My son has been trying to get his first deer for two years now hunting in the Alabama Youth Hunt two years in a row and an Eglin Youth Hunt this year.  In addition Jason let us sit a couple of days at his place during doe days and he missed on two nice does due to nerves.  He's patient and has no problem sitting in the cold, I had him out on Eglin in 20 degree temps.  He loves the outdoors and is pretty beat up about missing those two does and having to wait until next year to get another opportunity. 

I hate asking but if anybody has private property or a lease where they allow guests and could give Anthony a second chance this year it would be greatly appreciated.  We have tree climbers so we don't need shooting houses but they do make it easier with a youngster.  At 12 years old I was impressed with his tree climbing abilities and had to take the picture below to record the his first time up a tree this year on Eglin!  I know it's late in the game but I've seen the PFF family help so many so I thought I'd give it one more shot before pack it up and try again next year. 

Update:  Anthony shot and missed with my muzzleloader last weekend but would like to give it one more shot this Saturday now that he's not scared of the kick by the .50 Cal. designation of the muzzleloader.  Anybody have a place in Florida that Anthony can use to try and get his first deer (buck or doe tag if you have extra) on Saturday 2/27/10???  If not we'll clean the boat up next weekend and get ready to catch some fish!   Thanks for trying guys, there's been a lot of positive responses and we both appreciate that immensely! 

  2007 Nautic Star 2000 Offshore/Suzuki DF200

  2007 Nautic Star 2000 Offshore/Suzuki DF200

I only fish on days that end in "Y"                        

GO NOLES!

If guns kill people then pens misspell words.

  2007 Nautic Star 2000 Offshore/Suzuki DF200

  2007 Nautic Star 2000 Offshore/Suzuki DF200

  2007 Nautic Star 2000 Offshore/Suzuki DF200

Thanks everyone who has responded so far and who is actively working to help him out, we both really appreciates it!  Stay warm this weekend, hopefully it's our last cold blast for this winter, it's definitely been a cold one! 

 

  2007 Nautic Star 2000 Offshore/Suzuki DF200

  2007 Nautic Star 2000 Offshore/Suzuki DF200

  2007 Nautic Star 2000 Offshore/Suzuki DF200

http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com/gallery.asp?gallery=1955

After 8:00 all the deer we had been watching moved on and it got quiet.  We didn't see a deer for the next 2.75 hours.  We had planned to sit until 11 am and then take a break for lunch and come back for the afternoon hunt.  At 10:45 a small spike comes out on the food plot and starts feeding but he's the most nervous deer I have a seen to this date.  He kept looking back over his shoulder from the direction he came so we knew there must be another deer behind him.  Sure enough about 10:50 a wide 6 point with thick tall tines walks out, we knew right away he was a shooter.  Anthony gets the muzzlerloader lined up on him and then sits back and says he needs to calm down because his heart is about to come out of his chest!  I tell him to take some deep breaths and try again.  This time he is calmer and takes the shot.  Jflo14 who is sitting with us is watching through his binoculars and sees the impact of the bullet on the buck, he says it's a bit low but a good solid hit. 

Anthony and I are thinking finally but when we walk down to the spot where the buck was standing we initially see nothing but some white hair and absolute no sign of blood or guts for that matter.   Upon closer inspection we find a couple small pieces of meat from the buck, nothing big but enough to know the buck was hit but hit low.  We look some more and no sign of blood to follow.  Jflo14 calls in a couple of good trackers from the club and even with 5 of us following the 3 or 4 trails into the thick brush were we saw the buck trot off to we can't find any blood.  We searched for 2 hours and cover about 250 yards into the woods until we reach the creek/swamp area but no sign of blood or a dead buck anywhere.

With no blood trail to follow we all agree to call off the search as hunters would be getting ready to take the stands for afternoon hunts and our trackers wanted to get back to their stands.  All in all despite not finding the buck Anthony and I had a great time.  We got to see how a good hunting club operates and were really impressed.  With any luck he grazed the belly of that buck with minimal damage and as Jflo14 put it, he can come back next year during rifle season and finish him off!  If he is found at a later date  dead Jflo14 said he would make sure Anthony received the skull and antlers. 

On the way home I could tell Anthony was a bit depressed so we went shopping for some new fishing poles and I told him we'll get the boat cleaned up this weekend and make it up catching fish this year.  We both were skunked this year (me for the first time in 6 years) and were ready to put it behind us and concentrate on fishing!  I have a feeling next year will be a much better year.  I am making it my mission that Anthony hits the target range and practices a lot more before next season starts. 

Jflo14 thank you for a great time Saturday, we really enjoyed the hunt despite the end result which we all know is a part of hunting.      

 

  2007 Nautic Star 2000 Offshore/Suzuki DF200

http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com/gallery.asp?gallery=1955

Learn to post like the pro's from the Official PFF Po-Po!

Follow these links:  http://www.pensacolafishingforum.com/fishingforum/Topic167506-3-1.aspx?Highlight=posting+pictures This does not work w/ all browsers...Those not using Internet Explorer may have to go to a photo gallery of sorts to load their pics...  you can use this free photo gallery by PFF : http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com/pictureprocessor/default.asp?reason=You%20Are%20Logged%20Out! To post YouTube and such videos go to this link and read my post: http://www.pensacolafishingforum.com/fishingforum/Topic202966-59-1.aspx?Highlight=youtube