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
 

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  

Thats fantastic, congradulations to both of you!

Way to go Jay! Congrates to the both of you. I know how you feel Dad.  

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!      

Awesome WTG      

That is Awesome!  Congratulations to you and your son!!  What a wonderful thing to share.

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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    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!