petey
12-01-2009, 09:28 PM
Yesterday was PA's rifle opener and after several months of preperation it all came down to the first hour of daylight.
As some were following in the reloading room I started a few month's back building a custom fit .223 for my small boy to go hunting with dad. After the gun was built, and non-stop practicing, it came down to what bullet to use. I chose the 53 gr Barnes TSX. After some handloading I had this round shooting 3/8" groups. My son was religously shooting 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards. He put about about a hundred rounds through this gun and he was definately ready in my eyes. We practiced for about 2 months out of a 2 man ladder stand I had set up about 5' off the side of my deck. I wanted him to practice in the enviroment he'd be hunting out of. I believe this made all the difference in the world when it came time to make the shot. Teaching him where and when to shoot deer was simple, since he's my TV buddy when it comes to watching the Outdoor Channel. At given times I'd just ask him where he would shoot that deer on TV and he would always point in the right spot.
In 06 PA started a Mentored Youth Hunting Program wherby if the Mentor (me) deems his/her child worthy, then they can go hunting prior to taking the hunter saftey course. The legal age to hunt is 12 in PA prior to this and you had to successfully pass hunter education. Once he turns 12, he'll have to take the course. The rules are simple. He had to be within arms length at all times, only allowed to handle the gun while shooting and obviously follow all the other rules set by the PAGC. For $2.70 he gets a buck tag, a turkey tag and can shoot all the coyotes, groundhogs and squirrels he's allowed.
Last week I set our two man stand in one of my honey holes and I had a big buck picked out for him, but really any old buck would have done in either of our eyes. I then wrapped the stand in burlap to hide any movement a 6 yr old may make. The day was all about him and the site was ready.
On to the Hunt: I woke him up early and we ate breakfest. He was so excited, so I packed the backpack with all the goodies we bought the day before and got into our hunting clothes.After Grandpa arrived we got in the truck and drove the short distance to my hunting spot. The stand was about 4-500 yard walk. Of course it was raining so got to the stand as quickly as possible. He easily made the 17' climb up the stand and we were ready to hunt. I setup a tree umbrella, what a life saver, since it rained most of the morning. As it started to get lighter out, I told him to listen for gun shots and when that started, begin to look for deer. We heard 12 shots before the first set of does came by...shucks. Not 5 mins later I see another doe coming and this buck right on her tail. They stopped about 100 yards out and he began to run her a little then start to browse. I took this time to rid us of the full cup of hot-coco he was drinking and get him set up for the shot. At this point the only thing visible was his head, so I put the scope on 3x and pointed the gun right where the deer's head was and he got on the gun. I asked if he could see the buck, and he said "oh yeah". I then cranked it to 6 or 7X and the buck took a couple steps into the opening. That was all he needed. I told him to take his time, put the crosshairs right behind the shoulder and squeeze the trigger...2 Seconds later....BANG....
The buck turns right at us takes off like a rocket. I grabbed the gun and recylced the round. By that time he had ran about 50-60 yards and was only 40 yards out.....I did not know at this point if he had hit the deer or not, but I was about the find out. He just piled up all of a sudden and I'm sitting there in pure awe... I'm thinking.."did this just happen?" WOW...we both started War Hooping... My 6 year old just put the smackdown on a big ol buck at 100 yards. He had his buck down in the first hour of daylight, his first time ever hunting deer. Now this wasn't the "big" buck I had lined up for him, but I knew of this buck from archery season. All of his hard work, dedication and practice paid off.
I had the buck back to the house before lunch and we got a quick bite to eat and he wanted to go back out! He sat all day from the daylight to daybreak. I could have shot a small 6-7 point, and we had several does come by, but I don't just shoot any old buck just to say I did. I have only a few that I would consider shooting with a rifle that I've been hunting since archery. Hopefully the gods will bless me as much as they did my son in the next couple weeks.
Needless to say I'm one PROUD PAPPA. He's hooked, it's all he talks about now. I have a hunting partner for life now....I'm still in awe about that whole day. He still says that it was the "best day of his life, ever..." I'm sure he'll always remember this day, as will I. What more can I say??? Other than WOW.
I guess on to Turkey season now!
P.S. We just dropped his buck off at the local taxidermist and it's the biggest buck brought in so far. He can't wait to go into school tomorrow and tell all of his first grader friends.
