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My Son and his SECOND buck!
It was crazy windy this morning when my son and I went over to my friend's ranch to visit and hang out. After a little bit, I needed to run some errands in town. But, before we left, my friend said that if the wind died down.........my boy could come out and shoot another deer! Woohoo!
About 2 o'clock, he called and said to come on out when we could. Still running around, we didn't get out there until just before 4 o'clock. So, we hurriedly drove out to the brush, built a quick blind, and threw out some corn.
The shot would be somewhere between 50 and 115 yards, depending on where they came out. The wind was still whipping, but it was in our faces and figured we'd be ok. After about 20 minutes, a yearling came out and began to feed. So, we watched and practiced on her. Then, a spike (trying to be a 3-Pointer) came out and my friend said he could shoot him. I asked if he was sure and he said that he needed to take out some small bucks this season as well. That's all I needed to hear. So, I got my boy behind the rifle and started coaching him for the shot. Due to where the buck came out, my boy was up on his knees trying to aim in. I saw that he was not steady in that position. I asked if he wanted to sit in my lap and he said, "Yeah. I'm a little excited and can't get still."
I hope that excitement never goes away.
Anyway, he got set up in my lap and I started the video. Unfortunately, the entire video is too long to download. But, in it you hear us go through the coaching sequence. He's in my lap, the camera is rolling, I'm looking through binos over his head at the deer..........he's ready.........I tell him to squeeze the trigger..............and my little man sends a 105gr A-Max out of the .243 Winchester across 87 yards and into the buck's heart.
If you've never experienced such a joy..........to have your boy in your lap while he shoots a deer............I can't express the pride, honor, and exhilaration. It's enough to bring a tear to your eye.
At the shot, the buck leaps in the air and does a 180 in the process. Covering about 6 yards with that single bound, he lands and runs about 6 more yards, just out of view of the camera. Stopping in front of a mesquite tree and behind a bush, my boy can't see him. I'm looking through the binos and burning through the bush at the deer. My boy asks in an excited voice, "What happened? Where did he go?!?"
"He stopped right there behind the bush." I tell him. And a second later, the buck falls over. "He's down!"
"Yes!" Exclaimed my boy.
My friend smiles and punches my boy in the shoulder. "You're a Hell of a shot, young man! I've seen grown men come out here and miss or wound deer no further than yours. You're two for two!"
I was a proud dad.
We gathered our things, walked down to the buck, and thanked God for the gift of friends, and the outdoors.
My boy is becoming a young man before my eyes.
About 2 o'clock, he called and said to come on out when we could. Still running around, we didn't get out there until just before 4 o'clock. So, we hurriedly drove out to the brush, built a quick blind, and threw out some corn.
The shot would be somewhere between 50 and 115 yards, depending on where they came out. The wind was still whipping, but it was in our faces and figured we'd be ok. After about 20 minutes, a yearling came out and began to feed. So, we watched and practiced on her. Then, a spike (trying to be a 3-Pointer) came out and my friend said he could shoot him. I asked if he was sure and he said that he needed to take out some small bucks this season as well. That's all I needed to hear. So, I got my boy behind the rifle and started coaching him for the shot. Due to where the buck came out, my boy was up on his knees trying to aim in. I saw that he was not steady in that position. I asked if he wanted to sit in my lap and he said, "Yeah. I'm a little excited and can't get still."
I hope that excitement never goes away.
Anyway, he got set up in my lap and I started the video. Unfortunately, the entire video is too long to download. But, in it you hear us go through the coaching sequence. He's in my lap, the camera is rolling, I'm looking through binos over his head at the deer..........he's ready.........I tell him to squeeze the trigger..............and my little man sends a 105gr A-Max out of the .243 Winchester across 87 yards and into the buck's heart.
If you've never experienced such a joy..........to have your boy in your lap while he shoots a deer............I can't express the pride, honor, and exhilaration. It's enough to bring a tear to your eye.
At the shot, the buck leaps in the air and does a 180 in the process. Covering about 6 yards with that single bound, he lands and runs about 6 more yards, just out of view of the camera. Stopping in front of a mesquite tree and behind a bush, my boy can't see him. I'm looking through the binos and burning through the bush at the deer. My boy asks in an excited voice, "What happened? Where did he go?!?"
"He stopped right there behind the bush." I tell him. And a second later, the buck falls over. "He's down!"
"Yes!" Exclaimed my boy.
