We have an early doe season here in Michigan, this year it runs from September 16th-20th. I hunted the 16th and all I had near me were bucks, go figure!

So Friday night I decided it would be a great evening to spend in a ground blind with my 4 1/2 year old son. I have taken him hunting with me a few times before during the previous season, but he was still pretty young and fidgety and we never saw any deer (also did not help that he could not sit out there for more than an hour   ). I hoped that he might have a little more patience this year.

Well, we got settled in the blind around 5:30 PM on a nice quiet beautiful evening. The first thing that he wanted to do was paint up our faces... I painted his and he painted mine.



We ate some snacks, drank a soda, and goofed off a little to start the evening





As the evening wore on, I could see he was getting a little antsy and was coughing quite a bit from a cold that he has been fighting. I was able to get him to play in the dirt in the blind to pass a little time. While he was down there digging in the dirt, I saw the first deer. I told Ty "Theres a deer"... he immediately popped up and ran right up to the window and said in a not so quiet voice "where!". I was thinking, we are never going to get a deer in range! I pointed out the deer (which was a ways out and did not see or hear him). I got him to watch the deer through the binoculars for a while and explained again the need to be as quiet as possible and to minimize movement.

A bit later I noticed a few more deer making their way to the cut corn field we were watching. Ty and I watched them make their way towards us. They moseyed around feeding for several minutes before finally making their way in front of us. The largest doe finally stood slightly quartering away... the bow came to full draw with my attention fully focused on her chest. The string slipped away... I had taken a deer with my son in the blind with me watching the entire event unfold!!!

The first thing I heard was my son say, "Dad you got him!". I don't know who was more excited! I turned and gave him a huge hug and high fives. I could not believe how quiet and still he was during the good 15 minutes of action we had with those deer in close range!

I was not sure what his reaction would be to actually seeing this all take place. We always talk about hunting and the reasons and necessities of why we hunt, and he has seen several of the animals I have harvested over the past couple of year. He also loves animals. All I know now is that we have a new hunter in our midst!!!! He wanted to run right out to the deer afterwards! He thought it was the coolest thing in the world! We went to the deer and he immediatly went to petting the fur and picking up its head. He commented on the blood, but nothing about the situation bothered him in the least, he even insisted that I gut the deer right then so he could watch. When I was done gutting the deer he looked at the gut pile and said "Dad, is that what's inside me??" That made me chuckle!

Well, thanks for joining me on the long story here, but I am so excited I just had to share! Anyways, here are the pics of me and my son and the deer:





The bow used was a 1957 Kodiak 52@28. Wensel Woodsmans for the broadheads. The shot was 23 yards.

I am actually going to post another thread on the shot, it has me a little perplexed. It entered perfectly left and right for the quartering away shot and was right about mid body height wise... the thing that gets me is that is actually angled way up when it entered and struck the spine... not complaining, no tracking is nice sometimes  

I can see why that is your highlight!! Congradulations. Hap

How cool is this? Way!!!! I'm saying...

Great story!! I so very happy for you and your son.
Neither of you will forget today.

I was blessed to be in the blind with my daughter when she took her 1st archery deer. Different side of a story than yours but that day may be in your future as well. I hope so for your sake.

God bless,Mudd

Kev, SWEET Bud!  Nothing like sharing the hunt with your son.  My Tyler and I are ready- been shooting alot and trail cam pics show that the oaks are producing plenty of deer activity.  Hope to have a success story early this year- and hope its my Tyler dropping the string on one.
Dave

The best trophy you could get. I think you got a bowhunting partner for life now.

what draco said X2 !!!

       

All right, sir!

That is a time to cherrish!

Wow what an awesome story. Congrats on the fine deer and an even better son.

Special. Very!

Congrats on hunting with your Son!!!


oh yeah...nice deer too...  

       

Well-done!

I'm still smiling.  I'm happy for both of you.

Thats just awsome.

   

Bravo!    

Looks like dad will be spending some money on a bow pretty soon; Congrats      

Whooo cuz! Nice story! CONGRATS!