pre6422hornet
Handloader
- Jan 24, 2012
- 974
- 9
Well I have been contemplating this for a while, and even though my oldest daughter is turning 5 in 15 days, but we took advantage of the mild weather and went deer hunting today.
Good news is her younger sister wanted to come as well.
I thought the late rifle Doe season here in Missouri ended Friday, but when I checked the regs Sunday morning I was educated in the fact that it was still open, closing Sunday. I really didn't want to take them out while rifle season was in since I hunt public land, but the smile on their faces just couldn't be beat. And the thought of disappointing them made it a quick " lets eat and go".
Well I scrambled and found every piece of blaze orange I had, we ate lunch, I packed some snacks and we kissed mommy goodbye for our great adventure. I threw the .348 in the truck " just in case", and Mack took her scout rifle I bought her last christmas. I made the 20 minute drive out to the woods and first checked the 3 parking lots to the public access. Only one truck about 3/4 of a mile away from our parking spot. We got out and I suited them up. I decided to leave the .348 in the truck due to carrying the backpack ( full of snacks, binos, camera, water), the two man pop up blind, and two camp chairs.
Here we are just stepping foot into the "jungle".
Allie was in the lead and for only being 3, she did very well walking through the woods. We were heading to the top of that hill, about 100 yards from the truck. I think this is the closest I have ever been to the truck..haha. I made it a point to show them the deer trail we were walking on, the different plants, and there is even two buck rubs in this little patch of woods.
We found our spot, much to the protest of the squirrels, and I set everything up. We settled into the blind and got to hunting. Within 5 miutes, Allie found a buck sneaking through the brush with my Steiners and Mack decided he was big enough. One smooth squeeze of her Cabelas Scout 500NE and buck was hers. I was able to sneek to the side of the blind and take a quick pic right before the shot.
We left the blind to go tag the buck. Daddy in the lead. I am really proud of Mack as she listened very well about not pointing the rifle at anyone.
We got down to the edge of the woods and out to the right popped a huge buck and Mack handed Allie the rifle and told her to shoot. Allie drew a bead through the 1x Burris and put one right in the boilermaker. Mack turned and said " you smoked him!!".
The smile on her face tells the story.
We drug the bucks back to the blind and decided it was time for some Keebler Elf cookies.
The girls then decided they wanted to sit outside so I took the blind down. It was at this time a truck pulled into the parking lot and parked next to our truck. We practised sitting still and quiet so the other hunters could hunt without us spoiling it. They walked past about 60 yards away and never saw us.
After that it was getting late, about 3:30, and both the girls still take naps at 2pm so it was evident to me it was time to call it a day.
And probably the most proud moment of the day came as we packed up and left. The truck was out of sight as it was behind the crest of the hill. I asked the girls " which way to the truck". Mack took a second and pointed directly in the way we needed to go. I have a feeling she is gonna be like her old man and really enjoy the solitude of the woods.
On the drive home I thought for sure the girls would fall asleep, but they didn't . They couldn't stop talking about their deer hunt. Allie asked me if I could take her on Wednesday as Mack would be at school and it was very hard to tell her no that Daddy would be working as well.
As we pulled into the drive, the neighbors were out enjoying the day and the 4 neighbor boys ( ages 7-11) came running up and asked where we were. Mackenzie proudly told them " we were deer hunting". One of the boys said " I wish my dad would take me" ( his dad hunts yet has never taken him), and Mackenzie retorted with " my Daddy's awesome!". It was at this exact moment that a piece of dirt became lodged in my right eye and it started watering
Needless to say that statement really hit home and I can't wait to take them out again. To see their faces and hear them giggle and talk was too much fun.
I think Santa may be bringing a pink BBgun, hope Mack likes it!!
Good news is her younger sister wanted to come as well.
I thought the late rifle Doe season here in Missouri ended Friday, but when I checked the regs Sunday morning I was educated in the fact that it was still open, closing Sunday. I really didn't want to take them out while rifle season was in since I hunt public land, but the smile on their faces just couldn't be beat. And the thought of disappointing them made it a quick " lets eat and go".
Well I scrambled and found every piece of blaze orange I had, we ate lunch, I packed some snacks and we kissed mommy goodbye for our great adventure. I threw the .348 in the truck " just in case", and Mack took her scout rifle I bought her last christmas. I made the 20 minute drive out to the woods and first checked the 3 parking lots to the public access. Only one truck about 3/4 of a mile away from our parking spot. We got out and I suited them up. I decided to leave the .348 in the truck due to carrying the backpack ( full of snacks, binos, camera, water), the two man pop up blind, and two camp chairs.
Here we are just stepping foot into the "jungle".
Allie was in the lead and for only being 3, she did very well walking through the woods. We were heading to the top of that hill, about 100 yards from the truck. I think this is the closest I have ever been to the truck..haha. I made it a point to show them the deer trail we were walking on, the different plants, and there is even two buck rubs in this little patch of woods.
We found our spot, much to the protest of the squirrels, and I set everything up. We settled into the blind and got to hunting. Within 5 miutes, Allie found a buck sneaking through the brush with my Steiners and Mack decided he was big enough. One smooth squeeze of her Cabelas Scout 500NE and buck was hers. I was able to sneek to the side of the blind and take a quick pic right before the shot.
We left the blind to go tag the buck. Daddy in the lead. I am really proud of Mack as she listened very well about not pointing the rifle at anyone.
We got down to the edge of the woods and out to the right popped a huge buck and Mack handed Allie the rifle and told her to shoot. Allie drew a bead through the 1x Burris and put one right in the boilermaker. Mack turned and said " you smoked him!!".
The smile on her face tells the story.
We drug the bucks back to the blind and decided it was time for some Keebler Elf cookies.
The girls then decided they wanted to sit outside so I took the blind down. It was at this time a truck pulled into the parking lot and parked next to our truck. We practised sitting still and quiet so the other hunters could hunt without us spoiling it. They walked past about 60 yards away and never saw us.
After that it was getting late, about 3:30, and both the girls still take naps at 2pm so it was evident to me it was time to call it a day.
And probably the most proud moment of the day came as we packed up and left. The truck was out of sight as it was behind the crest of the hill. I asked the girls " which way to the truck". Mack took a second and pointed directly in the way we needed to go. I have a feeling she is gonna be like her old man and really enjoy the solitude of the woods.
On the drive home I thought for sure the girls would fall asleep, but they didn't . They couldn't stop talking about their deer hunt. Allie asked me if I could take her on Wednesday as Mack would be at school and it was very hard to tell her no that Daddy would be working as well.
As we pulled into the drive, the neighbors were out enjoying the day and the 4 neighbor boys ( ages 7-11) came running up and asked where we were. Mackenzie proudly told them " we were deer hunting". One of the boys said " I wish my dad would take me" ( his dad hunts yet has never taken him), and Mackenzie retorted with " my Daddy's awesome!". It was at this exact moment that a piece of dirt became lodged in my right eye and it started watering
Needless to say that statement really hit home and I can't wait to take them out again. To see their faces and hear them giggle and talk was too much fun.
I think Santa may be bringing a pink BBgun, hope Mack likes it!!
