Outdoorsman Thread

[treefarmer]

In addition to a great Thanksgiving get together with our three children and their families, I got to take my oldest grandson to the deer woods this afternoon. I took a short nap after our 2pm dinner and then we headed over to the lease. We sat up in the little hunting blind/utility trailer and sat for about 45 minutes. Grandson Christian whispered, "I can hear something walking." I'm about as deaf as a door knob but sure enough I spotted some antlers in the thick bushes. He came out and walked straight away from us and never turned side ways. Christian said, "I hear another one!", sure enough another smaller buck was in the thick brush to the west of our stand. He kept watching our location then finally walked out but immediately turned north and followed the other buck. Then both of them began to stare into the woods to the east. Four or five more deer moved into the old clay pit area. They were all does. Finally the 2nd buck turned to face the does and Christian took his shot. All of the deer ran to the east. He said, "Granddaddy, did I miss?" I told him lets go check it out. We found sign of a good hit and decided to see if we had a good blood trail. There was enough evidence to be fairly confident that we already had a dead deer. I held back and let him look and he found another big gob of blood, then he said, "I see him!" Sure enough, under a blown down pine tree was his 1st deer, a 5 point. Here are some of the pictures taken by a proud Granddaddy:

Waiting, looking and listening.

Evidence of a good hit.

More evidence.

Proof of a good hit!

Here's the deer hunter with his buck.

Here's the smile that tells the story!

Treefarmer

[royal0014]

AWESOME STUFF !!
Congrats to the new hunter on a good harvest ..

[philco]

Phil I know that made your day. It pleased me just seeing the pictures and reading the story. Not much better than being able to share such an experience with a grandchild. He'll never forget it ! Please convey my congratulations to him.

[Old Hunter]

Phil, what a Thanksgiving hunt to remember and cherish - an ancient American tradition continued to the next generation! Congratulations to your grandson and to you. OH

[TripleF]

OMG............so, so awesome.
Life is memories.....and you all just made another!!

Much respect to both of you!

[jmh58]

That is just plain KOOL Phil.. A BIG Congrats to your grandson on his deer!! NICE!! John

[Tony_Wood]

Ken, Scott, Phil... good stuff. Great times with the young men. Keep the traditions going.

[LongBlade]

TF - That is just great and he will remember it forever - and every Thanksgiving those memories will truly resurface with thoughts of his first deer (and a nice buck ) and being with his Grandpa ... Very cool!!!

[doglegg]

Phil, I see his big smile, I bet yours matched it. Exciting times for both of you.

[big monk]

Congrats on an awesome hunt to the both of you !!!!

[Unk]

Awesome Guys, congratulations!

[treefarmer]

Thank y'all for the kind comments. We're are going again this afternoon with the younger brother, same place, same time and hopefully the same results. That's hard to do two days in a row. The wind is still good for that stand, it been overcast all day, probably should go a little sooner this afternoon as it will get dark sooner. Last night we had a beautiful moon rise when we were loading the deer.
Yesterday afternoon, Christian was shooting an old Remington 788 in .243, the same rifle our son killed his first deer with 30 years ago.
Treefarmer

[LongBlade]

Yesterday afternoon, Christian was shooting an old Remington 788 in .243, the same rifle our son killed his first deer with 30 years ago.
Treefarmer

Now that is too cool TF ... Just imagine if some day a great grandson shoots his first deer with that rifle too - we as knife “nuts” just love tradition and handing down those knives (or guns) steeped in the family !! Good luck this afternoon - hoping to hear for a repeat of yesterday’s hunt ...

[garddogg56]

Couple deer the kids shot this turkey weekend at -4degrees a 110 lb spike and a 130lb doe.Last pick cooking the loin and coffee in the wood

[treefarmer]

Gdogg, y'all are some tough dudes! That minus 4 would keep me by the fire! Looks like y'all know how to handle the cold. What's the young feller in the 3rd picture diggin' for? Congratulations on a great hunt.

Meanwhile, back in the Florida Panhandle, we had hoped for a repeat performance from yesterday but Bambi didn't keep his appointment. Still had a great afternoon with Grandson #2!
Maybe next time. Sure wish these fellers lived closer to home. They did catch a few small bass in the ponds yesterday and today.
Here is grandson #2, Maddox, lookin' for Bambi:

Looking deep into the scrub oaks and pines around the old clay pit.

Treefarmer

[Old Hunter]

Great hunting Dogg! You guys make below zero look easy ( I know better!). OH

Phil, wish #2 had dropped one as well, maybe he can come back by himself?

[treefarmer]

Bruce I wish he could but he's got to go back to school. Lord willing, we'll go visit them in February on his birthday. He'll be a teenager then!
Got to get their deer in the cooler, the weather has been perfect up until this morning for ageing a carcass.
Doe season for today and tomorrow. Off a week, then M/L for a week then back to rifle season which goes on forever....ends February 17th, 2019, then one more week of M/L, February 18-24. Last few years I though it would never end, must be that I'm gettin' old.
Treefarmer

[TripleF]

Had 16 kids and 3 adults yesterday......

[garddogg56]

With the Grandson TF that's what it's all about Mine have hockey thanx OH

[LongBlade]

Couple deer the kids shot this turkey weekend at -4degrees a 110 lb spike and a 130lb doe.Last pick cooking the loin and coffee in the wood

Looks like a great day garddogg56 ... Nothing like coffee and fresh venison in the outdoors - -4 degrees or not - up in New England you either hibernate or enjoy the cold outdoors - I’m the latter of the 2 ... I’ve been out ice fishing in -20 degrees with wind chill but nothing like firing up the grill for a fresh trout etc even in that weather ... I have to say though my favorite is March where the lake is frozen solid and the temperature can be a balmy 40 degrees

[Mumbleypeg]

Gdogg, glad you got some venison for the table, but that last picture is what it's all about!

Scott, sure is good to see you're back at it again.

Ken

[Quick Steel]

Scott, looking at those kids in the woods just makes life seem a little saner to me. Keep on keeping on sir.

[jmh58]

Very KOOL GD, Phil and Scott!! John

[doglegg]

Scott, nice to see those kids with nothing electronic in their hands. Traipse through the woods, fiddle with sticks, get your feet wet, build a fire, life is good. A successful day!

[garddogg56]

Thanx guys Good to see you back at it Scott