment we will never forget….
My 10yr daughter and I arrive at Mike's deer camp early afternoon on Wednesday, Nov. 22nd.
We are welcomed and greeted by both Mike and Mike's godson. After a few minutes of discussion of the previous deer sightings and MLD tag requirements, Mike guided us out to our stand and left to prepare for his evening hunt. My daughter and I gathered our equipment together and head out for our evening hunt. We sat inside a 12' tower blind overlooking a power line sendero and a feeder in the brush about a 125yds away… The excitement for my daughter was priceless. For 6 years she has adjoined me on countless of deer hunts, but due to TPWD county restrictions, has never harvested a doe much less a tag buck. Her anticipations were extremely high with the green light on a management doe.
We get into the stand around 3:45 and start to setup. At 4:30 when the feeder goes off, her eyes light up and she's all smiles…. I could see her starting to get excited. As Mike had mentioned, 10 minutes later, the deer start appearing from out of the brush. When the first young does appear around the feeder, I received a hard tug on my shirt with my daughter in my face whispering "yes daddy" "yes daddy"… We scoped and watch 10-12 deer (does and bucks) for about 15-20 minutes, but if you asked my daughter, she would have said it was more like hours. After several attempts, neither of the matured does never allowed a safe or presentable shot. Then for no apparent reason, just as quickly as the deer appeared, all the deer receded back into the brush. My heart sunk and I started to second guess myself with I should have, could have let her taken a young doe. I look across to her and she was a little discouraged but said the hunt was not over and we still had some daylight. I know someone was listening to my inner thoughts, because 10 minutes later as we sat there talking about some scenarios, two matured does appeared down the sendero. Now she is jumping out of her skin with excitement. With our sitting arrangements within the stand, she sitting on my lap was the only alternative. As she gathered her rifle and sat, I scoped the situation through my binoculars. The doe then starts to walk directly at us and stops around 40yds looking directly at us. She never allows a direct shot and then quickly turns and descends the same way back to where she started from. By this time, I am checking in with my daughter and telling her to get ready because this may be a situation where her attention is greatly required. She answers back with, "Dad you're shaking way too much". I forgot she was on my lap and I was apparently too nervous for her own good. I regroup and try to provide her a steady set. The doe is now back at a 100yds and provides the much needed broadside shot view. I pull the hammer back on her rifle and assure her to relax, take a deep breath, slowly exhale and squeeze the trigger. I get the doe back in the binoculars and tell her, anytime your ready…BOOM.. the rifle goes off and both does head for the brush. She looks at me saying "did I get her?" "Dad, I put the crosshairs right where you told me" "I know I did not miss"… Little did she know, the targeted doe headed for the bush with her tail down and running off slower than the other. I knew she had just harvested her first whitetail. I reassured her she had done a great job and not to worry. We pack our stuff and got down out of the blind. She started out in front seeking any visible sign of a good rifle shot. Sure enough, at the exact spot were the doe stood, obvious signs were present. She lead the trail into the brush and about 20 yards in, laid her trophy. A perfect 100yd double lung shot. The high fives and hugs were endless. I will never forget that moment for the rest of my life. The excitement after all the hunts we have shared before was nothing in comparison.
We snapped a few photos and headed back to camp. Mike and his godson were just as excited for my daughter. We snapped a few more photos at camp and said our goodbyes…..
Thanks 2cool for the great site, information and outstanding members such as "txchicken" for offering and providing the opportunities such as this one. Mike, again "I Thank You" for a priceless moment in my life.
Mike
Sugar Land, TX