Bull Pen, Mandy Hollow and Cari's Corner

Jack's First Deer
Jack got out of school for Christmas holidays midday on Thursday so he and his Mom met me halfway so Jack and I could go hunting and just hang out together. Jack loves to target practice with any gun and is quite a good worker/helper for a city 9 year old. He has always had more interest in guns and hunting than his older brother. At Thanksgiving my brother let him shoot his 223 a few times so Jack would be ready!

When Jack got in the truck he handed me this "Thank You" letter. He was excited about going to the farm, hunting, and realized that this might be an opportunity to shoot at a deer. We were both excited!

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A cold front was moving in on Thursday afternoon with a chilly north wind. That would be no problem to most of you but us southern guys have thin blood. We decked out in new Christmas camo and headed to the shooting house. It was cold but some deer magazines and Poppa's phone helped us pass the time (Oh, and a lot of Starburst)

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No luck on Thursday afternoon, so we headed out again on Friday morning. This time the temps were in the 20s. Right after we were setup Jack saw a doe at the top of the hill walking away from us. I am afraid she heard us coming in and setting up. Later a spike showed up but not in a spot for Jack's first shot.

We got down after a couple of hours and headed to Gramma's for breakfast! My son used to say that was the best part of hunting at the farm. We then did some target practice, stand work and sawtooth pruning. Jack is always right there to help in any way, but he enjoys the target shooting most of all

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While we are hanging out I get an email picture of some deer at Mandy Hollow. So we gather up our stuff and begin to sneak up on the food plot. Lucky for us we spot the deer and have a big hickory tree to hide our movement to get in place to shoot. I explained to Jack to use the tree as a gun rest, wait until the deer is broadside, breathe, find a shoulder and squeeze the trigger. Seemed like it took forever for the deer to turn broadside. The deer turned, Jack settled on the shoulder and BOOM! Deer dropped....first shot ever at a deer and no tracking needed.

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Job well done. He was happy and I was proud! So glad I could be a part of the adventure.

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After I put the blood on his face he wanted to show his "mean" side and send that picture to his older brother

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We messaged everybody, talked on the phone, took a trip to the processor! This is Jack on the way back home after an exciting day.

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Jack and I really made a difference to many of the Sawtooth trees. They needed a haircut. Here are some before and after.

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Lak, that is just an awesome pictorial history of his deer hunt. You need to put that hunt in a scrapbook and give it to him a few years later. I love it.......
 
Lakn, I'm heading to a family funeral today and that story just made my day. What an awesome grandson and tell him I said I've seen grownups miss a tough shot like that. And he is one lucky lad to have you and others train him in woodsman ship so well. Nothing like a stalk hunt and harvest. Just awesome. His brother may be like mine. He always loves shooting guns and bows but never had any desire to hunt. People are different. Thanks for sharing. I told you that you would travel the country then return with some great hunting.
 
Congratulations to young Jack and a kudos to PaPa for help making it a reality for him! I really liked the letter he wrote. That is so very, very special and should be cherished.

This is what it's all about folks!
 
What a great story. Congrats to both of you on a great harvest. Lots of excitement when a young one kills his/her first deer. Thanks for bringing us along on the hunt.

Todd
 
Lak, that is just an awesome pictorial history of his deer hunt. You need to put that hunt in a scrapbook and give it to him a few years later. I love it.......
Thanks, Native. I tried to take some pics along the way. Glad I was able to recreate the shot from the tree. He did a great job.

Congrats!!! Awesome hunt and Jack is the man,he will remember that hunt for a long time. Well done:)
As he said in the note, he has told ALL the family. His Dad's family had a Christmas gathering the day after so he had a great audience.

Lakn, I'm heading to a family funeral today and that story just made my day. What an awesome grandson and tell him I said I've seen grownups miss a tough shot like that. And he is one lucky lad to have you and others train him in woodsman ship so well. Nothing like a stalk hunt and harvest. Just awesome. His brother may be like mine. He always loves shooting guns and bows but never had any desire to hunt. People are different. Thanks for sharing. I told you that you would travel the country then return with some great hunting.
Glad it gave you a good moment. I am glad my brother was able to work with him a bit. I am not that great of a shot with gun. I was always more confident with bow....Next Friday Jack, his brother, his Dad and I are returning to Mandy Hollow. All four of us!

