best youth day ever

[BIG FOX]

Nothing can beat this day. On cloud 9... Story coming later

[osprey]

Oh my, that's enough meat to hold the Fox family for at least three whole days!!!!!! Big congrats to you and the boys, what a day. Way to go Dad!

So what's the over/under on which is more $ today, the butcher or the taxidermist?!?!?

We had a good afternoon here too, buddy of mine I grew up with brought his son for the afternoon hunt, boy shot two big does just at 5pm. Lots of smiles all around!

[nalley1952]

Nov 16, 2013 19:09:21 GMT -5 osprey said:

So what's the over/under on which is more $ today, the butcher or the taxidermist?!?!?
!

the TAXIDERMIST


Cause I gotta mount my daughters 8pt

[davep]

Congrats.
Doubt the boys, or you, will EVER forget today!
Pretty quiet here. Turkeys and squirrels.
Passed on the same spike. Over and over and over....

[Bartman]

Insane day. They will remember that one forever. Hope you got a large freezer.

[Gungnir]

Fox Congrats again to you and the boys!! that is an absolutely awesome day!!! That will be one that is gonna be remembered forever.

[BIG FOX]

So I wanted to do a write up on the Youth Saturday bonanza..

Started out getting the truck loaded up and heading to the shore a bit before 4am. Kids were supposed to go back to sleep in the truck but no luck on that.. I get on the lease right at 6am.. The plan was to drive directly to the stand, unload all the gear and the kids and go park. We see 2 sika hinds on the drive in so hopes are high. I put the kids and gear in the stand and corn in the road ways and go park the truck. We get hunkered in for the morning sit by about 620am or so. A little later than I had hoped but when you have to drag the kids out of bed and all that gear to ensure they have stuff to do and food and don't get cold it drags the timeline out a bit. sun comes up and it is all quiet.. About 745am or so I catch glimpse of a deer moving through the thicket in front of us at about 60 yards. It happened so quick by the time I get Austin up and in position the deer is gone. It is a beautiful morning so my hopes are high.. About 8am or so I look to my left and in the road pops out a few small deer. I hoped they were sika but it turns out to be a group of 3 yearling whitetail. I range them and the closest one is 181 yards away. Much further than I would hope for my 8 year old to shoot. I ask him what he thinks and he agrees and Dylan gets up and in position for a shot hopefully. By the time he is up a large doe also enters the road way and I tell him to concentrate on that deer which he does. I power the scope of the Savage 243 up to 8 and Dylan (11yrs old) tells me he is on the doe and feels good about the holding steady. He is sitting in my lap and has the gun resting on the side of the box blind we are in. The deer turns broadside I tell him to put the cross hairs on the front shoulder and SQUEEZE the trigger. The gun cracks off and I hear a distinct sound of bullet hitting something and the deer scatter. Dylan tells me he thinks he got her and felt good about the shot but I tell him we have to wait for at least 30 minutes. 5 minutes later I see the group of 3 deer come back out in the road. I feel this is a good sign that the doe is down because I would assume they would have run off with the doe if he had missed. I ask him what he thinks and if he wants to shoot again and he is already getting in position and getting the rifle up. Same spot on the road and same set up in the blind and another report of the 243 goes off and there is a distinct hit hit and the deer he shot at reaction tells me he made a hit. I tell him I am confident he hit that deer good and also I believe he hit the doe as well since they came back out so we will wait till 9am before we go look. It is now getting close to when I told him we would go look and I am contemplating heading that way when I look that direction and AGAIN there is a deer standing in the road at that spot. I can see instantly it is a buck and I tell Austin to get up. He gets in my lap and in position and is extremely hesitant about taking the shot, tells me he cannot hold the gun steady and it scared to shoot. I try my best to help and he is literally freaking out "BUCK FEVER" at its finest.. He tells me he can't do it and Dylan is happy to oblige. They switch positions and again Dylan is set up.. The deer is looking around and sniffing the ground and air.. I can tell he smells that doe and it trying to find where she went.. Dylan is ready and the deer turns to leave, I tell him to wait and as luck would have it the deer turns again and steps out broadside. Dylan says he is ready and I tell him to kill him.. BOOM the gun goes off and the deer drops in his tracks.. 