30 November 2013 Virginia Deer Hunt

[SJB358]

Well, we all piled in the truck Saturday morning for some more deer hunting. We have been doing pretty well this Fall down here, and today was even more special as I had my daughter and son out there hunting with me. Brandon was running his own gun, and Dylann was hunting with Dad. We didn't do too much the first few drives, but around 1000L we lined up a pretty good piece of timber and they set the hounds loose. They ran it thru, and the standers to East and West were able to take a couple of good sized does.

Well, we were wrapping up and actually starting to drive out of our line. Well, the dog handler got on the radio and said the dogs were hot on something and we should stay in place. Well, we all hustled back to park and drug everyone back up on our stands..

Well, in short, the buck ran up to 40 yards from my son, I think the "FEVER" hit my young lad pretty hard and he somehow put a shot in the rear ham on the buck. The buck took off over the hill, and then crept in from behind me. Dylann spotted the deer coming in and let me know there was a deer. I was able to get turned around and saw antlers coming right for us about 60 yards through the woods. As he cleared some trees, he took a Buckhammer thru the running gear and kept moving. Well, I gave him another about 6" back from the front leg and at that point I was done shooting as my best buddy was the stander to my left, so I figured worst case the buck would die in front of him.. Well, my buddy had went and moved off to investigate my son's shots, and the buck literally expired about 10ft from my buddy's son, Damien.. Crashed, but it still had a tick of life in him.. It freaked the little fella out some, but it was dead.. Pretty funny afterwards, but I believe he thought that deer was attacking his position.... :lol:

Either way, here are some pictures of the day.

Here is my little hunter taking a break..



Here she is ready for the hunt..



The kids with the buck



Dad's and Damien with the buck



The buck after the drag back to where all the hunters linked up..



Later on in the day... Getting up early is hard on this young lady I guess..... :lol:



Dad and son with their tag teamed buck..



My son was a little dejected he put such a shot on a big buck, but I told him, bucks tend to tear up even the heartiest of men.. He did well, he is turning into one heck of a hunter. Very proud of him.

Anyhow, pretty good Saturday for us in Va. Still have alot of hunting left, so I am hoping he can claim his own deer soon enough..

 

[truck driver]

Very Nice Scotty.

 

[DrMike]

Tell Brandon that is just fine. Heck, I still suffer from the fever on occasion even after all these years. Eventually, training and experience takes over and I'm able to exercise self-control. He'll get there as well. I'd say you fellows teamed up to do pretty well. Yeah, those early hours can be hard. One advantage of hunting in late fall up here is that it doesn't get light until almost 0830, which means I can sleep a tad longer. :grin:

 

[Guy Miner]

Yes indeed. Sometimes any hit is a good hit, particularly if there's another chance to finish the job.

Well done!

Good looking buck too. Cute kid photos.

I like posts like this, really do.

Guy

 

[SJB358]

Tell Brandon that is just fine. Heck, I still suffer from the fever on occasion even after all these years. Eventually, training and experience takes over and I'm able to exercise self-control. He'll get there as well. I'd say you fellows teamed up to do pretty well. Yeah, those early hours can be hard. One advantage of hunting in late fall up here is that it doesn't get light until almost 0830, which means I can sleep a tad longer. :grin:

That's what I told him too Mike. I still get rattled and excited with every deer I see in the woods. I guess that is why I love hunting so much. If it wasn't exciting, I'd take up golf!

Heck, I almost knnocked poor old Bill off the mountain when we both knocked down two elk. You would have thought we'd knocked down two B&C Monsters! HA!!

Yeah, Dylann enjoys her naps in the woods.. She seems to have a knack for finding a good log to rest on. I like to think it comes from her Pop's!

 

[taylorce1]

They can't always be perfect shots no matter how much we want them to be, and he'll figure that out. Every time I've made a bad shot it has just made me work harder in the off season. I'm sure your son will get better from this experience.

Hunting with the kids! Nothing better.

 

[DrMike]

Scotty,

When there is no more adrenaline, I'll sell off my rifles and take up knitting. Tell Dylann that I find nothing more satisfying than finding a balsam tree facing the sun in the fall of the year, sitting back and closing my eyes. Gratifying in the extreme.

 

[sask boy]

Good job Dylann, Scotty having your kids with you is so special no matter if they are 10 or 36. I really enjoyed your story and photos. Great job Dad that is what it is all about

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Silentstalker]

Congrats on a fine hunt! Tell your Son great job and bottom line he slowed it down for ya! Great job! Looks like beautiful country for a hunt. I was born in Va. But never hunted there. Parents moved back west. Someday I would like to experience a good deer drive through the hardwoods. Looks like a tremendous time! Oh and your daughter looks like she is ready for a good hunt and enjoys the down time too. Nothing quite like hunting with your kids!

 

[Kodiak]

"When lead is in the air, there is hope". One of my gramps' sayings about a shot that is slightly off course.

Nothing to worry about guys. You got to be in the woods with the family for a hunt, and that cain't be beat.

 

[JD338]

Scotty,

That is some great team work. Congratulations to both of you on a dandy buck.

JD338

 

[gerry]

Great hunt guys, congrats. Like you guys, I get super excited when a game animal is in sight, I tried head shooting the first deer of our trip a month ago and missed - twice things came together after that though

 

[DrMike]

Great hunt guys, congrats. Like you guys, I get super excited when a game animal is in sight, I tried head shooting the first deer of our trip a month ago and missed - twice things came together after that though

Been there; done that; bought the tee-shirt.

 

[SJB358]

Yes sir. It is about as good as it gets. Hunting with my family is about as good as it gets for this country boy. Nothing else I'd rather be doing.

If you all ever have the chance to hunt over hounds. Give it a whirl. Pretty humbling when those big bucks come flying by in overdrive!

Your all welcome to hunt with me as a guest as well. Open invitation if you ever get to Va.

 

[gerry]

That type of hunting looks to be a lot of fun, like you said even better that your whole family participates.

 

[SJB358]

It surely is different. A lot different than what I grew up doing but man, it can be fun! Fast shooting and it can turn the best rifleman into a poor guy without shirttails pretty quick.

 

[gerry]

I bet do you lead them at all, I haven't shot too many animals running other than my grizz but that's a different story.........

 

[Oldtrader3]

Looks to me like a pretty nice buck from a drive! Sounds as though everybody had fun!

 

[Hegland]

Pretty cool stuff, Scotty. Good job to the both of you.

 

[Dwh7271]

Great story Scotty.
Time with kids is irreplaceable. Good for all of you.
Congrats to dad and Brandon on the buck.
Dewey