[69Viking]

Jspooney and his story about Hannah's first deer got me thinking.

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 theoutdoors and is pretty beat up about missing those two does and having to wait until next year toget anotheropportunity.

I hate asking but if anybody has private property or a lease where they allow guests and could giveAnthony 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 abilitiesand had to takethe picture below torecord the his first timeup a tree this year on Eglin! I know it's late in the game but I've seen the PFF familyhelp so many so I thought I'd giveit one more shot before pack it upand 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 placein 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 fortrying guys, there's been a lot of positive responses and we both appreciate that immensely!

 

[69Viking]

BTT - Did I mention he's a straight "A" student at Bruner Middle School?

 

[SouthernAngler]

If i had a place i would take him. Here's a bump.

 

[imkilroy]

Hey Viking, Is the 15th the only afternoon you can work out? Let me check my schedule but if I can work it out I would be glad to take ya'll. The only stipulation is that guest cannot take buck's. I have doe tag's that you are more than welcome to fill though. Our camp is close to Laurel Hill. Let's see what we can work out.

 

[69Viking]

SouthernAngler thanks for the bump! Kilroy you have PMs.

 

[69Viking]

BTT - Thanks for looking guys, I know it's near the end of the season and options are going to be limited.

 

[69Viking]

BTT - Still holding out hope though time is running out.

 

[Bill's Boy]

pm sent

 

[69Viking]

:bump Well due to the terrible snow storm that shut down schools and businesses in Escambia CountyAnthony isstillopen to hunting all day Monday 2/15/10 (President's Day Holiday) if anyone has somewhere in NW Florida he can hunt from!

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

 

[TUBBLAWNS]

Here's a bump, wish I had somewhere local to take him. Hope it works out, if someone can make it happen you'll never forget the feeling, and he won't either!!!!

 

[Snap]

PM sent Viking

 

[hoboedan]

Just read the post. If you don't have anywhere to take him, let me know. My place is approximately 6 miles north of Laurel Hill, private property with a doe tag and shooting house. No promises, just would like to help a kid. Call Dan @ 850.902.7574 after 9am on Sunday.

 

[69Viking]

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 placein 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 fortrying guys, there's been a lot of positive responses and we both appreciate that immensely!

 

[69Viking]

Yep, jflo14 from the forum is going to be giving us one last chance tomorrow for the season so wish us luck! Thank you jflo14, Bill's Boyand everyone at the PFF, this is a great website, without it we probably wouldn't have had these last couple of chances and I can tell you Anthony and I both appreciate it immensely!

 

[LABDOG3]

Good luck you guys...tell Anthony we are rooting for him...pick a spot and squeeezzzeeee, bang flop!!...hope to meet you both at the PFF fish fry in a couple weeks...

 

[ScullsMcNasty]

hope he smashes one!!! good luck guys!

 

[PensacolaEd]

Make a pile....

 

[69Viking]

Well a rough year for Anthony and I ended on another tough note on Saturday. We were hunting a club that had strict rules for bucks, 6 points or better if you were a kid, 8 points or better if you're an adult. By 8:00 in the morning we had seen about 8 or9 deer but most were young bucks, mixture of spikes, 3 point, and a 5 point. There were a couple of does in the group but Anthony wanted to hold out for a buck since his luck with the does hadn't been so good.

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 thisdate. He kept looking back over his shoulderfrom the direction he came so weknew there must be another deer behind him. Sure enough about 10:50 awide 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 calmdown 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 butsome white hair and absolute no sign of blood or guts for that matter. :bangheadUpon closer inspection we finda couple small pieces of meat from the buck, nothing big but enough to know the buck was hit but hit low. :banghead 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 thickbrush were we saw thebuck trot off to we can't find any blood. We searched for 2 hours and cover about 250 yards into thewoods untilwe reach the creek/swamp area but no sign of blood or adead buckanywhere. :hoppingmad

With no blood trail to follow we all agree to call off the search as hunters would begetting ready to take the stands for afternoon hunts and our trackers wanted to get back to their stands. All in alldespite 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 luckhe 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 andantlers.

On the way home I could tell Anthony was a bitdepressed sowe went shopping for some new fishing poles and I told himwe'll get the boat cleaned up this weekend and make it up catching fish this year. We bothwere 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 andpractices 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 allknow is a part of hunting.

 

[ScullsMcNasty]

:banghead:banghead well atleast yall got to see some bucks and had a pretty good hunt!! get em next year!

 

[Jason]

Sounds like Anthony was definitely snake-bit this year....there is always next year and time to hone up on shooting skills...My offer is still good next year brother!:letsdrink