P1ZombieKiller
Silver $$ Contributor
As some of you know me around here, you know I have 4 boys, and we run mama crazy with hunting and shooting talk. I try to teach my boys the right way to do things as best I can. My right way and your right way may not always agree, but that is what I do. I have been lucky enough to have a father that took me in the woods and taught me the right way to hunt.
I will not allow my son's to shoot a buck as their first deer. I feel they need to earn their way up to that. If they do not help work the feeders, clean camp, cook food, do dishes, and even spend the time to scout, they do not get to hunt. 3 years ago Skylar did his part, and I allowed him to start hunting with me. We had to pass on a few bucks because of my "doe first" rules. Well, let me tell you, I'm glad I did because this story is worth telling again. I know this thread was to talk about his buck, I want to establish his ability first.
3 years ago we were sitting in my deer stand, and a doe came in from the south. She went to an open area that was open for us to observe her. He said, “DAD, there is a doe, is she big enough to shoot”? We looked at her for a few minutes, and we determined she was a mature doe, and she could be harvested, but she was 200 yards away. We have never practiced that far before. I told him we would have to wait until she got closer. Trouble is, she was walking away. He asked again if he could. “Dad, I know I can shoot that far, you done it before, I know I can too”. As we watched, the doe turned broad side to us, and I ranged her at 236 yards. He was shooting my Browning A-bolt in 30-06 (with muzzle break) and when I said get a steady rest, and aim for her front shoulder, he did just that. She dropped right in her tracks. I was the proudest dad a man could be.
Now that we have established his ability, here is the buck story. This past weekend we went hunting. I have not seen anything all year. I have been concentrating mostly on Benchrest shooting, and had only made it out to the lease 4 or 5 times this season (and in Texas with a 3 month season. That’s not a lot). So when a buck came running through on Jan 3rd, and decided to stop right behind a big mesquite tree, I knew we had another situation. With only his neck clear as a possible shot, Skylar set the same 30-06 down on his first buck with a confidence some 40 year old men do not have, and put those cross hairs on the only place he could. The picture below tells the rest of the story, but still does not express the joy and happiness I have with what he did. Even though he is 13 and 4” taller than me now (and still growing)… my little boy made me proud!!!
I will not allow my son's to shoot a buck as their first deer. I feel they need to earn their way up to that. If they do not help work the feeders, clean camp, cook food, do dishes, and even spend the time to scout, they do not get to hunt. 3 years ago Skylar did his part, and I allowed him to start hunting with me. We had to pass on a few bucks because of my "doe first" rules. Well, let me tell you, I'm glad I did because this story is worth telling again. I know this thread was to talk about his buck, I want to establish his ability first.
3 years ago we were sitting in my deer stand, and a doe came in from the south. She went to an open area that was open for us to observe her. He said, “DAD, there is a doe, is she big enough to shoot”? We looked at her for a few minutes, and we determined she was a mature doe, and she could be harvested, but she was 200 yards away. We have never practiced that far before. I told him we would have to wait until she got closer. Trouble is, she was walking away. He asked again if he could. “Dad, I know I can shoot that far, you done it before, I know I can too”. As we watched, the doe turned broad side to us, and I ranged her at 236 yards. He was shooting my Browning A-bolt in 30-06 (with muzzle break) and when I said get a steady rest, and aim for her front shoulder, he did just that. She dropped right in her tracks. I was the proudest dad a man could be.
Now that we have established his ability, here is the buck story. This past weekend we went hunting. I have not seen anything all year. I have been concentrating mostly on Benchrest shooting, and had only made it out to the lease 4 or 5 times this season (and in Texas with a 3 month season. That’s not a lot). So when a buck came running through on Jan 3rd, and decided to stop right behind a big mesquite tree, I knew we had another situation. With only his neck clear as a possible shot, Skylar set the same 30-06 down on his first buck with a confidence some 40 year old men do not have, and put those cross hairs on the only place he could. The picture below tells the rest of the story, but still does not express the joy and happiness I have with what he did. Even though he is 13 and 4” taller than me now (and still growing)… my little boy made me proud!!!
