My 6 yr old's first deer!

petey · #1 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.

toxic111 · #2 12-01-2009, 09:55 PM

That is awesome Petey... I wish I could take my son out when he is 6.. we will be shooting gopher by then.. but that will be all he can shoot. I am pretty sure SK is 12 before he can go hunting.

Hopefully his next hunts will be as memorable!

Ridge Runner · #3 12-02-2009, 04:33 AM

thats cool petey, that really gets young hunters fired up. see told ya 223 is not the best but adequate, and sometimes when very recoil sensative or very small stature folks are in the equasion its the only choice.
RR

Dan Morris · #4 12-02-2009, 05:18 AM

Nice buck....that's one he will remember forever! My congrats.
Dan

maineguy110 · #5 12-02-2009, 07:16 AM

awesome remember my sons first deer

fabsroman · #6 12-02-2009, 07:41 AM

That is awesome. Good on you and good on your son.

Might just have to buy some land in PA so I can take my son in 6 or 7 years. Even if he cannot pull the trigger, I'm still going to take him out with me. Come to think of it, I might have to buy the land a little sooner because my daughter is 2 1/2 already. Time flies.

Duffy · #7 12-02-2009, 08:11 AM

What a great story! Congratulations to both of you. What an awesome time you must have had!

buckhunter · #8 12-02-2009, 11:26 AM

Awesome. No way in Mass would that be allowed to happen. Our Pol's know what best for us and our children. If you don't believe me then just ask them.

Rapier · #9 12-02-2009, 03:12 PM

Pete,
That is just great for the boy and for you, a life memory between you.

It is great the PA has an early hunt option. Here in FL you must have the hunter safety class first so when my son started in on me to go hunting I would take him without a gun. Our minimum age was 12 also, so when he turned 9 he was already a competitive shooter and had tied for a state junior championship. I took his data down to the F & G folks and got them to agree to allow him to sit the course and if he scored 90% or better on the final test and made no mistakes in the gun handling/shooting phase he could get his certificate and patch. He got a 99 on the test and a perfect score for gun handling. Of course "we" sat the course together and every night on the way home we discussed the evening lesson, I really enjoyed the time talking outdoors and hunting with him.

Life for a father and son is made up of such memories.

Please tell your son congratulations on a fine shot and a great looking buck. My son's first buck, the year of the safety course, was a small four point spike and I am sure he would be envious of that nice big buck, boy to boy.
Best,
Ed

Adam Helmer · #10 12-02-2009, 06:32 PM

Petey,

Well done. I saw 8 does and a forkhorn on opening day here. All are still walking this old farm they call home. Congradulations on recruiting a new hunter.

Adam

gd357 · #11 12-02-2009, 08:13 PM

Good to hear that the preparation paid off! Just looking at the smile on his face says it all. Congrats on a very nice 1st deer for your son. Good job!

gd

petey · #12 12-03-2009, 05:46 PM

Thanks everyone. He's still all fired up about it. I imagine he will be for some time. He sure showed up everyone at work so far. Largest buck taken in gun season by anyone I know around here, thus far.

Okie Hog · #13 12-03-2009, 08:30 PM

Congrats to the young lady and yourself.

LoneWolf · #14 12-05-2009, 08:54 AM

Very cool Petey!
I'm still waiting for that moment to share with my boy, but it will be awesome when he gets his first one.

skeeter@ccia.com · #15 12-09-2009, 10:26 PM

If either of you smiled any more your faces would turn inside out..congrats and in the making of a memory.....My youngest daughter still hunts with me..and does well tky/deer....keeps them off the streets too..be safe.