So this morning was a slow morning until other hunters started to leave the woods and pushed up some deer towards me. A doe and a spike came my way an were angling past my stand. When the doe cleared some brush I bleated to stop her she locked up real hard. I could see was trying to locate the sound and was ready to explode. I've hit deer high in the past, so this time I actually aimed underneath her. She was about 10 yds out, she dropped at the shot but the arrow punched her perfect midship. I instantly saw blood explode out of her as she wheeled away. I heard her run up through the mountain laurel and crash. I get down and see that I have one of the best blood trails I've ever seen. Now this is where the story really begins,I quickly decide to forget about the afternoon hunt and call to see if the kids want to help. This trail will be a great starter for them...lots of fun!! I live about and hour and ten minutes from my spot. I call my wife to see if she can meet me half way with my helpers. Devyn and TJ were ready to go but Camryn had girl scouts, so my wife meets me about half way and I pick up my tracking team.
My morning spot. Not a great tree but I had to ditch mt first two spots because of hunters in the woods so I had to hike back out grab my sticks and extra bracket and readjust into this area.
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6652_zps9292ab62.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6652_zps9292ab62.jpg.html)
:campfire:
The team big sis Devyn and lil bro TJ
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6649_zps7885ed6c.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6649_zps7885ed6c.jpg.html)
Devyn showing the first blood she found
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6655_zps795548f9.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6655_zps795548f9.jpg.html)
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6660_zps54048c68.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6660_zps54048c68.jpg.html)
Into the laurel we go....
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6664_zpsca10c1f0.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6664_zpsca10c1f0.jpg.html)
TJ found some blood
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6662_zpsae2d4ead.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6662_zpsae2d4ead.jpg.html)
Back on the track
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6663_zps0cf25cc9.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6663_zps0cf25cc9.jpg.html)
Great Stuff !!!! :thumbsup:
:campfire:
Devyn leading the way...
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6666_zps0bd01153.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6666_zps0bd01153.jpg.html)
about 50yds in....
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6674_zps6ba0774c.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6674_zps6ba0774c.jpg.html)
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6673_zps5d2b9c61.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6673_zps5d2b9c61.jpg.html)
Good stuff! :clapper: Nothing like young blood hounds on the trail... brings back memories for me.
Devyn yells DEER!!!!
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6668_zps58677105.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6668_zps58677105.jpg.html)
How they found her....
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6671_zps28747798.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6671_zps28747798.jpg.html)
Group shot
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6679_zps75deb594.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6679_zps75deb594.jpg.html)
Awesome !!!!!
Awesome !!!!!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Great outing
great stuff for a family outing congrats
Way to go Dad! :clapper:
:thumbsup:
Great to see ya passing it on!!! Great job!!!
Cool story...thanks for sharing!
After we found her and the initial yahoo factor had warn off and I was preparing to dress her out i look and see Devyn is a little misty eyed. This is a girl who has grown up around hunting and is in the woods constantly with daddy, she also has heard me preach about the right way to hunt and to always be thankful. This is the most important part of this hunt!!!! I ask her whats wrong and she says I'm a little sad, I tell her come her kiddo lets sit down and talk. So there we are the three of us sitting in the leaves....first thing I tell her is that I'm glad shes sad, we just took a life and thats a serious act. The fact that she's sad means she gets it....we then go on to talk about how taking this deer allows us to eat and take her energy as our own and the circle of life continues, even how the foxes and other critters will benefit off the gut pile. We also touch how all of nature meets it end usually in a slow desperate way, but this doe died in what we figured to be 4-6 seconds. After our little pow wow it was time to finish the job and get our doe home...
Happy trails
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6687_zps8eaaf09f.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6687_zps8eaaf09f.jpg.html)
Almost there..
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg177/Joe-Mart/IMG_6695_zps058f180c.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/Joe-Mart/media/IMG_6695_zps058f180c.jpg.html)
Thanks guys sorry for all the pics I just really wanted to show this experience. Make the time and get your kids in the woods it comes back ten fold. As we are driving home Devyn asks "dad next time you get one can I please come, that was alot of fun." Good luck this year. Joe
Great hunt and great story to include the kids! Very nice pictures also! :thumbsup:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
One of the best deer stories on here, thanks for sharing.
that was awesome man! your kids are about as cute as they come! thanks for sharing that with us! i will soon get to do the same some day
Well done, Thanks for sharing!!
