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Post by Sasquatch on Oct 2, 2018 13:01:03 GMT -5
My eldest son John ( 13 ) hunted every available opportunity during this youth season. Our first three tries were on the property of a dear friend who generously offered his primo property for our use. With food plots, well-made permanent stands, and a decent buck population, we figured we had a good chance. The first morning afforded no opportunities, and the next evening was spoiled by a disruptive neighbor ( see "nasty neighbor" post in the Campfire ). The next morning we were busted by an old croan of a doe that snuck up behind us and saw no other deer. We opted to hunt our regular property for the final evening.
We saw four does that were out of range, and a little after sunset I spotted a spike coming up behind us through the pasture. ( the stand is situated at the edge of a field, watching a ridge ). He was coming pretty fast, so I told John to get into position. We didn't have a lot of time so John was pretty excited and didn't really get the time to settle down that I would have liked. John took a rest on the back of the stand and fired at about thirty yards. the buck ran a few yards and stopped, and I was pretty sure he wasn't hit. I told John to reload ( NEF 20 ). The deer bolted, and a search, as expected, revealed no signs of a hit.
John was pretty bummed, ( "I had to hit him! had to!" ) but I patted him on the back and reassured him as best I could. I told him everybody misses, even close shots. On the drive home I pointed out that a miss is better than a wounded deer. I also said I was proud of his conduct. He wanted to hunt as long as possible, he didn't whine about the conditions or the bugs, and he followed our hosts request that he not shoot does ( they are getting thin where he's at ). I did buy him a DQ Blizzard on the way home, lol.
Still, I felt I couldn't say enough. What do you all say?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2018 13:13:05 GMT -5
Did you see or talk about the bounty of nature that you saw. Go out soon to your shooting range to confirm and practice. That might help hitting his target for the next time,letting him know he'll get the next one.
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Post by Sasquatch on Oct 2, 2018 13:21:52 GMT -5
Did you see or talk about the bounty of nature that you saw. Go out soon to your shooting range to confirm and practice. That might help hitting his target for the next time,letting him know he'll get the next one. Good advice. Yes, I always make it a point to emphasize the beauty of Creation, as that's a big part of it for me. |
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Post by jbird on Oct 2, 2018 13:43:04 GMT -5
Sounds like the same speech I have given my kids before. My daughter shot at her first deer last year and missed. She was excited and then devastated as well. She even broke down a little. I assured her there would be other opportunities and that we simply need to practice more about being prepared and being able to keep yourself calm. She looked at me like I was crazy. Best thing we did was shoot again and shoot often. Confidence is the key. I also explained how I had missed deer and her brother had missed deer....he once missed because he forgot the safety was on. I try to make light of it and try not to dwell on it much. I too explained that a clean miss was far better and a poor hit. The fact is that there is little I have found to match that jolt of excitement at the moment of truth of the shot. I still get excited...even over a doe. It's not as bad as it once was, but it still requires my attention.
You did good.....
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Post by oldhoyt on Oct 2, 2018 13:51:19 GMT -5
You just about said it all really, but if you didn't mention it already, stress that there are lessons to be learned from failures as well as success. No shot is guaranteed. I've had my share of unseen twigs or actual trees that jumped in my bullet's path. Use it as a learning experience - what should he do/not do next time, if possible, to have a better outcome? Have him go through the process of getting the gun into position quickly and quietly and settling the sites on a few imaginary deer from the hunting stand to get the process ingrained. It all comes with experience and practice.
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Post by jjas on Oct 2, 2018 14:02:04 GMT -5
Better a clean miss than a wounded and lost deer.
FWIW, you said about what I would have. including the fact that he is in good company as I know very few people who haven't missed a shot @ a deer.
He'll get his deer next time.