185 yards and he is down and out. I will admit I screamed out and high fives all around. We get our gear situated and we head down to investigate.. When we approach the buck Dylan is extremely excited I very respectable 7 point and Austin is despondent.. He is upset he didn't get to shoot and now that he sees it is a good buck he is besides himself. I take a minute to reassure him he will get his chance and I will do everything in my power to ensure he gets a chance that day. He is upset and it breaks my heart... While standing there I see the 2 deer did not make it 10 feet off the road and is piled up.. We are 2 for 3 so far.. I know the doe went to the left so I begin looking for any sign.. I find nothing after about 10 minutes.. I know the deer were all in the same area give or take 10 yards and I began circling from the road through the woods. About 20 yards in on my first circle I see the side of the doe piled up not 25 yards off the road and that kid went 3 for 3 at 180 + yards with a 243 and all three deer combined didn't go 40 yards.. I am freaking pumped.. I get the deer drug out to the road and take a few pictures before loading them up in the truck and getting them field dressed. I continue to reassure Austin that after breakfast he will get the chance.... We come back about noon and get reset up in the blind. It is quiet and nothing seems to be moving.. The kids are resting in the blind and I am perched looking for deer. This goes on for about 2 1/2 hours.. I look to my left and in about the same spot as the others there is a nice enough buck standing in the road that I instantly say BUCK Austin get up.. He jumps to his feet and I get him positioned in my lap. I have the gun up and ready and in true Austin form he is hesitant.. I am dying tell him to shoot and he waits.. Austin then says, I don't have my ear muffs on.. I about die as I scramble.. I grab a set and throw them on.. He then lines up the sight and stops.. Looks at me and says "Does Dylan have his on?" I am freaking out and tell him to SHOOT.. He gets down on the gun again and says "Dad cover my eye".. I bought him an eye patch a while back because he has not learn how to close his non shooting eye and of course it is the one thing I didn't pack.. I reach up and cover his left eye.. This all takes about an hour... More like 1 minute but seemed like and eternity.. He is positioned and I am telling him to squeeze, He applies pressure and the gun report sounds off.. The deer ducks down and disappears to the right of the road.. He looks at me and asks "did I get it?" And I truthfully have NO IDEA.. We wait about 15-20 minutes and the suspense is killing me.. I say lets go look and Me and Austin head that way.. We look at the spot of the deer and find NOTHING, no hair, no blood.. I see blood on the side of the road and get excited then I remember that is where Dylan's 2nd deer died.. So I start grid searching to the left of the road with Austin pretty much right behind me.. I cannot find sign of any kind after about 15 minutes.. Hopes are fading fast.. On this section of the property there is a section of hardwoods from the road to a ridge of sticker briars about 25 yards. Past that tiny ridge (maybe 3 feet high and covered in deer trails cutting through it) it opens back up to hardwoods... I tell Austin I am going to get on the ridge and look, to stay there and avoid getting caught in the stickers... I just happen to choose the PERFECT hill to top and look to my left and BANG there is the buck not 20 yards past the ridge.. I almost pass out as I yell for Austin I found him.. He comes RUNNING to me and see his deer, second deer of his season and FIRST BUCK.. A very nice 7 point buck and I am flipping out.. I drag it to the road and Dylan sees us and starts our way.. I take a few pictures and we go get the truck to load another deer up and take him to the field dressing area.. I get him gutted and take a few more pictures and we are on the road at 4 pm with 4 dead deer, 2 nice bucks and a car load of memories I will NEVER forget.. I could not be more proud of these 2 boys and the young men they are becoming.. They are both excellent marksmen in their own right and I am sooo proud of them.. This is easily the best day in my hunting career.. To share this with my boys is something I will cherish forever..

[hunter]

All I can say is AWESOME!!! Andy and what a great story and your boys deserve a big Congrats!!! on some fine shooting and two really nice bucks. Your a great father and a good friend, extremely happy for you and your boys.

[BIG FOX]

Austin Age 8

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[BIG FOX]

Dylan age 11

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[BIG FOX]

The hit squad...

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[BIG FOX]

Thanks everyone... Thank Stoner....

[osprey]

Four shots and four deer!!! After hunting with their Dad I'm guessing they get their shooting skills from their Mother??

[BIG FOX]

Hey I shot 4 times one time Osprey.. I killed one..

[Jbird]

What a day indeed! Congrats, Congrats, Congrats! Unbelievable day