As some were following in the reloading room I started a few month's back building a custom fit .223 for my small boy to go hunting with dad. After the gun was built, and non-stop practicing, it came down to what bullet to use. I chose the 53 gr Barnes TSX. After some handloading I had this round shooting 3/8" groups. My son was religously shooting 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards. He put about about a hundred rounds through this gun and he was definately ready in my eyes. We practiced for about 2 months out of a 2 man ladder stand I had set up about 5' off the side of my deck. I wanted him to practice in the enviroment he'd be hunting out of. I believe this made all the difference in the world when it came time to make the shot. Teaching him where and when to shoot deer was simple, since he's my TV buddy when it comes to watching the Outdoor Channel. At given times I'd just ask him where he would shoot that deer on TV and he would always point in the right spot.
In 06 PA started a Mentored Youth Hunting Program wherby if the Mentor (me) deems his/her child worthy, then they can go hunting prior to taking the hunter saftey course. The legal age to hunt is 12 in PA prior to this and you had to successfully pass hunter education. Once he turns 12, he'll have to take the course. The rules are simple. He had to be within arms length at all times, only allowed to handle the gun while shooting and obviously follow all the other rules set by the PAGC. For $2.70 he gets a buck tag, a turkey tag and can shoot all the coyotes, groundhogs and squirrels he's allowed.
Last week I set our two man stand in one of my honey holes and I had a big buck picked out for him, but really any old buck would have done in either of our eyes. I then wrapped the stand in burlap to hide any movement a 6 yr old may make. The day was all about him and the site was ready.
On to the Hunt: I woke him up early and we ate breakfest. He was so excited, so I packed the backpack with all the goodies we bought the day before and got into our hunting clothes.After Grandpa arrived we got in the truck and drove the short distance to my hunting spot. The stand was about 4-500 yard walk. Of course it was raining so got to the stand as quickly as possible. He easily made the 17' climb up the stand and we were ready to hunt. I setup a tree umbrella, what a life saver, since it rained most of the morning. As it started to get lighter out, I told him to listen for gun shots and when that started, begin to look for deer. We heard 12 shots before the first set of does came by...shucks. Not 5 mins later I see another doe coming and this buck right on her tail. They stopped about 100 yards out and he began to run her a little then start to browse. I took this time to rid us of the full cup of hot-coco he was drinking and get him set up for the shot. At this point the only thing visible was his head, so I put the scope on 3x and pointed the gun right where the deer's head was and he got on the gun. I asked if he could see the buck, and he said "oh yeah". I then cranked it to 6 or 7X and the buck took a couple steps into the opening. That was all he needed. I told him to take his time, put the crosshairs right behind the shoulder and squeeze the trigger...2 Seconds later....BANG....
The buck turns right at us takes off like a rocket. I grabbed the gun and recylced the round. By that time he had ran about 50-60 yards and was only 40 yards out.....I did not know at this point if he had hit the deer or not, but I was about the find out. He just piled up all of a sudden and I'm sitting there in pure awe... I'm thinking.."did this just happen?" WOW...we both started War Hooping... My 6 year old just put the smackdown on a big ol buck at 100 yards. He had his buck down in the first hour of daylight, his first time ever hunting deer. Now this wasn't the "big" buck I had lined up for him, but I knew of this buck from archery season. All of his hard work, dedication and practice paid off.
I had the buck back to the house before lunch and we got a quick bite to eat and he wanted to go back out! He sat all day from the daylight to daybreak. I could have shot a small 6-7 point, and we had several does come by, but I don't just shoot any old buck just to say I did. I have only a few that I would consider shooting with a rifle that I've been hunting since archery. Hopefully the gods will bless me as much as they did my son in the next couple weeks.
Needless to say I'm one PROUD PAPPA. He's hooked, it's all he talks about now. I have a hunting partner for life now....I'm still in awe about that whole day. He still says that it was the "best day of his life, ever..." I'm sure he'll always remember this day, as will I. What more can I say??? Other than WOW.
I guess on to Turkey season now!
P.S. We just dropped his buck off at the local taxidermist and it's the biggest buck brought in so far. He can't wait to go into school tomorrow and tell all of his first grader friends.