That is "off the charts" man!!! Nice to see a man being a good father to his kids. Seems kinda rare these days.
that's just great.im happy too see you have the youngsters involved. thumbs up.
That's as good as it gets Joe. Great job, and thanks for sharing it with us.
David
Fantastic!!
Too cool!
That is really a good story.
SWEET!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great job all the way around!
That's a great storie !!! Thanks for sharing it. Time in the field with your kids is priceless enjoy every minute they grow up fast. Congrats on your deer. :thumbsup:
Just doesn't get any better than that,making memories that will last a lifetime.Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
You couldn't ask for more!
Congratulations on a GREAT day! Before you know it they'll be calling your wife to bring you out to help them find their deer! LOL
Glenn
Awsome stuff.Good job Dad. :thumbsup:
Thanks for sharing. Great story. I'm glad your daughter "gets it". Not many young people, today, are taught about important things like this.
Hope many more adventures lay ahead for your children.
Johnny/JAG
Well done Joe..... Thank You for passing on the "Tradition"....
Mark.....
Way Cool, Dad!
Such a great experience! And you are right, getting them involved at that age will pay off in the future. My 3 girls are all older, one married, the other 2 finishing up college. They had little time for hunting through their college years, but they are coming back to it as they get a little older.
Great job, Great story Dad.
PS: I'm glad you posted all those pictures!
Very cool! Way to get those kids involved!!
Now that's the way it's done! Congrats Brother!
That's awesome
Great stuff....thanks for sharing!
><>>
Glenn
Awesome, I hope I can be so lucky.
I like that you took the time not only to involve your kids in the process, but that you explained the why to them and helped them understand. You are a good Dad.
awesome, thanks for the great story
ChuckC
That is cool!
Those young eyes close to the ground are great on hard trails too. Great story.
That is one dang good lookin' crew you have there! Great job Dad! Nice shot too.
Doesn't get much better... Congrats on the doe, and the "life lessons"...
That is awesome! Way to get those kids involved.
Congrats on your deer too!
Bisch
Awesome man!! Ray Charles could have found that blood trail!! Nice work
I'm loving this story, congratulations on the wonderful family.
That's what you call good family time.. We all need more of that..
x2 on the "one of the best stories on here" comment!
Great job teaching the young ones what it's REALLY all about!!!! :clapper: If more fathers would be there to explain these life lessons to their kids, I wouldn't have near as many "residents" at my job! (BTW I'm a correctional officer)
Thank you for sharing such a great story.
They'll never forget that experience. Congratulations and well done on all counts!
This story rekindles my faith in this country and the great people that have made it the best country in the world. Nothing is better than good parenting. LF
Awesome!
Pretty cool!
Way to get the kids involved...Thanks for sharing the story..
You and the young'uns, made my day. Well Done
Good job. Kids need to learn lessons like this.
Great story, thanks for sharing!
congrats, way to get them kids into it
:thumbsup:
now thats what its all about right there congrats man. and thats what i call style :archer: :shaka:
Great way to get the kids involved.
Great Stuff Joe, Its what Its all about. Great Blood Trail and even better Trailing Team! :thumbsup:
Very very nice!
Congrats !!! :clapper:
Don't ever appologize for posting pictures such as these.
Congrats, sir.
Todd
Thanks guys I'm glad this thread was so well appreciated. The BH was a 4 blade MA 2 sharpened with a KME, glanced one rib on way in cut one in half on way out and got through part of the shoulder blade.
Outstanding Dad! Congrats on the Doe! :thumbsup:
Winner, winner, chicken dinner! This thread wins "Best of the Year"!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
We need more of this in America, today!
LD
Too cool bro, thats a whole lotta love. I had my boys on their 1st joint blood this year as too.
Amazing stuff brother...on many levels!! Congrats, and thanx so much for sharing everything....I've been there!
ps....is that a giant rub next to you in the group shot?
Yep Curt thats a beech he played with a little but didn't really lay into it. Hopefully this upcoming weekend show me on of the bigguns.
That's the way it's done....thanks for sharing with us as well! :clapper:
Nice :thumbsup:
Very cool!
Good Lord! It looks like somebody was running through the woods with a bucket full of red paint! Great shot and great parenting by allowing your children to experience this.
Good stuff!
Awesome
Great going!!
Good stuff right there! Those are memories everyone can enjoy. Congratulations!!
awesome. That had to be fun!
Great story thanks for sharing it. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Well done Dad!
Great job!!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :notworthy: COOL!!
Thanks for Sharing,Great story and congradulations