Dad's 1st deer!!!

[Deerhunted]

A late post, but better late then never. Weekend of Dec 3-4

Dad did it! After 13 years of hunting hard things finally came together for him. Let me first start off by saying how proud I am of my dad for all of the years of hard hunting and with luck just never being on his side, he has stuck it out and never given up. Dad started hunting with me when I was 13 years old, so it was a new learning experience for the both of us and we had to pretty much teach ourselves as we went along. I was lucky enough to harvest my first deer, a doe with the bow on the ground non-the-less when I was 15. From that year on I have been fortunate enough to harvest at least 1 deer a year since then. Unfortunately for dad luck was never on his side with either no deer in range, brush in the way and on one occasion actually blowing his bow up while shooting at a deer (old school Oneida with the retractable limbs that hit the bar on the climber.) But he has stuck it out and kept a great attitude.

Once I went away to college and now have moved 4hrs away from home there has been little time for us to be able to hunt together. Each year he only is able to find a week to hunt in archery due to constraints at work which limit his time. I try my best to get up to Forest county for a day or 2 to try and hunt with him but at times school did not allow that. For years though I have asked him to come up for rifle and he always said no that he wanted to get a deer with the bow because the rifle was too easy. Boy did he eat those words later haha.

So after another unsuccessful week of archery hunting I again BEGGED him to come and hunt with me. At first he seemed a little reluctant but after some convincing he finally said yes. I tell you what I could not have been happier. I was telling all my friends, my fiancé and my mom how excited I was that we were going to be able to hunt together. Being as that I have already taken my buck and just wanted to see him get a deer I was along for the ride.

Dad arrived late Thursday night of the first week and we unpacked his stuff and discussed the next two days hunts. We would be heading an hour west to Clarion to tackle some gamelands where I was certain I could at least put him in front of a nice doe. Well we made the trek and arrived to our spot just as it was getting light. With fresh sign everywhere it was just a matter of time before the deer I was used to seeing each time would show up right? WRONG. For hours we sat there with no luck. So off to another spot for another couple of hours, still no luck. So back to the truck for some lunch and to wait out the impending snow which was now falling. So back out we go around 1:30 and wouldn’t you know it, while we were in the truck there were fresh deer tracks crossing a field right where w were. This was beginning to get a little frustrating now, but we stayed positive because I was putting dad in a stand where does come out every night. I set him up and as I am leaving run into a buddy of mine heading to that field. He said him and some friend were going to be doing some drives and I told them that dad was in that field and trying to get him his first deer and if they could try and just stay clear of that small area and he said ok. So I went and just sat on a hillside 200yds from dad and wouldn’t you know it 4 does come by me at 10yds not 10minutes after I left dad. Talk about your all time luck. They did end up running across the field by dad but no shot presented itself. Oh well, those does I always see will come out right? NOPE. My “friend” and his buddies decided to do a drive right through where dad was sitting, which made the night a wash. Oh well, that’s hunting I guess and dad still had a great time and just loved spending it with me.

Later that night after visiting with my future in-laws we headed back to Clearfield where I received a call from my fiancés dad asking if we wanted to hunt with him in the morning and we jumped at the chance because it is private and lightly pressured land. We woke up early and headed out and met up with Gary (fiancés dad). He then drove us up to his one spot and set us up. It was in the middle of some spread out pines, surrounded by a thicket to our back and left and a big field 200yds in front of us. About a half hour in dad started hitting my arm like I did something wrong. I turn and whisper what. No response. Again I whisper what. Nothing. Again, but this time louder, WHAT! He then said I see deer haha. So I told him to slowly get up on a knee to get a better shot but when he did some leaves rustled and the deer took off. It was my bad for telling him that because he could have shot from sitting down. Well more time passes and nothing, then at 9 he says deer coming and he immediately gets up and ready. I can see the deer 80yds out and coming to us. I am telling him to stay calm and where the deer is at, as I can see it a little better then him. Next thing you know its at 20yds and is quartering to us slightly. I tell him you have to shoot now. He takes aim and BANG! I see he broke the front shoulder and watch as the deer falls, but is still alive. I tell him we need to get another one in it and as we move in position the deer takes off. Not wanting to push it we waited for another hour and then slowly made our way to where it was bedded. There was good blood in the bed and knew she wouldn’t be far. After tracking another 25yds I spotted the deer down ahead of us!

I don’t know who was more excited at this point, because it was one of the most special moments for me to be able to not only spend time with my dad but to experience his first kill. It was a memorable day and the least I could do by taking him out. He has always been there for me, never missing a baseball game, giving advice and just being the best father and my best friend.

Sorry for the long post but this was an experience I will never forget and more memorable then any hunt I have ever had. Congrats dad, love you!!!

[BigCountryFX4]

congrats to both of ya

[magnatecsteve]

Great post and deer! Bet you both will never forget that day! Awesome

[ruttinbuc]

That is pretty special right there, Deerhunted. that is what it is all about. Congrats to both of you!

[fladawg]

Sound's like fine wine,give it time...mmm good....Congrat's to Pop's....

[huntnfish]

Congrats. As someone else said that is truly what hunting is about.

[wtnhunt]

Good story, thanks for sharing. Congratulations to your dad and you too.

[Shaun_300]

Awesome! Congrats to your dad.

[Crew999]

Great story and great to see, congrats!

[Goinghuntin]

Congratulations to you and your dad! Perseverance sure pays off, I too learned that this year.

Nathan