Congratulations to young Jack and a kudos to PaPa for help making it a reality for him! I really liked the letter he wrote. That is so very, very special and should be cherished.
This is what it's all about folks!
Thanks Okie. I know how much you enjoy getting in the stands with Eli. It was so special to be there with Jack. As we waited for deer to turn Jack held the gun and got a little wavy (the 223 is a pretty heavy gun). So I walked up closer to him, put my arms around him and gun, and showed him how the tree could help him steady. So I just stayed right there as the deer turned, asked him if he had crosshairs on shoulder, and then BOOM. I just continued to hug him.


What a great story. Congrats to both of you on a great harvest. Lots of excitement when a young one kills his/her first deer. Thanks for bringing us along on the hunt.
Todd
My brother was with my son when he killed his first deer, so I missed that. But I was with my son when he got his first bow deer. Both of these moments are very similar. My daughter (who does not hunt) has told me over and over again how much she appreciated Jack getting this experience. It is jus the first of many. This morning I emailed Jack a picture of another deer in Mandy. He replied "Can we shoot it?"
 
One other thing that I was pleased to see. I have some pear trees that are in their third year. A couple of trees this year had blooms and pears, and one tree was loaded. I want them to be old fashioned bell shaped pears but these turned out to be more like small ornamental pears. I have tasted a couple and they are ok but not what I expected, so I had hoped the deer would still like em.
Here is what the tree and ground looked like on December 1 of this year

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I checked it on Friday when Jack and I were there.....the tree was empty and the ground was clean!

And found this among the struggling food plot grains. Some CLOVER! It should do well with the moisture we have had lately

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Wow! Just made my day reading this story. You can't explain grand children till you have them. Something really special right there that both of you will always remember. Congrats to Jack on getting it done and blessings to Pops for being involved in a grandson's life! Good stuff!!!
 
Congrats on the deer!
Sent from my SM-S975L using Tapatalk
Thanks. It is satisfying to share my joy with some folks who will understand!

Wow! Just made my day reading this story. You can't explain grand children till you have them. Something really special right there that both of you will always remember. Congrats to Jack on getting it done and blessings to Pops for being involved in a grandson's life! Good stuff!!!
And no doubt this is a Grandpa who gets it. While this deer was not anything as big as your grandson has killed, it was a great first, a great day to be alive. And Jack is already talking about something on the wall for next time!
 
Wow Lak, what a great story! Those pictures are just priceless, something I'm sure you'll both treasure for many years to come.
 
just getting caught up! Great stuff with the grandkiddo! Pruning and stuff already, you are on top of it my friend!
Thanks buck, it is a great time of the year. Lots to do, but enjoyable. Merry Christmas to you and bride to be!

Wow Lak, what a great story! Those pictures are just priceless, something I'm sure you'll both treasure for many years to come.
Thanks, I have been sending Jack some pictures of deer showing up daily at Mandy. He writes back "Will he be there Friday?"
 
Thanks buck, it is a great time of the year. Lots to do, but enjoyable. Merry Christmas to you and bride to be!


Thanks, I have been sending Jack some pictures of deer showing up daily at Mandy. He writes back "Will he be there Friday?"

Sounds like he's hooked, good job Poppa!
 
Lak, if there was ever any doubt, you can lay it to rest. That boy is a hunter! Congrats to both of you. Great pics.
 
Congratulations on the hunt you guys, very nice.

Those pears look like the root stock pears that I grew in Iowa, they never went un eaten.

G
 
Merry Christmas to you too my friend!
Lak, if there was ever any doubt, you can lay it to rest. That boy is a hunter! Congrats to both of you. Great pics.
Congratulations on the hunt you guys, very nice.

Those pears look like the root stock pears that I grew in Iowa, they never went un eaten.

G

Thanks all. Jack and I got to retell the story to lots of family and friends over the holidays. Trying now to find more time to go, what with school, basketball and such. We got Jack's meat from the processor and they had some sausage for breakfast. It was a big hit.

Been getting some GOOD rain at farm. Problem is the rain came with wind and storms, and my cell camera abruptly stopped Monday around 5:30pm.. I hope lightening did not get it. But I am so glad all those little seedlings continue to keep their roots wet, and the Bull Pen pond needs lots of water
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