October youth hunt

[Rancid Crabtree]

Mid Oct. 2007. Thunder, Lightening, High Temps........Not the typical hunting conditions I am used to but when the youth hunt offers you two days to take your kid hunting, you have to make do.

We woke at 5:45 on Sat. morning to see bright flashes through the bedroom window and loud rumbles of thunder shook the pictures on the wall. It was already 68 degrees. Josh and I both dressed in shorts and a tee shirt and a thin orange vest. We wore rubber boots because of the rain but tennis shoes would have been just as good.

We walked across the clover field to the "Office" which is a ground blind I built back in 1995. It overlooks one corner of the field facing East. The blind has a tin roof and the rain pounding it covered any noise we would make. The lighting would give us quick peeks at the field but the deer were smart enough to be under a big hemlock or other shelter. When it got light, the fog made it tough to see.





We sat until 9:30. That's when the sun broke through the fog and we walked back to the house for breakfast. It was getting warm, fast. It got up to 85F. This is unheard of for WI for this time of year.



As well left the blind, I took a picture of the mighty hunter in his Polo shirt and shorts. Normally it would be long underwear and heavy coats and gloves.



After some bacon and eggs, we set up a target to do a little shooting. Grandpa offered advice.



My sister showed up with her sons. They are 7 and 8. They wanted to show me how they could shoot their bows.



This is either a young Rambo or Ned Nugent. Either way, it's archery with attitude.



We enjoyed the afternoon and went back to sit in the same stand for the evening hunt. We set up around 5 pm. We had a great view of the corner.



Just after 6:30, a single deer came out and started feeding. I told Josh to wait but it was getting dark fast. When the deer gave him a broadside shot, he fired. We saw the deer drop in it's tracks. We then walked back to the house and got the four wheeler and a flashlight and went back for the deer. This is Josh's 2nd deer but it is the first time I was present during a harvest. Last year he got a doe while hunting with my sister (Rambo's mother) So I was tickled pink to be present for this event.





With the high temps, we wasted little time getting the deer on ice.



On Sunday, we we slept in and then did a little more shooting and then headed back home. Fresh tenderloins and backstraps were on the menu for Sunday night.