My son just turned 7 years old at the beginning of December. I bought him a Black Rhino long bow 4 Christmases ago...since that time he's shot thousands of arrows. For some reason, he had it in his head that when he turned 7 he can go hunting (I never said that, but he's told anyone who will listen that since he first got his bow).
So...since he is officially "7" I asked him on the last day of the year if he'd like to go out. He about did a back flip!!!!
We went to a property that we hunt some to just do some walking and stumping and just see what may happen. Let me preface this - the ride to the property is about 25 minutes and this kid was like riding in an SUV with the Tazmanian Devil!!!!! He was fired up!!!!
We had a great encounter with a big red tail hawk just after we settled in to our first sit. I'm assuming the hawk saw my fletching, but at any rate it zoomed out of the sky down to about a foot off the forest floor and we could see it coming directly at us in pure attack stealth mode for about 30 yards. Then, at maybe 10 yards it realized it had made a mistake and flared it's wings (making and awesome swooshing sound) and went instantly vertical up and out of the tree line then circled for a few orbits. I looked over at Mason and he was almost laying on his back with his eyes as big as apples about to take some "evasive action." :laughing: This was a great start!
I got the new Samsung S5 phone and it has an amazing camera, so I took the opportunity to play around and get some good pics of his official "first hunt." I hope you enjoy.
Here he is walking in - there was no leading him...Mason was in the lead!
(http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af295/WJCook/20141231_145904.jpg) (http://s1017.photobucket.com/user/WJCook/media/20141231_145904.jpg.html)
We did some stumping on the way in...
(http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af295/WJCook/20141231_145231.jpg) (http://s1017.photobucket.com/user/WJCook/media/20141231_145231.jpg.html)
Found some rubs and took an opportunity to explain what we were seeing...
(http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af295/WJCook/20141231_165501.jpg) (http://s1017.photobucket.com/user/WJCook/media/20141231_165501.jpg.html)
Here's just some good pics from our sits and time together.
(http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af295/WJCook/20141231_155026.jpg) (http://s1017.photobucket.com/user/WJCook/media/20141231_155026.jpg.html) (http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af295/WJCook/20141231_154805.jpg) (http://s1017.photobucket.com/user/WJCook/media/20141231_154805.jpg.html)
(http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af295/WJCook/20141231_154637.jpg) (http://s1017.photobucket.com/user/WJCook/media/20141231_154637.jpg.html)
To add perspective - here he is on Christmas morning after he got this bow 4 years ago.
(http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af295/WJCook/Christmas2011028.jpg) (http://s1017.photobucket.com/user/WJCook/media/Christmas2011028.jpg.html)
We had a great time!!!! Killed a lot of stumps and leaf clusters, saw 4 deer (not close to a shot though), had an AWESOME encounter with a red tail hawk, and got the opportunity to fan the hunting flames inside my son a bit more. What more can you ask for on the last day of a year.
***This was during rifle season in NC and we did wear our orange vests, but they blew out the colors of the pics so we took them off for pictures.***
Beautiful photographs! Be proud of that little tiger... :thumbsup: ...
... mike ...
Awesome! When his teacher has the class write a school paper on their favorite outing, I bet this one will be it for years to come. Dad will always cherish it as well. I have a grandson, who will turn 3 in February, and I hope in a few years to be able to make a post such as this. It sounds like you have a real good grasp of the "daddy" job. Congratulations.
That's awesome. I think I was 7 when I was "big enough to go" I think it was the age I was listening more and wouldn't be a pain in the ass to my dad. Looking back when I wasn't allowed it was cause he and my uncle and older cousins actually wanted to hunt and not baby sit. That first picture is awesome... He's in full stomp mode... Man on a mission...
Enjoy it brother. :thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :clapper:
What a great post! Thanks for sharing! :clapper:
That is golden
That is awesome. Thanks for sharing. It's great to see the next generation out of doors!
I love it.... :thumbsup: Here's to many more days like that... :clapper:
It dont get any better than that brother! I started taking my son when he was 6 and he is eat up with hunting and the outdoors.
Aweome pictures too..great job!!!
Simply AWESOME :thumbsup:
Wait til he draws first blood, I think you got a new hunting buddy
What a nice outing to build a lifetime of memories! Great pictures also!
Bernie
Fantastic...enjoy these times, they fly by.
Excellent read and awesome pictures! I thoroughly enjoyed that.
Great pic's,it just doesn't get any better than that.Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That pic with him sitting up against the tree is a CLASSIC! You should print that and frame it for your wall or mantle. Great post! :thumbsup:
awesome
Just awesome!!!!!
Awesome, J. Those days are priceless.
Love it, Love it, that part about the Red Tail Hawk had me in your minds eye, was living it with you. Could see little Mason speechless and his mouth slightly open in the sheer awe of what he was experiencing maybe even Dads heart flutter for a second :biglaugh:
Great memory was made on that first hunt, thanks for sharing.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: Good stuff!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Wonderful photos that bring back memories of my own kids at that age. Thanks for sharing!
Pure awesomeness!!!!!!!
Bisch
Doesn't get any better than that!! :clapper: :clapper: :archer2:
That's good stuff there. I can't wait til my grandson is "old enough".
Mike
Doesn't get any better than that!! :clapper: :clapper: :archer2:
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
And that's what it's all about !!
Best moments in life, awesome!
Too Cool. Planting the seeds early... sounds like they are germinating Nicely. You are cultivating a fine young Hunter.
That little guy right there has a future!
He should be Trad Ganger of the week.
Absolutely awesome.
hell yeah!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :archer:
Wonderful story and photos. That first black and white is an award winner if it was up to me. You are a lucky Dad and Mason is a lucky boy.
Good Shooting,
Craig
Thanks for all the well wishes and comments! He's definitely hooked on shooting. He's even worse when it comes to Bass fishing. I am very blessed for sure!
Very cool!
That 5th photo is what its all about!
It is perfect. Do him, and you, a favor and get an 8x10 of it.
Iy is sonething you will never regret!
Very cool... I loved the picture of him sitting against the tree. Your a lucky man.
The good stuff.
I'm with Mr. Vic the one of him sitting against the tree is awesome. That should be Traditional Bowhunter's next cover. Good post!
Wow,and thanks for bringing back some great memories of my son and daughter.I always took them hunting.They grow real fast so enjoy it now.I sure do miss those times.
It doesn't get any better than that. Take him out every chance you get and teach him , now, how to be a true hunter and sportsman while he is excited and soaking it up like a sponge. My Dad and his hunting buddies did that with me and my three brothers and were were practically aboriginal by the time we were in school.
You can see by his stride that Mason is "on a mission". Great to see.
homebru
Way to go Dad!
That's a great memory captured forever! May your adventures together be many
The pic of him leaning up on the cedar is awesome!
:bigsmyl:
Outstanding... :clapper: :clapper:
I have a 3 1/2 year old son and an 8 month old son. I look forward to when I can take them out with me. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome post and great pictures. My favorite time in the woods is with my son.
:thumbsup:
Great stuff!!
Too cool! I can't wait until mine is old enough to pull a bow back!
Thanks for sharing.
- Griff
I really appreciate you sharing something this precious with us.
Thank you!
I hope it's just the 1st of a great many hunts the two of you get to share.
Happy New Year and God bless, Mudd
And he is Up Top too!
Those are great pics! Continue to lead him on the right path!
Bisch
Mason on top! Now that's cool - that's enough to make a father almost tear up! Thanks to the admins for putting him up there!
:thumbsup: :clapper: