Got it done in Idaho

Made it back from our Idaho deer hunting trip. This was the 1st out of state trip I have been on in 20 years. When I said those years out loud it out a little depressing. Anyone thinking about that next trip make it happen. Time is not on your side. Do anything you can to get out in the woods. Its worth the effort. I will be going every year from here on out.

Anyways we left Friday night to Idaho and after a 13 hour drive we were able to get camp set up and take a much need nap. The season did not start until Tuesday so we used the next few days to get the lay of the land and some bucks spotted for opening day. I was hunting with my dad and 10 year old son. Excitement was high as we had some really nice bucks spotted for Tuesday.

Opening morning had all 3 of us together since it was my sons 1st deer hunting trip and we all wanted to be part of it. As the son came up we made out a nice 4 point that was about 250 yards out but with sage covering most of the vitals. It was going to be a hard shot and we passed looking for an easier shot for him. The next hour or so produced some more does but nothing else. On the way back to camp We split up and I took my son down a drawl that looked like it should hold some deer. As we got closer I spotted a nice 3 point and some more does. We got set up but he had a little difficulty getting him in the scope. As he entered the trees I told my son not to worry we would jump on the backside and kick him out again. Well 30 mins later we enter the spot we last saw the buck and sure enough we kicked him out on the open hillside about 80 yards away. He looked big enough for my sons 1st deer so We dropped the sticks and got lined up. About this time the buck is trotting away. I tell him get ready its going to be a fast shot. Probably should not have said that looking back. I whistled and the buck stopped and my son fired and missed high. The buck runs and doesn't provide another shot. At this time I was pretty down knowing how much this meant to him. He was a little emotional and had to sit down and take everything in. Great life lesson for him and I am sure he will be a better hunter for it. I told him to be grateful we were able to see everything and had a chance at a nice buck and that if we come back in a couple days the buck will be back.

Cont...

Good so far and waiting for the continuation!!!

Great story can't wait for part 2

After getting our emotion back we made the walk back to camp. Once in camp a little card game with grandpa and a good breakfast got things back on track. The hardest part of this hunt for me was the dead time between morning and evenings hunt. About 3:00 I had enough and the boy and I headed for the fields to get set up. The wind was a little tricky and we had to relocate because a set of does were acting a little to nervous. Once settled in we start glassing and found two forks about a 1000 yards away. We closed the distance and looked them over. After a few minutes the boy decided to pass. I asked him why and his response was "we are in Idaho, they have big deer". I really wanted to get his hunt over with because I was a nervous wreck for him. As we worked our way back to our set up we spotted another group of bucks and these were studs. We worked our way through the sage and closed the distance. As we were trying to head the bucks off we heard a shot in the distance. My son said grandpa got one. Now we were feeling pretty good about everything and got ready for the stock. As we peaked over the ridge the 3 bucks stood in the sage roughly 100 yards away. I glassed them over and was looking at one of the biggest 4 points I have hunted. We set him up on the sticks and loaded the 6.5 creed and ready for the shot. As the sound of the gun the deer took off. He had missed again. Now I was really wondering what was going on. We had shot jack rabbits all summer, close to 50 or so off shooting sticks and had spent time off the bench. I was feeling pretty crappy but he seemed ok which made things better. We worked back to camp and found my dad with his buck already at camp. He killed a 3*2 which made us all laugh a little. We had spotted many solid bucks and he settled on a 3*2 on opening evening He just cant hold off when he sees horns. Well after a good dinner and another card game it was time to get ready for day 2
cont....

Day 2. We got up early to get a jump on the bucks from last night. As we searched the area I noticed two deer off in the distance. A closer look found two nice bucks working their way up the sage line. We hustled to cut them off but only got to 300 yards and that was to far for him to shoot. We watched the bucks disappear into the trees. Off to our left stood two Moose. What a sight, I have never seen a Moose and their size was amazing. The sun finally peaked over the mountains. We worked our way to a couple ridges and finally got into another group of deer. We made out one small buck but my son passed again. He had his sights set and I left it at that. I knew my hunt was his hunt and just wanted to enjoy the time with him. Back at camp we regrouped with breakfast and another card game. Spending time with dad and son was well worth the effort and time we put into this hunt. As evening came we got set up again. I placed him in a spot and I would move back and forth checking another ridge. When I came back over the ridge he was surrounded by does. I am talking 20-30'does with in 5 yards of him. He just sat there with out moving. What a cool experience. The rest of the evening did not produce anything but we were enjoying Idaho to the fullest. List of animals watched in day 2
Pheasants
Turkey
Bull elk
Grouse
Moose
Deer

We BBQ another great dinner and started our annual card game. Time was ticking down but we knew it was a matter of time before everything worked out

hunt all day....

you guys must really know some good card games ;-)

Ok where is part three and the shot? Great Story don't know if anyone else has ever done it this way before.

Want to hear if he got a buck or not.

