This seems timely…

[rmyoung1]

Last year, as a 10-year-old, my son Luke took his first deer, a young whitetail buck, during Montana’s youth deer season. This year, now that he was a “seasoned” hunter at 11 years old, his personal goal was a good mule deer. I was happy to try to help him make it happen. We left the river bottoms behind and hit the hills looking for a decent mule deer.

 

[rmyoung1]

The kid was more relentless than I anticipated. He marched me around with determination, and we found some mule deer. At one point, I led him on a stalk that had us undetected and within 90 yards of a herd at sundown. A buck stood broadside and Luke was prone behind his rifle.
“Do you see him, Luke?”
“Yeah.”
“Are the crosshairs on him?”
“Yeah.”
“Could you kill him, Luke?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you gonna shoot?”
“Dad… he’s TINY.”

He wasn’t wrong. More bucks followed. All were smaller than Mr. Tiny. The two-day season ended. Luke left without firing a shot.

Now… back to the Montana General Season Structure Proposal thread…

 

[kansasdad]

I salute the young hunter for critical thinking. He knew what he saw, and stuck to his plan. Here’s to finding a good one during the regular season.

 

[Nick87]

Good for him, that's admirable. Hope he gets what he wants coming up soon.

 

[BackofBeyond]

Great job Luke!

 

[noharleyyet]

The kid was more relentless than I anticipated. He marched me around with determination, and we found some mule deer. At one point, I led him on a stalk that had us undetected and within 90 yards of a herd at sundown. A buck stood broadside and Luke was prone behind his rifle.
“Do you see him, Luke?”
“Yeah.”
“Are the crosshairs on him?”
“Yeah.”
“Could you kill him, Luke?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you gonna shoot?”
“Dad… he’s TINY.”

He wasn’t wrong. More bucks followed. All were smaller than Mr. Tiny. The two-day season ended. Luke left without firing a shot.

Now… back to the Montana General Season Structure Proposal thread…

View attachment 346317

That acorn didn't fall far...

 

[jessie0718]

Wow! Good for him. Not many kids would hold back for the one he wanted. I wish my stepson's dad wouldn't have taken him to shoot a doe for his first one. He's regretting it now, but like I told it's your first time, and you got excited. At least you got one.