Badger Deer Camp - Badger Sportsman Magazine

NOT SO TOTALLY BLAND–O
Two hours later after a short rattling sequence I heard
the sound of a whitetail ambling through fallen autumn
leaves. Soon thereafter I spied a large bodied deer sporting
not so large antlers.
The buck slowly wandered within range and eventually
offered one of those tough, quartering away, standing still
10 yard shots. I released the arrow and after the telltale
“twok” and the deer’s subsequent mad dash I looked up
and said, “You are an awesome God!”
I sat for another hour and then hurriedly returned to
the chicken coop. Along the way I texted Ali and Mary so
by the time I arrived they had already informed Grandpa
who had returned as well.
When we returned to my stand Dad asked where the
buck was standing when I shot. I said, “I can do one
better, I’ll take you to last blood.”
We went to last blood and I said to my Dad, “Stay
here.” At first he dutifully stayed but then turned to Ali
and said, “Stay here.” You’ve probably already guessed
but Ali turned to Mary and said, “Stay here.”
The hit was a good one so we quickly found more and
more blood. Each time I asked Dad to move up and each
time he asked Ali to do the same. Ali would always turn
to Mary and the rest of us would begin moving ahead in
the direction we thought the deer had travelled.
We had only travelled sixty yards when I rounded a
bend to see the white under belly of an expired buck.
Although not a “Pope and Younger,” this buck did serve
as an exciting rally point and bridge between three
generations of bow hunters.
Emotionally this was one of the best hunts I’ve
experienced. It’s hard to describe the euphoric feeling I
felt when I realized the unique opportunity I had to not
only teach my own children to hunt, but to also assist my
dad so he can experience the hunt as long as possible.
It’s hard to describe the
euphoric feeling I felt
when I realized the unique
opportunity I had to
not only teach my own
children to hunt, but to
also assist my dad so he
can experience the hunt
as long as possible.
Dad’s greatest gift to me was an introduction to the
outdoors. I’m not sure when we shifted from Dad taking
the lead to me taking the lead. I just know it happened
and I’m thankful it did.
My gift to my daughters is a pledge to share the outdoors
with them until they are old enough to enjoy it without
my help.
I hope that one day they include me with their children
and that they tell me what to wear, what to pack, what
time to leave the coop, wind direction, where to place my
stand etc., etc.
I also hope they give me the opportunity to stand at
“last blood.”
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8 ❘ Badger Sportsman ❘ badgersportsman.com ❘ NOVEMBER 2011