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Post by 10point on Oct 2, 2018 14:58:49 GMT -5
I believe my Son missed the first six he shot at. LOL
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Post by Woody Williams on Oct 2, 2018 15:09:16 GMT -5
Woodmaster took his grandson (my great grandson) Saturday evening to hunt our little place.. He said that he no sooner got the pop up installed and he looked down the field and saw a doe browsing about 100 yards away. He told the grandson to practice aiming at it. He did but the doe kept closing the gap feeding. It got to within 30 yards when the doe either saw one of them move or couldn't figure out what that new thing at the end of the field was. Either way she started getting antsy. Woodmaster recognized that she was about ready to bolt and told the grandson he had better shoot. I guess he hurried the shot and missed with the .243. No chewing out - just and going over of what happened. I texted him and told him to keep his chin up as even us "old pros" still miss every now and then.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2018 15:28:37 GMT -5
I would be sure to take him out at the first opportunity and put a target up, and let him shoot, to reassure both of you that the gun is still on. At that point you can again go over where to aim on the animal, breathing, trigger squeeze and follow thru. I think that little exercise would get his confidence right back.
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Post by featherduster on Oct 2, 2018 15:34:01 GMT -5
I would disown the kid and put him up for ADOPTION, don't forget to remove him from the will.
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Post by Sasquatch on Oct 2, 2018 15:38:59 GMT -5
I would disown the kid and put him up for ADOPTION, don't forget to remove him from the will. Getting the papers together now. |
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Post by freedomhunter on Oct 2, 2018 16:21:27 GMT -5
Only losers miss and we don't allow losers in this family, I can't be your Dad anymore. I'm glad he didn't wound it, it is all a teachable moment, though.
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Post by duff on Oct 2, 2018 18:12:49 GMT -5
Ha I missed the 1st 6 shots my 1st time hunting on the same deer. With a bow! The deer even let me walk out and pick up arrows. The early 90s had a ton of deer and little pressure in that area!
I was hitting quarter sized groups at 20 yards. Hitting apples off hay bales from 30 yards. HUGE difference when it is 100# brown living creature standing in front of you.
We all miss and make mistakes.
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Post by teenhunter00 on Oct 2, 2018 18:42:40 GMT -5
My first few years that I went out hunting with my dad during youth season I missed a lot. It took me 5 years to get my first deer. My dad always reassured me when ever I did miss. I would always get the deer fever and pull my shots. As time went on though I got better and then soon realized I should just do archery since I practice that a lot more. My dad nags me about it now, and at the start of every season he asks me if I'm ready to miss and watch him get a deer.
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Post by SFC (R) B on Oct 2, 2018 21:57:30 GMT -5
My son missed his first shot at a doe and then sealed the deal on a nice little 8 on his next opportunity. We talked it through, he knew he had rushed and settled down when it came again. It was a good circle. My little one on the other hand had a different experience. Her first shot at anything ever was a pig she drilled at 90m. That was in Texas and she had to wait 5 years to pull an elk tag her in CO. We went out last DEC and saw TONS of game (deer, elk and pronghorn....literally thousands of animals) but the elk were on an off limits part of the ranch. She could see them and we definitely could have gotten into position for a decent shot but knew we just couldn't do it. That was a really tough pill as she had been a real trooper for the hunt and it hurt me. She didn't complain or whine but I could tell it took a toll.
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Post by budd on Oct 3, 2018 9:02:10 GMT -5
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Post by bill9068 on Oct 3, 2018 10:58:51 GMT -5
When he does connect then the miss makes it that much sweeter, his time is coming.
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Post by bowonlykindofguy1 on Oct 3, 2018 11:30:30 GMT -5
Nice video budd, they looked really close and sure seemed like he really rushed the shot or did he peak to see where he hit?
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Post by budd on Oct 3, 2018 12:55:23 GMT -5
Nice video budd, they looked really close and sure seemed like he really rushed the shot or did he peak to see where he hit? Both...hardest thing to teach is keep your eye on the target and more times then not you will see your arrow hit. |
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