Pa. mentored youth hunt

[reeltime]

we took the grandkids to camp last week. I left at 1 am wed. so I would be there in time to shower,  load up the climber and gear and go set in a tree for a little while. I also got to set for a few hours wed. evening until everyone else got there.

 

Thursday morning I took Gavin to our south pasture and at daylight we had 3 deer working their way out of our hay field into the pasture but they had to get down the hill for a safe shot, as I was explaining to him why he couldn't shoot while they are on the skyline what I didn't know was there were 10 more deer standing on the well pad right above us and they ended up busting us.

They trotted down the well road on into the weeds where I wasn't comfortable with the set up, the deer were nervous, low light even though it was legal shooting time, the tall weeds, his first shot at a deer and using a 220 swift.   They ended up moving out of the pasture and we moved on to another spot for a few hours.

Did some work around camp on the driveway and then hooked up the brush hog on the 504 and went to the south pasture and did some much needed mowing.  The afternoon found us tucked into the brush on a point in the pasture, it was pushing almost 70 but I knew deer were coming into the pasture every evening.  just before the end of legal shooting time I see a deer come out down by the water tub. I knew it was the orphan fawn from this year and I was gonna tell Gavin to let it go but he was already on the gun so I walked him through everything and when he was on it to let me check the scope first. he had the crosshairs right where they should be.  I let him back on the gun and said when your ready shootBOOOM.. he didn't wait for me to finish. 

The deer dropped where it stood. what a mix of emotions walking up to the deer,  watching a 9 year old finally tasting success after 2 years of trying, seeing the joy and excitement in his eyes and hearing it in his voice was something else.   I was proud of his patience, persistence at practicing and of the 150 yard shot that he made.  he has more than proven himself on the bench so I had no reservations of allowing him to shoot.

 

Friday morning was Addison's turn, back to the pasture before light, just at daylight one of the big 8 points walked through and up over the hill into the hay field. ( no antlered deer with rifle for the kids) there were already 6 doe's and fawns in the pasture when a doe stepped out 20 yards to our left but she picked the 3 of us out right away, she didn't spook but was really nervous and ended up walking back in the woods. I look to the right and 2 doe's are walking right to us at 50 yards. I got Addison and the caldwell system moved into position but she was shaking so bad she missed even with the shooting system.

 

we checked, double checked and triple checked that she indeed missed, went back to camp set up her chair, the caldwell system and a target and a box of 22's and had her shoot, she never missed shooting at 40 yards.  did some more mowing and set up a ground blind where deer had been coming out every night for 2 months. got it pretty well brushed in and we got in the blind about 3:30.  again it was pushing 70, she was wide awake,,,,me I was fighting fatigue but stayed awake.

At 6pm. she whispers papa a deer,,, I had already seen it, then a second one came out and that one was the one I wanted taken if at all possible, it was a 3 year old doe that had never dropped fawns.  

Addison was really shaking, almost hyperventilating, I got her calmed down and had her get on the big deer but she couldn't shoot as the other one was standing behind it.  Addison finally started to calm down after about 10 minutes. I told her to line up the scope and let me check it.  the deer was 50 yards broadside.  so she moves the gun this way and that way and after a minute or so says ok, I check and the crosshairs are right behind the shoulder.  I ease the safety off and said now double check the crosshairs and then gently squeeze the trigger.

When the rifle cracked the deer did a super exaggerated mule kick almost doing a face plant right there, tucked her tail and bolted off only to make it 80 yards, Dad watched the whole thing from his stand  20 yards from us and he watched it fall.   When he said its down Addison was so excited she couldn't even talk.  we gathered her stuff up and got out of the blind and waited for her mom and dad to get there.   to say everyone was excited would be an understatement.  and for a 6 year old I cant even imagine, but I could see it. 

 

our blind setup.

 

 

to say these 2 are hooked on deer hunting would be an understatement!  its a real shame that NY can not get with the times to do more with the youth hunters.