Long overdue for an update on this thread. I shared this with Nate at Strouds, forgot to add the update.
BLUF: Ty is happy to just join dad on some hunts this year, won't be toting a weapon.
Early Oct:
All equipment was acquired and we had a real life setup in the backyard - blind, chairs, shooting pod, crossbow, 3D deer target.
During our first practice session, we went through everything from start to finish via a talk. Then it was time to sit in the seats, ensure our layout in the blind worked and give him a good range of motion without me or packs being in the way. We whispered and acted like we were in the woods. I told him a deer was coming in, but was facing right at us and we had to wait until it turned broadside. Ty got on his feet and shouldered the bow in the pod and worked to get the top green dot to it's spot behind the front leg. I could see the frustration begin to build as he worked to understand how the pod rotated. After what seemed like an eternity, he was finally on target. I made him hold it for a few seconds then told him the deer is broadside and that he was clear to take the safety off and squeeze when ready.
Man, that 30secs or seemed like an eternity. Frustration and emotion overcame him. He sat down and started crying and said he couldn't do it. I didn't push the issue and said thats enough so we cleaned up. Been a long time since I saw that look of extreme disappointment on his face. When trying to talk with him later, he wouldn't give me a straight answer on how he felt and what happened. This continued as I tucked him into bed that evening, hoping he was ready to open up. Nope....so not sure if it was just the pressure of the mock scenario or if it was the killing portion of the scenario that finally hit him.
So even almost 2 months later, he hasn't come clean with how he feels or what he felt that day. I do know that I'm glad it happened in the backyard and not in the woods. He has only expressed interest in going along for the ride this year and of course that still works for me and I'm looking forward to getting him out with me, but he hasn't pushed the issue. He played fall soccer this year and it went until mid-Oct. Not sure if the constant go go go between practices during the week and games on weekends and now he can just chill or what...but I can't wait to show him that the big 11 is starting to slip up, hopefully it gets a spark going again....
