One Shot Smack Down Post #10

Finally the day had come when I didn't have to work till late, so I could go hunting in the morning. Wednesday before thanksgiving. I was tired and wasn't sure I wanted to go out in the first place. The spot that I sit was the same spot that my uncle had shot an eight point from the night before. I dragged myself out of bed and got my things together. I had about a twenty minute drive to my hunting spot that morning. Once we got out there I climbed into the shack and went back to sleep. My dad was with me I knew he would nudge me when the deer started moving. We were way early anyhow. I was awake for about an hour by now, and all of the sudden I caught a flash out of the corner of my eye. All of the sudden there was a deer moving towards me. Dad hit me not knowing I was awake, and said "Its a buck get your gun!". He handed me my gun because apparently I was not moving fast enough. The deer was not going to stop. He changed his mind and was not even going to come into the opening. My dad told me when he gets to the opening shoot. Well from where my dad was sitting and where I was sitting the openings did not match up. I had to switch windows. Finally I had an opening. I did not even take the time to steady myself. I followed the front leg up to the shoulder and pulled the trigger. He dropped right there. Awesome! No tracking! The best kind of kill for a gun! My 25-06 had another kill under its belt. By this point I thought I had shot a six point. About twenty minutes later we climbed out of the shack. I walked up to my buck to find out that it was only a four point. But hey it was the 23 of December and I still had both my buck tags. Anyhow I have never met anyone who can make the antlers taste good no matter how many points there are. Happy hunting for the rest of gun season and through out muzzleloader season! Hopefully I can get out more and fill my other two tags! There is still a big one out there!

Getting Youth Involved Post #9

Getting the youth into hunting and learning the different ways and things you can hunt is important.   I started hunting at about the age of eight when I went out with my own weapon of choice. However, I had been going out and sitting with my dad since I was about three or four. I have always shared an immense love for the sport because of all the time I got to spend with my father. My dad is really the one who got me started, but I did enjoy spending time with my mom in the woods too. She only hunted till we were about eight and then just quit. She had two kids and a husband who didn't pick up after themselves.
I feel that getting kids involved and out in the woods teaches them about their ancestors in a round about way. Everyone used to have to hunt for their food. Now people get in their cars and go to the store to get food.
Hunting also teaches kids where their food comes from and I feel that this is a great part of life. Otherwise you get kids who cry when you say well this came from this animal and its just terrible. Kids should have to work for things that they have, and not have everything handed directly to them. Yes, I was spoiled as a child but I got spoiled with things like guns and arrows. I was always outside and running or playing with livestock. My family has always been big into hunting and fishing. Because of this I learned where my food came from and that you eat what you kill at a young age.
Now days five year olds have I-phones and do nothing but sit around and play video games. Kids need to go outside and explore what life has  to offer. I had to work for most things that I have and I am proud to be able to say that I went outside and played I did not play video games and I am still alive the outdoors wont kill you.
If kids don't get outside and get exposed to things the sport of hunting is likely to die out, this is something that needs to be carried on and the land preserved. Hunting is not just a sport its an art, not only are you getting food for your family, you are helping to control the populations and preserve the land.

Gun Season Post 8

Its almost here the day we have waited for, for a year. The number of hunters always increases around this time.  It's gun season. The two weeks in November of every hunters dream kill. Those big bucks are now educated and ready to hide until they catch that doe and make one small mistake.
I always go out on opening morning. When I was still in high school my parents let me skip and go hunting instead. Which actually is really common in our area. However not enough skip to the point that the school closed down.
My dream buck hasn't crossed paths with me yet on opening mornings. I usually end up in the double stand with my dad on the ridge. We always see deer move in this stand during the mornings. However I always tell my dad to take the shot because I am never confident enough to take the shot around the tree. I am left handed and have a different line of sight than my dad who is right handed. He can see more around the tree than I can. I would have to hug the tree to be able to shoot at the bottom of the ridge to my left. And this always seems to be where the deer cross. If my dad and I switched spots in the stand it would be much easier for me. However we are creatures of habbit and because this is where he told me to sit the first time we hunted this stand. This is the side I have sat on for the past seven years.
I honestly would rather shoot a deer with my bow because you get the suspense of the track and waiting to let it die before going out to look. Sometimes you can get this with a gun too if you dont place your shot wisely. I don't know what it is about the track but I get that runners high like an adranline rush. This just makes me want to keep hunting all the time.