I am one happy Dad over my Son taking his first deer ever that I also want to share it with the good folks here on Tradgang. It was a great day on yesterday. My Son took the Maryland Hunter Safety course 10 years ago when he was 14 years old. Ever since then he have always said he wanted to hunt, but I did not see the kind of eagerness and enthusiasim that I had at that same age, and I did not rally wanted to push him into something that he might not want to do, but he loved going out and shooting the bow. He went with me small game hunting(tag along) and so forth and I always wanted him to love Bowhunting as much as I do. Well 10 years later and getting him pass the gasoline and perfume he began calling me earlier in the year and said that he really wanted to hunt, but I really did not take him seriously, but he kept calling and so we began to spend the time shooting and practicing. I said to my Wife I think Jay is going to hunt this year, and she said do you really think he is going to do it, I said I believe so because he is really eager and had not shown this kind of interest before and purchased his very first hunting license. Well it all came together yesterday morning. We headed to Montgomery County Maryland early in the morning(4:00am)We got there and got set up before first light. A half hour after being in the stand I see the first deer heading our way I said to my son(Jay) here comes a deer, but he could not see it at first. I was able to point it out to him and he now sees it coming. The deer was coming as if it was on a string to us. It came on and turned broadside and offered the perfect shot opportunity. I told him to stand up and draw when he wa ready. Let me tell you he was nervous and he was shaking a bit. The deer was a bout 10-12 yards away, he let fly and the shot went wide to the left and took the deer through the neck. The deer took off and ran down the hill to our right. He said Dad I made a bad shot, I began to encourage him and said these things do happen, but I think it may be down becaue we heard it crashing as it ran away. He sat back down and said to me, Dad I was nervous and shaking and my heart was really beating fast, I told him that is what it is all about. But let me tell you folks he was one very excited first time hunter. We waited 45 minutes and as the sun came over the horizon we got down and took up the blood trail. This was his very first time blood trailing. He almost stepped on his own arrow, and when he saw the arrow covered in blood he picked it up and looked at me with a big smile. As we continued on the blood trail, I had already looked ahead and saw the deer down which he did not see yet and i did not let him know i saw it already, but I continued to let him trail on his own so that he would find his very own first downed deer. When we were about 20 yards from the deer he looked up and he saw it laying there caught in the barb wire fence where it tried in vain to go through and where it expired, he turned to me with abig smile and the excitement of a child, and said Dad there it is, I got my first deer. Words do not convey the joy and emotions and happiness we both shared as Father and Son at that very moment. We high fived and embraced each other. I was and am one proud Dad. We took pics and I showed him how to properly field dress a deer and told how to fill out his first field possession tag and how to attach it to the deer. Once we got the deer out of the woods and on back of the truck and heading down the road, he said to me in his own words, Dad that was really exciting and said now I see why you do it so much and thanked me for taking him. For me that was a thanks that was not neccessary, but I accepted it. But I was more happy for him than for myuself. He is already chomping at the bit to go again. I believe I now have my hunting partner for the rest of my life. He was so happy that he calling people and telling them that he had taken a deer. I hope this is not too long to read, but I am still on a high as well as my Son. Here are some pics.
Tony sanders
(http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn230/SNUFFER8/IMG_0258.jpg)
:thumbsup:
(http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn230/SNUFFER8/IMG_0260.jpg)
(http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn230/SNUFFER8/IMG_0254.jpg)
Absolutely awesome. That story has been told a million times over and I never get tired of hearing it. Congrats Jay!!
Tony congrats to you and your son, I seen your story on the other site as well and as a dad it made me proud to, congrats again :clapper:
Thats fantastic, congradulations to both of you!
Way to go Jay! Congrates to the both of you. I know how you feel Dad. :thumbsup:
Nice deer. Congrtas!
Fantastic!! Congratulations to you both!
Congrats Jay!
I'm excited for you both.
Couldn't happen to a couple of nicer people.
Lucky father, lucky son! Way to go sirs! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Awesome WTG :clapper: :clapper:
:thumbsup:
That is Awesome! Congratulations to you and your son!! What a wonderful thing to share.
