Right on the heels of a not so successful Colorado elk hunt came a MN whitetail youth hunt for chickenbuck Joe. (Our youngest boy)
Joey (AKA "Plays With Matches") Had practiced with my ruger standard M77 in 220 swift. The standard M77 is a bit long for the boy, but he proved his skills with the rifle from the bench so we went with it. I wanted low recoil for the 60 lb hunter, .22 centerfire is legal in MN and the swift was crying for attention, topped with Burris FFII 3-9 40mm Bplex.
Joe's first hunting license.
View to the south from the stand.
First day was a bust.
But on the second day he hunted with a better guide....
10 yr old Joey was in a 2 person, enclosed, elevated stand with his mom (mom's stand actually) while dad walked a big loop trying to stir something their way. I should note that my wife Pam is the only person in our group that has NOT shot or even seen a deer from this stand. (her stand) lmao!
I'm so glad Pam got this experience, to sit with her son when he got his first deer. I've done it with the older boy, and I was first on the scene when the daughter got her first as well. So, it was Pam's turn to experience the excitement.
Well, since he is only 10 yrs old I agreed to do the field work for the young man, but he had to help and he had to pay attention. He also had to shake my hand when I was done, and give a slimy high five.
Dave; That is just too cool sir! Thanks so much for sharing the wonderful photos and story with us.
I can just imagine how stoked your wife was being able to be there with him.
Please pass along congratulations to your son on the tasty looking doe. She looks like she's going to provide many wonderful meals for your crew.
I'll send you my customary tip of the hat too Dave, as we all are aware these family moments/hunts don't happen without a lot of work and time spent at either end. Well done sir.
Thanks again Dave, all the best to you and your fine family and good luck on all your remaining hunts too.
Thanks everybody. Deer is skun, quartered, meat is up by the house.
Here's an entrance shot, not too surprised at the surface carnage, little rapid expansion bullet. But hey, she's dead and she died fast, no tracking job on this one.
Not much got inside, couple broke ribs and small holes where some bullet frag got inside and souped the lungs. (thanks god)
Time for dad to have one of these and get out the butchering knives and freezer paper.
Right on the heels of a not so successful Colorado elk hunt came a MN whitetail youth hunt for chickenbuck Joe. (Our youngest boy)
Joey (AKA "Plays With Matches") Had practiced with my ruger standard M77 in 220 swift. The standard M77 is a bit long for the boy, but he proved his skills with the rifle from the bench so we went with it. I wanted low recoil for the 60 lb hunter, .22 centerfire is legal in MN and the swift was crying for attention, topped with Burris FFII 3-9 40mm Bplex.
Joe's first hunting license.
View to the south from the stand.
First day was a bust.
But on the second day he hunted with a better guide....
10 yr old Joey was in a 2 person, enclosed, elevated stand with his mom (mom's stand actually) while dad walked a big loop trying to stir something their way. I should note that my wife Pam is the only person in our group that has NOT shot or even seen a deer from this stand. (her stand) lmao!
I'm so glad Pam got this experience, to sit with her son when he got his first deer. I've done it with the older boy, and I was first on the scene when the daughter got her first as well. So, it was Pam's turn to experience the excitement.
Well, since he is only 10 yrs old I agreed to do the field work for the young man, but he had to help and he had to pay attention. He also had to shake my hand when I was done, and give a slimy high five.