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So for the rest of the story. This has been a 7yr journey for us trying to draw a tag. Finally this year is the year. Dj’s vacation starts on the 25th for a month and that’s when we were gonna go, so I thought. Around the first of October Hunter says he’s leaving on the 15th. In the back of my mind was, this is gonna suck because knowing him, he will kill and roll out and we won’t be there to share the moment and memories…..AND THAT HAPPENED!
Back to the story, he rolls out after cutting all his yards for the month. Grass isn’t growing and Hunter is not gonna let grass grow under his feet during hunting season. He drove a little out of his way to north Arkansas where one of his buddy lives. Slept that night and got up at 2am to finish the drive. He arrived around 12 and started scouting. We have never been there before but using onx we decided on a starting point. He hit the ground running and texted me that he’s seen a little sign but nothing crazy. Found a 150” ehd 10pt while scouting. That night he tries to find an open campground to pitch a tent but none was open, slept in the truck that night. The next day he drove to another spot, told me it looked much better. Plan was to hunt the next morning after the rain that night w the cold front pushing through. Not much cell service, so I texted him around 11am and he said he drove 40 minutes and forgot his saddle. Funny we all have left something behind before and it’s not funny
. I don’t exactly know what he did that morning.
Yesterday evening, he’s in a tree and texted me he picked the wrong tree. Then tells me he’s seen a couple of does. Later I get a text that he just shot a big one. Not really sure how big as he’s trying to video and make it all happen. I texted him back asking all those pertinent questions a dad ask. Did you hit him good, how far it went, how big is it and other stuff. He tells me 20 yd shot through the heart and watched him run 40 yards and stop. Took 3 steps and it disappeared not knowing if he fell over bedded or snuck off. He waited till dark, got down and went to the area of hit. Said blood instantly and spraying. Tracks 44 yards and there he lay. I’m asking for a pic but no service. Tells me he’s got a 400 yard walk out and when he gets service he will send. I get the pic and can’t believe it. He has to go back to the camp to get cart and air the tires up. He’s saying he should be able to get him out but there is a giant gully that’s pretty much 15 down and up, not much of an angle. As he’s airing up the tires a truck is going by on the gravel, Hb said I’m gonna try and get some help by stopping the truck. Hangs up w me and I don’t hear back until I get a pic w deer in truck. Gets back to camp and calls me, of course I’m wanting the info of everything. Asked him if the guy helped, he said yes. Guy was a local and walking in he told Hunter I never hunt this far back at the gully which is 100 yards off the road. He also said it took everything to get the deer out the gully as the last 4’ out was straight up. The rest is history as they say. I’m still waiting on kill footage but did get some pics.
I forgot to mention, once they got back to the truck, the guy helping him started to walk to his truck. Told the guy thanks and handed him $60.
Thanks for all the grats and praises. Sure am proud of this young man. I guess he gets it from his momma like he says.
Back to the story, he rolls out after cutting all his yards for the month. Grass isn’t growing and Hunter is not gonna let grass grow under his feet during hunting season. He drove a little out of his way to north Arkansas where one of his buddy lives. Slept that night and got up at 2am to finish the drive. He arrived around 12 and started scouting. We have never been there before but using onx we decided on a starting point. He hit the ground running and texted me that he’s seen a little sign but nothing crazy. Found a 150” ehd 10pt while scouting. That night he tries to find an open campground to pitch a tent but none was open, slept in the truck that night. The next day he drove to another spot, told me it looked much better. Plan was to hunt the next morning after the rain that night w the cold front pushing through. Not much cell service, so I texted him around 11am and he said he drove 40 minutes and forgot his saddle. Funny we all have left something behind before and it’s not funny
. I don’t exactly know what he did that morning.Yesterday evening, he’s in a tree and texted me he picked the wrong tree. Then tells me he’s seen a couple of does. Later I get a text that he just shot a big one. Not really sure how big as he’s trying to video and make it all happen. I texted him back asking all those pertinent questions a dad ask. Did you hit him good, how far it went, how big is it and other stuff. He tells me 20 yd shot through the heart and watched him run 40 yards and stop. Took 3 steps and it disappeared not knowing if he fell over bedded or snuck off. He waited till dark, got down and went to the area of hit. Said blood instantly and spraying. Tracks 44 yards and there he lay. I’m asking for a pic but no service. Tells me he’s got a 400 yard walk out and when he gets service he will send. I get the pic and can’t believe it. He has to go back to the camp to get cart and air the tires up. He’s saying he should be able to get him out but there is a giant gully that’s pretty much 15 down and up, not much of an angle. As he’s airing up the tires a truck is going by on the gravel, Hb said I’m gonna try and get some help by stopping the truck. Hangs up w me and I don’t hear back until I get a pic w deer in truck. Gets back to camp and calls me, of course I’m wanting the info of everything
. Asked him if the guy helped, he said yes. Guy was a local and walking in he told Hunter I never hunt this far back at the gully which is 100 yards off the road. He also said it took everything to get the deer out the gully as the last 4’ out was straight up. The rest is history as they say. I’m still waiting on kill footage but did get some pics.I forgot to mention, once they got back to the truck, the guy helping him started to walk to his truck. Told the guy thanks and handed him $60.
Thanks for all the grats and praises. Sure am proud of this young man. I guess he gets it from his momma like he says.
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