... :thumbsup: ..
great story congrats to you both
That is fantastic how you and your son finally had the chance to hunt together, and then to top it off he was successful with taking a deer and you were by just being there for him :thumbsup: Congratulations to both of you, I know how important time spent with a son is and how the years can fly by so every time out is a treasure.
His smile says it all. Awesome.
Nothing better! Congrats to you and your son!
CONGRATS TO BOTH OF YOU! TD.
That is awesome....very good to hear. Congrats. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thats great.. what a wonderful story.
Congrats to you Jay and to you Tony for allowing Jay to become a bow hunter.
Gods gifts are amazing sometimes.... Hunt long together and enjoy.
Congrats Toney and Jay!There are no finer memories than days spent afield with fathers, sons, and friends! Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Doug
Your a good dad! Phil
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Great job Jay and congrats Tony. Awesome stuff.
That was very cool Tony, it looks like you may have a new hunting partner.
Jack
Congrats! The smiles say it all!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
backstrapingood :archer: 5
A story like that can never be too long Tony. Congrats to Jay and to you also. You are surely Blessed. He's hooked now, and you are a wise father indeed to allow him to come to it on his own. :clapper:
Awesome Father and Son moment/story. Gotta tell you that his face looks about ready to break with that big happy grin !!! He is truly happy and thrilled with the event !! Very nice.
:thumbsup: Congradulations to your son. And a proud father you should be. Great story and thanks for sharing.
congrats
Tony
That is a great pic of you and Jay and Congratulations to your new hunting Partner...I can see he really looks like his Pop and has the same smile..Now Tony Jay should have the honor of wearing that famous Military hat of yours...You know which one I'm referring to...God Bless you both on a great Father and Son hunt... :thumbsup: Keefer's <")))><
Absolutely outstanding. Congrats to BOTH of you!!!
Congratulations to Jay and thumb's up to you Dad for letting your wisdom lead him to traditional. You can't push'em into your ways, but leading by example is how it's done. As they say 'round here, "You done good, Dad!"
And a side note, that doe looks to be a mature one and they are harder to get than you realize.
Great events all the way around!!
:clapper:
Outstanding job !
That is so cool Jay! I'm glad you got to experience this with your son, nothing in the world like it! Hope you guys get to do this over and over in the future. Looks to me like he's hooked now and I have a feeling he'll be into just as much as you now! Did you ever get a deer with the 59 Kodiak you got from me?
Toby
Congrates to both you guys. I'd have to say it don't get any better than that. A day father and son will never forget. :clapper:
Great Story Tony. Congrats to your son! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
way to go, that is really something to share. i am happy for you both
Jay and Tony, Congratulations you both done good...really good! :wavey:
There is probably nothing better in life for a father and son or a father and daughter as it is in my case, to hunt and take game together. I've been there with one of my girls and I wouldn't trade that memory or my photo of her for anything.
And on top of all that....there's gonna be some delicious venison for the holidays. I am so jealous.
Beautiful. Thanks for the pics.I remember both of my boys firsts. Nothing like it. Congrats and cherish the memory.(nut) :thumbsup: :
I can only imagine... and it makes me smile from the inside out! Thanks for sharing your wonderful story.
Killdeer :thumbsup:
Great job!! CONGRATULATIONS
GLENN
That is absolutely awesome, congrats to your son and you ! :clapper:
good job guys, making back straps and memories... Joe
awesome!!!
Very cool! Grats to both father and son!
:thumbsup:
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Congrats to Jay on his deer and congrats to you as a father for not pushing, planting the seed, nurturing and letting it grow in jays own time.... As a father I hope to share that feeling that you now feel....
Great job, both of you guys. Smiles all around tells the story. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Hey Tony,
Good on you for passing it on to the next generation.
Phil Carpenter
That photo of the both of you; It doesn't get much better than that!
Congrats to you both!
That deer will last a while, those memories forever!
Great job to both of you!
Congratulations :thumbsup: , Great Memory :goldtooth: .