1. I would prefer to hunt all day when it is possible. I could have easily busted brush all day and ran every deer out of the area and only been able to see five feet. This was our 1st time in the area and the pattern of the deer only allowed for very short morning hunts and then a good evening hunt
2. We taught my son the game of rummy(sp). He loved the game and beating his dad and grandpa made it even better

Day 3
I wanted to make sure we did everything right today so we got set up really earlier. I put my dad and son in one area and I watched another about 400 yards away. I wanted to be able to glass as much area as possible. Right at 1st light I catch a group of deer off in the distance. It was not light enough to make horns but I knew the last deer as a lot larger and pretty sure it was a buck. I watched them move off and was pretty sure we could get back on them. As I worked my way back towards my dad and son I was feeling pretty good about our chances. Once with them I got the details of a buck they had seen but could not get on. He had worked his way back to the trees at 1st light and only offered a going away shot. So we decided that the deer I had seen was the best bet so off we went. As we worked the sage cover drawl I noticed a fork and 5 does. I looked at my son and shook is head nope. Right about that time I could see another deer directly in front of us about 50 yards away. The height of the sage and the height of my son made the shot impossible. I got him set up on the sticks and told him the deer will work their way to the other side which would be about 150yards. Over the next five minutes we watched the does slowly work their way out to the opening. We could see the small fork and a nice 3 point still in the trees. We waited a little longer and soon enough we had all the deer in the open. I asked him if this was the one he wanted and I could tell it was. We chambered a round and he sent a round towards the deer. At the shot the buck kicked and ran down into the drawl. I knew from the sound that he had hit the deer hard. As we worked towards the bottom their lay his 1st buck. A very nice 3 point with an eye guard. He was on cloud nine. I told him just like my dad that I would show him how to gut his 1st deer and after that I would not do another for him. Once we got him opened up I was surprised by the amount of damage the 120gr ELD had done. He hit the boiler room on a Qrt away shot and man the bullet made a mess. I usually shot Barnes and my dad shots noslers. Since we had only gotten his 6.5 about 3 weeks before the hunt we decided to just run factory ammo in it.

Now that my dad and son had tagged out the pressure of the hunt was off. I knew that I could kill a deer if I wanted but also knew that their were still some really nice bucks still around. Either way the hunt was a success and for a 10 year old kid to kill such a nice deer with his dad and grandpa next to him was fun. Yes it was not the most demanding hunt but we still had to hunt. We were but an hour before light. The temps in the morning ranged between 25-30 degrees and he had to make a 150 yard shot after missing 2 deer a lot closer. I was proud of the effort he gave. He is already talking about the bull he is going to kill next year.

Thanks Idaho for an outstanding hunt and the opportunity for youth to get in the field at such a young age.

Getting kids in the field is always awesome. Especially the first time. I still remember my daughters excitement when she shot her first cow elk. I have one who is going to hunt next year for the first time, and one the year after. I cannot wait! Awesome job! Some pictures would be great as well.

*We are all in the same boat, just
wishing to be hunting right now!*

Way to get it done! Congrats to your son and to making memories that will last forever!
Pics??

Great way to celebrate the hunt! Thanks for sharing takes me back to my boys first bucks.

Great hunt. I really enjoyed the narrative. Hunting all day has been effective for me, but for a lot of kids, its not a good start. I pretty much ruined elk hunting with my eldest after I took him elk hunting one weekend. I should've backed off and just enjoyed the time together. My youngest? He'll bust butt dark am to dark pm and call it fun. Everyone's different.

I am with you on the kids. My 10 year old will go with me no matter what. Doesn't matter the weather, time, effort. He will go until he drops. Now my 8 year old is a lot different. I pushed him when he was young and now the 1st question is how much are we hiking. I have to make it fun and enjoyable for him. There are times I still tell him tough luck get up the mountain but I try to make it a little less for him. He also has figured out if he doesnt get to shoot its not as much fun. The 10 year old will go matter if he gets to shoot or not. He just wants to out in the mountains.

I have pics but will have to figure out how to post

I have 3 boys and one, now 26, just packed a pretty nice 180" buck out of a hell hole for me. I remember how great the early days were.

That said, and I hope you take this as intended, I think you need to take your shooting practice with your son to a slightly higher level.

I get nerves, but that's part of what you practice. If he isn't ready, don't take him or make him hold off his shot until he is ready and "sure" of his hold. If those cross hairs are bouncing, finger stays off the trigger.

You are lucky he only "missed". If you had wounded those deer that would have been much more traumatic for him and unfair to the deer.

I know some of you guys will flame on me, and if your boy was reading or listening, I wouldn't say a thing as this is not pointed at him, it is at you.

If he is not steady and calm, tell him to put that gun down!

I'm glad it all ended well and you had a good time here in Idaho. Sounds like a dream spot based on other reports and the amount of deer.

Thanks for sharing. Great story, one to be envious of. Good job on getting those young men out in the field to enjoy this great sport.