Well while attending church yesterday I FINALLY talked my brother and sister-in-law into letting me take their 10year old son (my nephew) out hunting last night. Long story short, they allowed him to go and it was the final day of Rifle season and it was just doe only season with rifle. I was hoping to get at least one doe if not two so that I could donate them to the Share the Harvest program here in Missouri that feeds hungry families.
I picked my nephew up at around 2:30 and we headed to the tower stand. Right off the bat we saw about 10-15 toms and jakes and that really got him excited. I told him about how seeing them is a good thing b/c deer and turkeys are often working together when it comes to predator sighting. If deer see turkeys running, typically they wont stay around long either.
We didn't see much and at this time of year it's getting dark by 5pm. I told him that with the unusually high temps we've been having (high of 73 yesterday) they may not come out till last light. Which they did.
I saw a doe come out across the hayfield and I judged it to be around 450-500 yds away. What I'm about to tell you, I'm not proud of and yes, I was stupid. I decided to take the shot. Thankfully I missed, twice. I don't know what I was doing, or why I did that and I'm sort of disappointed in myself for taking such a long range shot. I guess you could say I was trying to play the part of "big-shot uncle". Well after the second shot, I saw more deer scatter from the area and I noticed there looked to be something laying on the ground. We waited a little longer but not till completely dark, and got down to go see if I did in fact get a doe. While walking there, we actually ran into the 4 does that we saw earlier and while standing up I took a very well balanced and well-placed shot. The does were around 200-250 yds away now. Somehow they circled around and came closer to us w/out us knowing it. Shot 1 missed, shot 2 missed and scattered them again. I then was in disbelief. I couldn't believe what I was doing. I then told myself I need to make this last shot count (IF I can get one). So I steadied myself as best I could while standing there and fired one last shot at a doe standing broadside, miss #5. :bag:
Needless to say, my nephew thought me shooting was the coolest thing ever and getting to see turkeys AND deer both was a blast. We had a long talk on the way home about how I taught him a lesson today... how NOT TO HUNT. He asked me "how so"? and I explained to him that the first 2 shots I took were too far away. I should've never shot because you don't want to injure a deer, you want to kill it right then and there if at all possible. 450+yds is too far and I should've known better. Then I explained to him that the next 3 misses were wrong too. I should've known after 2 misses on the same deer that my scope has to be off. (THAT's what I'm checking tonight b/c it's killing me). I should've never shot that 3rd time having known the first two shots at 250 yds were good shots and missed.
So, let the insults begin, I know I did the wrong thing and rest assured, I'll never hunt like that again- especially with my nephew or son or whomever along.
I will have to say that I did a blast taking him and he really enjoyed it and wants to go again. I can't wait until my son is old enough to go too.
I picked my nephew up at around 2:30 and we headed to the tower stand. Right off the bat we saw about 10-15 toms and jakes and that really got him excited. I told him about how seeing them is a good thing b/c deer and turkeys are often working together when it comes to predator sighting. If deer see turkeys running, typically they wont stay around long either.
We didn't see much and at this time of year it's getting dark by 5pm. I told him that with the unusually high temps we've been having (high of 73 yesterday) they may not come out till last light. Which they did.
I saw a doe come out across the hayfield and I judged it to be around 450-500 yds away. What I'm about to tell you, I'm not proud of and yes, I was stupid. I decided to take the shot. Thankfully I missed, twice. I don't know what I was doing, or why I did that and I'm sort of disappointed in myself for taking such a long range shot. I guess you could say I was trying to play the part of "big-shot uncle". Well after the second shot, I saw more deer scatter from the area and I noticed there looked to be something laying on the ground. We waited a little longer but not till completely dark, and got down to go see if I did in fact get a doe. While walking there, we actually ran into the 4 does that we saw earlier and while standing up I took a very well balanced and well-placed shot. The does were around 200-250 yds away now. Somehow they circled around and came closer to us w/out us knowing it. Shot 1 missed, shot 2 missed and scattered them again. I then was in disbelief. I couldn't believe what I was doing. I then told myself I need to make this last shot count (IF I can get one). So I steadied myself as best I could while standing there and fired one last shot at a doe standing broadside, miss #5. :bag:
Needless to say, my nephew thought me shooting was the coolest thing ever and getting to see turkeys AND deer both was a blast. We had a long talk on the way home about how I taught him a lesson today... how NOT TO HUNT. He asked me "how so"? and I explained to him that the first 2 shots I took were too far away. I should've never shot because you don't want to injure a deer, you want to kill it right then and there if at all possible. 450+yds is too far and I should've known better. Then I explained to him that the next 3 misses were wrong too. I should've known after 2 misses on the same deer that my scope has to be off. (THAT's what I'm checking tonight b/c it's killing me). I should've never shot that 3rd time having known the first two shots at 250 yds were good shots and missed.
So, let the insults begin, I know I did the wrong thing and rest assured, I'll never hunt like that again- especially with my nephew or son or whomever along.
I will have to say that I did a blast taking him and he really enjoyed it and wants to go again. I can't wait until my son is old enough to go too.