Butch L
Outstanding!!!!!RC
Congrats to both of you and tell your son to keep huntin
doug77
Congrats to you and your son Tony!
thats awesome! way to go!!
Man Thats Awesome! Look At the Smile on his Face!!
:bigsmyl:
What a great thing to share!!
Great story and pictures Tony. That is wonderful that you have a new partner. Thanks for sharing this special hunt with us and congrats to your son on his first deer.
That is what it is all about, awesome day for you two! Memories forever.
thats awesome
:thumbsup:
You're off to a great and rewarding sport. Good luck to you both.
Congratulations to him !!!!!!!
Absolutely outstanding!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Tony, I hope I can do as well as you when the time comes for my son...congrats to both :pray:
How lucky can we be to have found the perfect way to bond in nature's cathedral with our children as they grown older, and their lives get busier.
Very happy for you Tony.
Congrats. Nice Deer
Congrats, Awesome story
:clapper: congratulations, guys!
Absolutely wonderful. Congrats on a great experience.
That is great! Congratulations.
Awesome...thank you for sharing....
:thumbsup:
Fantastic! Congratulations to both of you. Your pride and escitement is evident and his smile tells the story well. Here is to many more days afield together!
Big congrats to your son and you!!! thats awsome.
What a great story!!! Congratulations to both of you.
Your patience in waiting till he was ready is commendable!
That one made the Java taste even better this morning ! Congrats to the both of you !!!
Awesome, congrats to both of you!!
Tony, it gets no better than that buddy. BILL
Always a pleasure to read this kind of story:^)
There is nothing cooler than that! I know because I'm a dad and I was there when my sons killed their first. My youngest got a wall hanger last year with his Kanati...his first deer ever. The eldest was using wheels when he killed his doe this year, but it was still his first and I was no less proud.
It is a great feeling every time I am in the woods with them, and afterwards when they tell of new things they saw...a fox at 10 yards...a raccoon that tried to climb the ladder...a doe sniffing the rungs of a ladder stand...an eagle soaring overhead. These are all things far too many young men never get the chance to see.
Your son is a very lucky young man! Well done, Dad! :thumbsup:
Thats awsome.
Congratulations to both of you, Tony! The smiles on the faces say it all.
Way to go! You both are lucky to have had that experience together! Awesome! Great pics.
The moment shared
The hunt embraced
The harvest great
Father and son united
A memory forever
A dream come true
Congrats :thumbsup:
Awesome! Congrats to you both.
This one he will never forget. Congrats. :clapper:
Good job to the both of you. :archer:
The grins on your faces took me there, thanks and great job!
That is awesome, congrats to the both you!
This is so cool!! Thanks for sharing.
Congrats on the hunt!
As I was over on another site, I am even more overwhelmed and in awe of all the wonderfull responses here on Tradgang. I and Jay certainly thank you all for the congrats and all of your kind words. I talked to Jay on last night and told him about all the things that were being said and he just couldn't believe it(LOL) and he is still on a high. As a matter of fact, when i was talking to him he was getting ready to cook up some the his first deer. Needless to say he was still in lala land over the fact that he actually took a deer. He is chomping at the bit to go again, but because of work and going to school at night he only have Friday and Saturday when he can hunt. Hopefully if the weather permits we hope to be back at it again this coming weekend. Again thank you all very much. Shoot Straight and Good Hunting.
Tony Sanders/aka"SNUFFER"
congrats to both of you! :clapper: wonderful thing to share and somthing you will rember for the rest of your life.
Great story! I wish I had been able to put my son on a deer in his early years. He might have stayed with it, but now he is too invested in cars and computers to care about the outdoors. Now his son, my grandson, I have hope for, but he is only 1.
That is so cool..Proud Dad It doesn't show..Good for you guys..
The second picture is great,it say's it all.
Thank you for sharing.
Leland
:thumbsup: nice, nice, nice!!!!
Fantastic :thumbsup:
Good on you Tony, well done to you both!!!
I agree on the "banner picture". Priceless!! Smiles say it all..
