A spiker gets his 1st

Yep it’s another 1st deer story but we all like them especially when it’s your boy so thanks for tolerating it. :) Arlo not long turned 9 has been asking when he’ll get his 1st deer for a while now, he’s shot rabbits then ducks and a couple of goats in the last year since I suppressed the .308 so he could.
Anything we hunt he enjoys eating and processing for that matter but I couldn’t help feel a deer wasn’t going to come that easily maybe as it didn’t for me.

My work and g to he wife’s work schedule allowed me to plan a weekend ( last weekend) and the excitement started, managed to quell it a bit to the point where the 9yro old soul says “ it’s ok dad if we don’t get one it will just be nice to be in the bush” :D
The date and plan was set but I wasn’t confident enough in the boys shooting as both of his goats were taken close range and I knew a deer probably wouldn’t happen that way. So a week before we headed out to fire a few and although I chose a horrible uphill range and rest he managed a convincing enough group at 105m to think it was ethical.
The weekend arrived and we headed of after work Friday to a very cool block I worked a year previously with a few deer the owner wanted controlling but we’re elusive it also borders doc land which is where I shot a couple previously and seen a few others.

After a quick catch up with the owner we headed up to where I thought it might be best to camp looking out to the doc, on the way we stopped the truck at a point I knew we could get through the trees and see a little of a gully, giving it was only 6.30 we crashed through without rifle binos etc ………. Of course once my eyes adjusted from the dark forest to the sunny gully there were3 deer happily feeding in the sun on the opposite face 1st glance I called it as 3 hinds.
Attachment 192834.
One looked straight at us as they do, so we both froze until she put her head back down then we retreated hastily through the litte patch of trees, assemble the rifle and the bare essentials in case there was still a chance.
Unbelievably 20 mins later they were still there so we found a good rest and I ranged them at 135m so was fairly happy with Arlo shooting but could see the adrenaline in him , and especially when he says looking through the scope “dad the one on the left has antlers “ let’s face it any young boy would like antlers on his 1st but it just so had it this one was presented best. I asked him twice if he was good on it before I pushed the safety off and I won’t lie after the sound of the shot the sound of the hit was a massive relief to me although I kept up my uncertainty act until he walked up on it.
Attachment 192841

Trip back up was a reality check Attachment 192842. Dad tried to be a hero, made it halfway before fly proofing the carcass then coming back in the morning to do the smart thing and 2 trips Attachment 192843.

I bagged a yearling next morning in the doc and we decided that was plenty headed home a day early to get the butchering done , which is another story Attachment 192845 Attachment 192846
Very happy days!
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Well done young fella and a proud Dad

:thumbsup:

Pure gold !!
Making memories right there [emoji106]
Well done

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Excellent, congratulations to the young fella, I'm more impressed that he wants to be a part of the retrieval and proccessing.

Going by the smile hooked for life hot barrels Arlo [emoji106][emoji869]

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Nice work all round.

Hit the bastard fair and square thats for sure !

Love the blood on the crocs and foot!!

That's the way it should be done well done both of you.

The young fella's living his dream...just brilliant ti see the glow,
well done guys.