Strut10 Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Saturday was the final day of our late archery season here in PA. I'd been taking my 10 year old son out on weekends since October trying to get him a shot at a buck. Seemed every time I was out without him I'd be run over by bucks. When he was along we couldn't see one or at least not one within 20 yards. So Saturday morning we were out for one last hurrah. My hopes weren't real high because the deer are on their tippy toes after months of being shot at. But at least we're out together. So we're in our favorite stand.............2 hang-on's 20-couple feet up and 10 yards off an old woods road that runs just inside an old weed field edge. Bub's stand is facing the road and field. I'm about 2 feet higher and 90 degrees to his right. It's a great spot and a great setup. So just about time you could see enough to shoot, Bub sez there's deer coming from his right................down the road straight to us. I tell him to get stood up and get his bow in hand. There are 6 or 8 does & fawns coming down the road and two deer coming in front of us out along the field edge (30-35 yards). The does on the road come right in front of us then file off the road straight under us. I was filming deer down through the grating on Bub's stand. They went around behind the tree then circled back under us and started back to the road. That's when I looked away from the camera and saw a buck to our left 12 or 13 yards and coming. I tapped Bub on the head and pointed. I motioned for him to get drawn. Now......I had absolutely no hope for a fidgety 10 year old to get drawn within 0-12 yards of 8 sets of eyes & ears that have seen and heard it all for all deer season. I was wrong. The kid slowly extended hid bow arm then shouldered the thing straight back. Not one deer had a clue!! The buck had walked a semi-circle right under us as he drew and was walking broadside at 12 or 13 yards when he stopped. I said "there it is........give it to him!!"". That's when I hear bub say "I can't see through my peep!! It's messed up!!" I look down and his peep's somehow twisted about 75 degrees off. I reach down and turn it straight. But it rolled right back. I turned it again but it rolled right back again. I was reaching for it the third time. I was just going to hold it and have him shoot it out of my fingers when the deer that were straight down busted us and were gone in like 2 seconds. That buck was his. He had it beat fair and square. Never, ever had he had any trouble with his peep during practices. It just happened this one time..............when his first deer was at his mercy. Bub don't miss 12 yard shots. That buck was as good as run through. If I'd have had Murphy and his stupid law up in that tree with me I'd have thrown him out head first. Trut is.......Bub was cooler about it than I was. I told him "you know.........as far as I'm concerned....that deer was killed. He just didn't die". I was so proud of him and how well he executed his every move perfectly. I asked him on the way out if he had fun. He was bubbling about how he could have spit on the does head and his first close chance with a buck and on and on. Then he says "what's the next season we can hunt? Turkeys?" "Yep. Turkeys" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QDMAworks4me Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Man what a story, sorry he did not get to take the buck but I am glad he had the experience. Hope he gets a crack at a turkey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckbuster11 Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Kind of reminds me about a week and a half ago when the nock attached to my arrow decided it was going to slide off my string while at full draw on a nice 8 point. I don't think I have ever had that happen in 13 years of shooting bows. Stuff happens man. That's a good experience all the way around for your boy though. He'll have a good appreciation for just how hard it is after something like that happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Sounds like a great hunt with a sore end. Stupid peeps have had it happen once I feel his pain. Great time out in the woods tho. Now go bust them turkey with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Then he says "what's the next season we can hunt? Turkeys?" "Yep. Turkeys" Oh man, that's heart breaking Don. Great story. Like you said, you guys sealed the deal, and it's obvious to me that he just likes getting out with dad. The quote above says it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southerngirl Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 now that does stink! I hate peeps that turn(or the strings that make them) I hope he gets a nice turkey!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Great story, sorry for your son on not getting his first buck though. At least it was good time spent with father and son. And maybe you guys will get a crack at a turkey together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Great story Don. Sounds like a great hunt despite him not getting the shot off, good luck with the turkeys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 OH MAN! :( Great story Strut.....heart breaking but great....There is always next year and next is turkeys ;):D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest adrenaline_junky Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Thats an awesome story. Sounds like you got a real hunter on your hands. The part thats even better is the fact that he was cool about the bad and just talked about the good. Thats the hard part about hunting. He chalked it up as an experience and not a bad thing. Congrats to your boy, he'll get another chance to kill one next year. Hope he can put the smack down on a big PA Gobbler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 What a great story!!! Don, as a parent I feel your pain but it's our kids who teach us that being in the woods and sharing the experience together is the most important thing of all. Better luck next time Bub! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSGB Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 That stinks! At least he could look at the positives of the hunt. Good luck with those turkeys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAhunter14 Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 When i was 12 it was my first year and i missed a nice buck running with the rifle. But it made the 8 point i got the next year a whole lot better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 That sucks! But it sure sounds like the fire is burning to keep him hunting! Which is cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 man, that stinks, but sounds like he had a great attitude about it. Better luck during turkey season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyt03 Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Great story that ought to keep him coming back and make him work even harder on his shooting in the off season. What did the rack look like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted January 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Great story that ought to keep him coming back and make him work even harder on his shooting in the off season. What did the rack look like? He's been good about shooting through the off season (his sister on the other hand...............). I do know he will be itching to hit it come next fall. The rack was completely scrubby. Woulda been genetic cleansing, IMO. But it would have made him a perfect 1st buck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyt03 Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Yeah that would have been awesome, did you have it on video? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Too bad his equipment malfunctioned..couldnt see where he got robbed though.. the fact he got to full draw with that many deer under him and not get busted will help on another hunt..Im sure he learned some valuble lessons ...just why did the peep malfunction?? Did he ever have the tubing slip off this season? The only thing I can think is if he had put it back on and attached it from the wrong side from before, thus making the peep turn?? I cant see the peep turning unless something was changed on his setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HUNTINGMAN Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 That is something for him to be proud of,it is hard for adults to get drawn with that many deer around.Just remind him that you dont allways have to kill something to be succesfull,the memories and experience are just as exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Sad deal Don but as you know we learn from theese little mishaps no matter how bad they put our stomachs in knots! Its from the mistakes that we become better hunters! Hope your boy has success this spring chasing gobblers. 10 years from now you two will be laughing over this one......remember dad when my peep twisted....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted January 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Yeah that would have been awesome, did you have it on video? Right up until I had to work on the peep. Yep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearClaw Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Sorry about the way it ended but he has a great attitude about it. Must have had a good teacher! Good luck in turkey season! I called in my first gobbler last year. It was just like on TV and here he comes, walks around the decoys all strutted out. I wait, I'm calm, I shoot and miss! Missed a second time too because he didn't know which way the shot came from. Disappointed? Big time but blessed because of the experience! It was awesome, I just need to work on not shooting over the back of him! Sometimes good hunts don't always mean game down. Glad you had a good time with your son in the woods though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 That's a heatbreaker Don. Sorry Bud didn't put a hole in one that day but he sure executed on the opportunity. Great story...way to hang in there and keep going after them. I'm sure Bud will get even on those Strut10 farm gobbers this spring. :D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mkmgbble Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 two things to concider get rid of peep or us loop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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