That is AWESOME!!! A father and son hunting, no tonly that doing it traditional!!!!! Great!!!
Jay,
I pray that you get to come with Your "Pop' this year at the yearly rabbit hunt down at the Hideaway...I bet your just as good as the "Old Man'" is at hitting game...Tony I got to hunt with my Dad just a time or two but let me tell you it stays with you the rest of your life...I never got to spend time with my Dad in much of anything but that once or twice meant the world to me...When I see a Father imbrace their child like you to have done it brings tears to my eyes...You should have that pic blown up and put in the center of your favorite room Tony...God Bless and Tony your Castle is built on solid ground ...Keefer's <")))><
Love it! Thanks for sharing with us Tony!
fantastic!!!! I love those pictures they say a thousand words, I love hunting and spending time with my dad and it just warms me up to see those smiles
That is just awesome!!!!!!
Wow! Great story, and an even better ending! You should be a proud father. I hope my son will come around one day.
Excellent! What a neat thing to share together. :campfire:
Awesome!!, his face says it all!!! :bigsmyl: congrats
!!!!!!!!!
:thumbsup:
Absolutely Awesome!
I still remember my son's first :thumbsup: The best hunting partner you'll ever have. :clapper:
:thumbsup:
Congratulations!
great job for you both.. both of you will never forget that moment for as long as you live.. thats awesome man!!!
Eight pages and going strong!!!
Everybody loves a story like this...a hunting memory we all get to share!!!
I posted way back towards the beginning, but it`s ok to say congrats again! :thumbsup:
Way to go Jay! Great job. Tony, I know you are proud. I was proud just reading the story and the pic's tell it all. :thumbsup:
That is a great Father Son Doe pic!!! Congrats :clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Awesome. Congratulations!!!!!!!!
Awesome!!
Thanks for sharing that wonderful story.
As a father myself, I hope to be able to share that story someday too.
IMO your story and pics is what makes this site worth coming back to again and again.
God Bless you Tony, you've done good!!!
:clapper:
Tony - Congrats.. time to get get that application finished... ;)
Great story Tony, that's what it's all about. Coming from a son, that's a memory I share with my own dad that I relive often. Thanks for sharing and tell your son I said congrats!
Congrants on your boys hunt! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
CONGRATS!
Thats one HAPPY looking pair. Cant tell wich on is Happyer. Good Job to both of you.
I was there when my boy killed his first deer ( not a bow kill yet) and I know what you are feeling. Good job. Enjoy
ChuckC
Congrats to you and your Son, he's got a Great Teacher !! Hope to see you fellas at the Baltimore Shoot this year !! Take Care ...
Congrats on your first deer. awesome story
Great times. Congrats. You will always remember this time.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
Don't know who's wearing the bigger smile in that picture. Congrats to both of you.
God has blessed you for sure Tony! That is why I love Tradgang most, to read stories and see smiles like that. I have two girls who shoot a little, but will probably never hunt, though I'm hoping they will. What a gift you have been given.
Great post. Your lucky to have a younger hunting partner. Think of all the heavy lifting he can do. Ha! Ha! Congrats to you and your son for a job well done. You will both remember this hunt forever. :thumbsup:
Yeah Boy!!!!!!!.... :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
:thumbsup: congrats
Don't worry about it being too long of a read, it was a great read!! Thanks for sharing. Love seeing happy hunters in pics!! Joe
Great job fellow Marylander!
welcome to the "club"!
Don't care if it they are 14 or 24 and older it is always a great day when our children succeed congrates
There is Magic in them there woods....nice going!
Nothing like a cold winter day with a bowl of venison chili reliving the hunt.
As good as it gets right there!
Congratulations! Awesome story too! I'm hoping to one day share that kind of experience with my 8 year old son. Thanks for sharing,
Watts
Super story and to top it off you have the best lifelong hunting partner you could ever find. Hat's off Tony, you did a great job raising your son. I'm sure you're both very proud of each other :thumbsup:
Great job!
The smiles on both faces tell it all.
Thanks for sharing a great story!
Way to go Tony!