S
sakomag
Guest
I look forward to hunting with my son every year especially since he moved to Idaho almost 6 years ago but this year was going to be different. This year he was bringing his two oldest boys who had yet to get their first buck, my son asked if I would take out the oldest (Alex) with me and he would take the younger brother. (Austin)
This meant a lot to me because Alex is headed for the Army in two weeks so I was going to enjoy helping him try make this season a success because it maybe several years before he could hunt again. I had a spot planned to take him for opening morning but when we woke early the next morning my cousins son mentioned that he was headed to that spot so my plans changed.
We left early and drove to the trailhead, loaded the backpacks and headed up the trail. We got to our first location and waited for first light and started glassing. Ater seeing several does I decided to head over a ridge above us that my son had suggested the night before. After a short but steep climb we were just below a sharp ridge, I motioned for him to stay low as I peered over the ridgeline. Within less than a minute I spotted a very good buck and let him know, after explaining my plan I placed my pack on the ridge and got him set up. The buck was barley exposed on a uphill ridge and offered a very poor shot, I told him to be patient and if the buck presented a good shot to just squeeze the trigger.
As I glassed the buck there was a part of me that kept saying "I want that buck" but I knew if he made the shot he was going to be one happy young man. I ranged him at 280 yards, as I was glassing the buck we heard a shot over in the next canyon and that was just enough distraction to make the buck move. I was barely ready when my grandson shot and the buck dissapeared. I was sure I heard the bullit hit but still could not be sure, Alex said he was pretty sure he hit him so we loaded up and took off. After a short hike accross a steep rocky granite hillside we spread out looking for him, a couple minutes later we both boh spotted him where he had rolled down the hill.
I can still remember the joy and jubilation that I had when my son shot his first buck, but I have to say as I have gotten older these moments in life are what make life special. I thanked Alex and told him this is a moment in life and a memory that will last us the rest of our lives. I'm so proud of him not only because of this but because he will be serving our country and because of the man he's turning out to be.
The shot we heard 20 seconds or so before he shot, turned out to be his dad (my son Rick) as he shot the buck he had been scouting all summer long. Three days later Alex was along with me when I took a nice 3 pointer, his borther Austin finally got his first buck with the help of his dad. My cousin and his two boys all got their bucks, that's what I call and "excaptional year" especially for a DIY public land general season Idaho hunt.
