Brock goes hunting
- Thread starter brock ratcliff
- Start date
Big_Holla
Senior Member
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Thanks for all the kind words, guys!
Mason and I had a pretty good day. We rolled over to the Ross Co property this morning. We busted a deer out on our way into the woods...there is always a deer there, under our darn stand! I shined the light towards it, never did see it, but heard it stop running. Good enough for me. We climbed up and settled in. As light just began to filter into the woods I heard a deer coming up the ridge to the south of us. Shortly, I could make out the outline of what appeared to be a heck of a big deer standing on a logging road 25 yards or so in front of us. It was still too dark to make out what it was for sure, but it was BIG in appearance. It wandered off.
About 715 we heard a loud racket to the north side of our stand which is where the lone deer we spooked upon entry was last heard. Shortly, a doe popped out of the thicket into a pasture field with what appeared to be one heck of a nice buck. He chased her around for a time, a couple of brief glimmers of hope later, they ran off in the wrong direction. Typical.
At 735 or so, we heard something directed to our east. I told Mason "That's bigger than a squirrel", and soon saw his buck coming towards our stand through the underbrush. I fired up the camcorder and told Mason if the deer stayed on the same trail he would need to "hold high", which means he's over gonna be at 30 yards instead of the 20 we have his scope set for. We've used this same system since he was 7 yrs old, and it's worked before since changing the Horton's range adjustment is a trick for us to orchestrate in the moment. The deer came into an opening and Mason let loose with "Meee", he stopped a step to late, brush blocking his vitals. Mason held his fire. The deer started walking again and when he hit the next hole, I let loose with "MEEEEEEEEEE"! He took another step or two, stopped and waited for Mason's arrow to slam through his ribs and stick at the base of a tree I had a stand in two years ago! He bolted off and I felt for sure he was dead. However, the shot was a couple of inches farther back than I'd have liked, so I told Mason we were giving him time. We had to be at my buddy's place at 10 anyway for a Pheasants Forever youth hunt, so we went home, had breakfast and watched the video a half dozen times. It made me more certain we would find the deer.
We went to the pheasant hunt where the video of Mason's shot was enjoyed by a few on the lodge's flat screen. We enjoyed ourselves, gathered up a friend at the pheasant hunt and went to get the deer. He had gone a shade over 100 yards I'd guess.
That kid consistently makes me proud when it comes time to shoot. I know for me, it is sometimes all I can do to control my thoughts enough to make good decisions when I'm shooting at a deer...he is a stone cold killer until the shot is away.
I've always told him I'd have his first antlered deer mounted. Thankfully, he got a really nice one for his first buck. I haven't measured it yet, but I'm willing to guess he is gonna tape 120-125 as a clean 8. He's a really nice deer for a 10 year old boy. Before we even knew what his first buck would look like, we've been calling him "Lucky No.7", as I decided he was not going to shoot anymore does this season until his buck tag was filled. This is obviously his 7th deer, and thus the name. I think it's fitting.
He is pretty much done this season...except for the fact he is shooting his compound daily and really, really wants to kill a deer with it. His shooting is mighty good at this point, so after gun season, it's entirely possible we will be working on getting that deal off his wish list...
I may sleep in tomorrow.
Mason and I had a pretty good day. We rolled over to the Ross Co property this morning. We busted a deer out on our way into the woods...there is always a deer there, under our darn stand! I shined the light towards it, never did see it, but heard it stop running. Good enough for me. We climbed up and settled in. As light just began to filter into the woods I heard a deer coming up the ridge to the south of us. Shortly, I could make out the outline of what appeared to be a heck of a big deer standing on a logging road 25 yards or so in front of us. It was still too dark to make out what it was for sure, but it was BIG in appearance. It wandered off.
About 715 we heard a loud racket to the north side of our stand which is where the lone deer we spooked upon entry was last heard. Shortly, a doe popped out of the thicket into a pasture field with what appeared to be one heck of a nice buck. He chased her around for a time, a couple of brief glimmers of hope later, they ran off in the wrong direction. Typical.
At 735 or so, we heard something directed to our east. I told Mason "That's bigger than a squirrel", and soon saw his buck coming towards our stand through the underbrush. I fired up the camcorder and told Mason if the deer stayed on the same trail he would need to "hold high", which means he's over gonna be at 30 yards instead of the 20 we have his scope set for. We've used this same system since he was 7 yrs old, and it's worked before since changing the Horton's range adjustment is a trick for us to orchestrate in the moment. The deer came into an opening and Mason let loose with "Meee", he stopped a step to late, brush blocking his vitals. Mason held his fire. The deer started walking again and when he hit the next hole, I let loose with "MEEEEEEEEEE"! He took another step or two, stopped and waited for Mason's arrow to slam through his ribs and stick at the base of a tree I had a stand in two years ago! He bolted off and I felt for sure he was dead. However, the shot was a couple of inches farther back than I'd have liked, so I told Mason we were giving him time. We had to be at my buddy's place at 10 anyway for a Pheasants Forever youth hunt, so we went home, had breakfast and watched the video a half dozen times. It made me more certain we would find the deer.
We went to the pheasant hunt where the video of Mason's shot was enjoyed by a few on the lodge's flat screen. We enjoyed ourselves, gathered up a friend at the pheasant hunt and went to get the deer. He had gone a shade over 100 yards I'd guess.
That kid consistently makes me proud when it comes time to shoot. I know for me, it is sometimes all I can do to control my thoughts enough to make good decisions when I'm shooting at a deer...he is a stone cold killer until the shot is away.