My friend smiles and punches my boy in the shoulder. "You're a Hell of a shot, young man! I've seen grown men come out here and miss or wound deer no further than yours. You're two for two!"
I was a proud dad.
We gathered our things, walked down to the buck, and thanked God for the gift of friends, and the outdoors.
My boy is becoming a young man before my eyes.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Replies
The bullet in flight.
Just before impact.
Impact.
Exit.
I second this.
That is the same gun my daughter shot her first antelope with. So, I'm not going to give that one to one or the other.
He will eventually get my .30-06 from my youth. The one I shot my first Whitetail buck, antelope, muley, and elk with.
http://vid26.photobucket.com/albums/c106/lovinmycaitlynn/Hunting/Shot_zpsu5cjllup.mp4
Here is the quick autopsy. Didn't do a thorough one as I was too busy with "the moment". What I learned from this one is........my boy can shoot pretty well.
Entrance (little dot just behind the leg and above the white hair):
The boy smoked the heart.......again! I told him to stop doing that as they were edible!!! :jester:
Exit (broke a rib on exit):
The deer jumped about 6 yards. Ran about 6 yards. Stopped for a second or two and fell over. Same shot as his first buck (much larger in size) which ran about 130 yards. Both heart shot. Different distance traveled. You just never know how a deer will react.
The .243 Winchester and 105gr A-Max continue to perform and impress.
Yes. Yes he is.
You have taught him well.
That joy is indescribable...as it should be.
Now get him ready for handgun hunting.
I know he would be capable with your coaching.
"The Un-Tactical"
One question though......you said it almost brought a tear to your eye. How can that be; you have no face?
Congrats to you and your son
Congrats on a job well done all the way around.
D
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
Dad 5-31-13
Kid needs a lightweight stompin' around rifle of his own, or at least a semi-permanent, pre-growth spurt loaner. It appears he can shoot 'em just fine - time to get him going on the finding part. Ruger Hawkeye Compact / Laminate Compact has a 12.5" LOP and only weighs 6 pounds. Hmmmmmm....
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee
I gave him a NEF Single Shot Rifle in .38 Spl/357 Mag last year for his birthday. It's pretty lightweight. Much more cartridge and I'd worry about recoil.
The current .243 Win in use has some weight to it with a 20" Varmint barrel and stock. Along with a heavy scope and brake, it doesn't beat him up.
I attribute his ability to shoot deer precisely in the heart with the fact that I have NOT abused him in noise and recoil. He is therefore more able to concentrate on shot placement without concern for repercussions for pulling the trigger.
I plan to keep it that way until I think he is ready for or needs more (less) gun.
I DO, however want to start planning and training him for a Specialty Pistol. But, that is for another thread.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Well, it is a good cartridge for women and children. So, it was a natural choice for him.
:jester:
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Good shooting, young man!
:up:
Jerry
My barrel has a 1:8" twist rate.
You're really going to leave a comment like that on THIS forum??!!
Anyhow, congrats to a fine young shooter, nice spork!
Yep.
Yes. But, I do it on the front porch so the UPS man can enjoy it. Dogs out back.
Congrats to your boy on another successful hunt. The way he's going he will have taken more deer by age 12 than most adult hunters.
Sako
:up::up:
I just learned a couple days ago that Uberti is now making No.4 Remington Rolling Block and 1885 Browning Low Wall clones in .357 Mag.
This fact is now boring into my mind like those earwigs from Wrath of Khan. . .
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee
Yep, I have to agree, though it may be our age that makes it better with the grand kids. We're a bit more settled and have a lot more patience so it's a better experience for us and the kid too.
The one I described here was my youngest boy. My oldest boy was another story. How many times I took him out deer hunting and couldn't get him to shoot a deer. I put him on several and he only pulled the trigger a couple times and he missed them. I about gave up on him until a teacher said she noticed he looked like he had eye strain. So we took him to the eye doc. Turns out he had an extremely bad a case of near nearsightedness and astigmatism. Hell, no wonder, out past about 30 yards everything was a blur. He never complained but like the doc said, they don't know what good vision is because they're born that way. This is a good reason to take your kids to the eye doc when they're very young.
That was when he was about 16. After he got corrective lenses he started killing deer. Then after he got out of the Navy he had Lasix surgery and he no longer needs corrective lenses. Turned out all my kids needed the surgery, even the youngest boy that killed the deer when he was 9. But he was the least severe.
Just something all you dads with younger kids need to think about.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.