Thomas, Tina's grandson, who is 18 year old had hunted some with his father, Paul, in PA. However, he had never shot a deer. I had a Deer Management Permit for an antlerless deer in my game management unit. I offered it to Paul and Thomas. So Paul and Thomas drove up from PA last night and bought a NYS license for Thomas on the way.
They got up and got out early this morning and went over on "the other hill". They decided to use the notorious "gully stand" since they could leave the door open and Paul could sit on a stool on the oversized platform outside the blind while Thomas sat in the blind.
They got all set up about 45 minutes before legal shooting. About 30 minutes before legal shooting time, a doe came over the top of the hill, almost underneath the new "steel tower stand". She proceeded to feed in the clover food plot. So the guys sat and watched the doe for half an hour. With about 2 minutes to go, Paul ranged the doe at 180 yards, advised Thomas of the distance, and advised Thomas to get ready.
Right on the stroke of legal shooting time, Paul made a grunt call, the doe lifted her head, and Thomas squeezed the trigger. He made an excellent shot hitting it through the shoulders and lungs. The deer ran a short distance and expired.
Thomas was using a Savage Axis in .243 Win. shooting Nosler ammo loaded with 85 grain partitions. The bullet made a complete pass through accomplishing its mission in a most excellent fashion.
Needless to say, Thomas was a pretty happy kid and Paul was a very proud Dad.
They got up and got out early this morning and went over on "the other hill". They decided to use the notorious "gully stand" since they could leave the door open and Paul could sit on a stool on the oversized platform outside the blind while Thomas sat in the blind.
They got all set up about 45 minutes before legal shooting. About 30 minutes before legal shooting time, a doe came over the top of the hill, almost underneath the new "steel tower stand". She proceeded to feed in the clover food plot. So the guys sat and watched the doe for half an hour. With about 2 minutes to go, Paul ranged the doe at 180 yards, advised Thomas of the distance, and advised Thomas to get ready.
Right on the stroke of legal shooting time, Paul made a grunt call, the doe lifted her head, and Thomas squeezed the trigger. He made an excellent shot hitting it through the shoulders and lungs. The deer ran a short distance and expired.
Thomas was using a Savage Axis in .243 Win. shooting Nosler ammo loaded with 85 grain partitions. The bullet made a complete pass through accomplishing its mission in a most excellent fashion.
Needless to say, Thomas was a pretty happy kid and Paul was a very proud Dad.