We just got back to the house. I had just posted last night about not seeing any deer during daylight, this morning certainly lifts the spirits.

I had a spot in mind in the National Forest (Oakmulgee), but couldn't get to it because a road was closed. Went in blind in a fairly recent clearcut that I had seen a few days earlier when driving by.

The fog was so thick I could hardly see 20 yards. After about 20 minute the fog started to lift. sbo1971 had posted the other day about those estrus can calls and I had picked one up on Sunday. Had my son (6) tip the can over and within 5 minutes I had a deer in the clearcut off to my left. I looked back to tell my son I saw one and made sure his hearing protection was in place. The deer was perfectly broadside. About 100 yards out. Line up the crosshairs, pull the trigger, and nothing happens. Take the gun off safety, line up the crosshairs, and boom! Deer runs off toward the woods and I try to mentally mark where it was standing and the path it took.

We didn't give it as much time as we probably should have, but we were moving pretty slow as we go to look for blood where the deer was standing when shot.





I don't know if my son can see blood better than I can or if a lot of it was just at eye level for him, but he was the first to see blood. Turns out he's a great tracker.



Got to a spot where we lost the blood trail, but I noticed a white belly in the woods. I pretend like I don't see it, but helped to guide my son in the right direction.



To be perfectly honest, I thought it was a doe when I first fired off a shot. Only a few days left where doe are legal on National Forest land so I would have been happy either way.



Of course, dragging him out about killed me. Had a cart, but would have done no good whatsoever. It was at this point, after pulling him up the ridge, my son looks at me and asks "Tired?"



Got him back to the truck and safely to the processor. Going to have a euro mount done since it is my first racked buck and first deer of any kind we've killed together. Couldn't be happier. He had the window down in the truck yelling "WE KILLED A DEER!"

I appreciate all the tips and support I've gotten from all of y'all. This is something we'll never forget.

Congrats.

Good deal.

Congrats

Memories for a lifetime. Congrats

Awesome! Looking forward to the pics and story!

Good job

congrats

Congrats!

Big news! Congratulations!

Awesome!

WTG Joe. Anticipating story and pics.

I talked to Joe a little while ago and you could tell they were both tickled

WOOHOO!

Congrats!

Good job man!

Awesome, man I can't to see pics and read the story, I love this stuff!

Great pictures