I've always told him I'd have his first antlered deer mounted. Thankfully, he got a really nice one for his first buck. I haven't measured it yet, but I'm willing to guess he is gonna tape 120-125 as a clean 8. He's a really nice deer for a 10 year old boy. Before we even knew what his first buck would look like, we've been calling him "Lucky No.7", as I decided he was not going to shoot anymore does this season until his buck tag was filled. This is obviously his 7th deer, and thus the name. I think it's fitting.
He is pretty much done this season...except for the fact he is shooting his compound daily and really, really wants to kill a deer with it. His shooting is mighty good at this point, so after gun season, it's entirely possible we will be working on getting that deal off his wish list...
I may sleep in tomorrow.
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I forgot to add, while we were looking at the blood on the arrow, four small bucks were running in circles around us grunting like pigs! We slipped on out of the woods to see a doe standing 20 yds from our truck, and saw another four or five does on the short trip down the county road we were hunting on. They were seemingly on the move today in Ross Co!
Outstanding write up for an excellent deer! Mason is fortunate to have the teacher he has. Some of us did not grow up in a hunting family, let alone a hunting family with a dad who knows his stuff about deer like you do.
huntn2
Senior Member
Great write up Brock. Mason's control and patience in the moment is impressive. Tell him congratulations.
lung buster
Senior Member
Nice right up Brock and a big congrats to Mason on a great buck! He's obliviously had a great teacher. Well done sir!
dante322
*Supporting Member*
That was a great read Brock, TOO say you're popping proud would be an understatement. Congrats to Mason again !
badger
*Supporting Member*
Great write up Brock! Congrats to you both on a fantastic day spent together! He's got a great teacher! Awesome stuff buddy!:smiley_clap:
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Hey guys, thanks for all the nice comments!
Mason wanted to go to the woods tonight, even though his tag is already hanging on a set of horns. I figured we'd go over to the farm where he killed his deer since we could both set in the buddy stand. There is a really nice old 7 pointer still in there and I wouldn't think twice about killing him. He won't score well, but I've never put one in a book anyway! Well, it didn't work out. We saw some turkeys, a dog, a house cat; and a rabbit that didn't appear to enjoy the company of the 1500 resident squirrels anymore than we did. No deer seen. No big deal, still enjoyed our time in the woods. Just at dark coyotes lit the place up on both sides of us... Mason wanted to carry the light on the way out.
Back to Fayette in the morning for a vigil over the open plains.
Mason wanted to go to the woods tonight, even though his tag is already hanging on a set of horns.
I figured we'd go over to the farm where he killed his deer since we could both set in the buddy stand. There is a really nice old 7 pointer still in there and I wouldn't think twice about killing him. He won't score well, but I've never put one in a book anyway! Well, it didn't work out. We saw some turkeys, a dog, a house cat; and a rabbit that didn't appear to enjoy the company of the 1500 resident squirrels anymore than we did. No deer seen. No big deal, still enjoyed our time in the woods. Just at dark coyotes lit the place up on both sides of us... Mason wanted to carry the light on the way out. Back to Fayette in the morning for a vigil over the open plains.
twireman
Senior Member
Congrats to you and your son. I hope he realizes how fortunate he is to have you as a parent. Job well done man. Great shooting Mason!!
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Went back to Fayette today. Saw a doe and two fawns when I pulled in to park. Got my gear ready, made the walk, saw another deer by my stand. Waited for it to get light, just as it did I watched a definite shooter walk across a cut cornfield - 200+ yards away. A while later a doe and three fawns came passed me, then a small buck. As they all fed out in a cut bean field, another small buck joined them. A while later, the big 6 came by. I turned to watch behind me where I saw a doe and young buck, just then the big crippled up one-horned king of the farm limped out and put the fear of God in the young buck. That is the second time I have seen that gimpy buck run off another. The first time he ran one away from a doe was the other day and the deer he ran off was the tall-racked buck that I posted pics of earlier. This deer is huge, his antler is just a big long spike. It's funny to see the fear he puts in other bucks. The don't even try to stare him down, they just tuck their tail and leave!
On the way to the truck I spotted two bucks in the waterway I travel to and from my stand. I snuck up a bit and filmed them. One was a dink, the other is an 8 point I've seen many times. He's probably 110"-115" and pretty. He'll be a dandy if he makes it a couple of years.
I drove my truck back along the creek on the north east side of the property. I hunted there a lot last year, but haven't at all this season. I have a stand in place from last season, so I may sit there in the morning. All I would need to put an end to these early mornings is for a good buck to follow a doe across the creek right at my stand, and that is a lot more likely to happen this year than last. The water is at a more normal (higher) level than last year, and the stand is set at a natural shallow spot, thus making it an awesome crossing for any deer hoping to keep their belly dry. I think I'll sit there in the morning just because I need a change of scenery, and it IS an awesome pinch point! Getting to it can be tricky and is why I haven't already hunted it this year, but if ever there was a time to go all in, it's now. No point in trying to be conservative this time of year.
On the way to the truck I spotted two bucks in the waterway I travel to and from my stand. I snuck up a bit and filmed them. One was a dink, the other is an 8 point I've seen many times. He's probably 110"-115" and pretty. He'll be a dandy if he makes it a couple of years.
I drove my truck back along the creek on the north east side of the property. I hunted there a lot last year, but haven't at all this season. I have a stand in place from last season, so I may sit there in the morning. All I would need to put an end to these early mornings is for a good buck to follow a doe across the creek right at my stand, and that is a lot more likely to happen this year than last. The water is at a more normal (higher) level than last year, and the stand is set at a natural shallow spot, thus making it an awesome crossing for any deer hoping to keep their belly dry. I think I'll sit there in the morning just because I need a change of scenery, and it IS an awesome pinch point! Getting to it can be tricky and is why I haven't already hunted it this year, but if ever there was a time to go all in, it's now. No point in trying to be conservative this time of year.