5 states, 4 species, and hopefully a boys first deer.

[WildWill]

Bummer I was hoping to see a dead coues! You'll get it done one of these times yet!

I'll be back if NM will have me. Although thinking might try early archery. Half as many tags, first bite of the apple, longer season, good conditions for sitting water. Will see have a few months to decide.

 

[sigpros]

Looks like some pretty country and some fried spam is a pretty good lunch

 

[WildWill]

We made it and are waiting for his shooting test and orientation.

 

[WildWill]

Done in 3 so proud of him. Time to do some hunting.

 

[WildWill]

In the blind ready to see what happens.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Figured I'd go ahead and do a little update. Rolled in Wednesday morning a bit before 10am. Talked with the hunt manager and a few other hunter's for awhile then we started the orientation. Which basically consists of a bit of the history of the property, the rules and expectations of the hunt and assigning areas.View attachment 344128


After that I teamed up with a fellow hunter Bill who was assigned the same area as me. Our area was roughly 500 acres and we scouted the area and worked together to insure nobody was "stepping on any toes". I found a nice field edge with a live oak mott bordering it that showed good sign and put my stand in one of the oaks. I also put a popup on a promising funnel but haven't hunted it yet as I'm saving it for taking the kids out this weekend. Here's a view from the stand.View attachment 344130



By the time I finished it was 4pm and I was hot, sweaty, and hungry. So I headed to the cabin checked in got some dinner and turned in early.View attachment 344131


Was in the stand early the next morning and shortly after first light heard the dreaded blow of a doe from the oak thicket behind me. I caught a glimpse of 2 does and a fawn as they ran off and around me to the south. Climbed down around 10:30 and headed to lunch and a nap. When I woke up at 3 it was 100 degrees. At home I'd have done something else but these are the days I have to hunt so I headed out about 4. I climbed into my stand around 5 and cooked for the next couple hours.View attachment 344132


This morning I was tired but headed out early climbing into the stand about 45 minutes before shooting light. About 5 minutes before legal shooting hours two does and a fawn came out about 60 yards in front of me and began feeding closer. By the time shooting light came they were inside 30 yards but I had to wait a couple more minutes as the doe I was trying for was quartering hard to me. Eventually at 22 yards she gave me the right angle and I sent one through her boiler room. I heard the whack and she took off right when I lost sight of her I heard a crash. I decided to err on the side of caution and gave her 30 minutes. After the wait I climbed down picked up my arrow and followed a blood trail about 40 yards to my doe. Drug her up to the truck and got her field dressed and took her up to the head quarters. There the hunt manager took some samples and helped me put her in the walk-in. View attachment 344136View attachment 344137


I have one more tag and the wife is on the way down now with the kids. Decided to take this evening off and help the wife get the kids settled and take them out for dinner. Also I misunderstood the tag allocation I thought it was 1 doe and 1 buck but apparently it's 2 deer no more then 1 buck so I can shoot another doe. If I can get another doe in front of me with one of the kids I'll let one fly.

What broadhead did you use and is that the entrance or exit wound?

 

[WildWill]

What broadhead did you use and is that the entrance or exit wound?

That's the entrance and a rage hypodermic.

 

[WildWill]

Well we're at the cabin sitting on the couch. I'm drinking a beer he's having a root beer and we're watching Beavis and Butthead because momma want let us at home. I'll post the full story tomorrow here's a few teaser pics.

 

[Nick87]

Yes!

 

[Wyhunter]

Awesome! Congrats young man!