QDMAMAN
11-25-2008, 01:36 PM
This young man, Daryl, is the son of a former coworker who relocated to Florida in 2004 when Daryl was 13. Daryl, at age 12, was a guest of ours in the fall of 2003 for deer season and chose to sit with my son, Brett, on opening morning. Brett shot his first buck, a 3.5 yo 9 pt., that day and Daryl was hooked. Because of the untimely move to Florida Daryl missed out on what would have been his first deer season in 2005.
Due to a number of circumstances Daryl moved back to Michigan and is living with friends while pursuing his GED and an eventual career in the U.S. Army.
When I was informed that he would be moving back to Michigan I was asked if I would be interestd in continuing to mentor him in the deer woods, of course, I jumped at the chance.
Because of Daryl's school schedule archery season wasn't an option so we focused on the firearm season. Daryl came out to the Smith Ponderosa to shoot on a couple of occasions until I was confident in his shooting abilities. A game plan was formulated for Nov. 15th and plans for Daryl as a guest were set. Daryl called on the 13th to ask if I would be upset if he hunted with another friend on opening weekend on state land. Although I was confident he had a better opportunity at my place, I conceded and we made plans for the 2nd weekend.
On Friday Nov. 21st, I picked up Daryl for the weekend and by 3:00 in the afternoon we were settled into a pop up blind in the corner of my Eaton Co. lease. Deer sightings were slim and we saw 2-3 does moving along the neighbors line about 75 yds out. Just enough action to keep our attention.
About 20 minutes before the end of shooting light Daryl informed me we could go any time. I instructed him to look through the scope to see the difference the light gathering capabilities of the Leuplod made vs. the shadows of the pop blind and he was satisfied we could stay a few more minutes. About 5 minutes later the tell tail sound of an approaching deer snapped us to attention as a doe headed our way. She stopped about 20 yds in front of us and Daryl quickly had the crosshairs on her. I asked if he had a clear view of her and he said yes so I informed him that if he wanted to take her he had a green light. It was less that a second and the hammer was back and down as the doe collapsed in her tracks.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/522/medium/Tony_s_2008_buck_056.jpg (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/522/Tony_s_2008_buck_056.jpg)
Daryl had his first, but not last, whitetail deer. Hugs and high 5s were flyin as we approached Daryl's trophy.
It's easy for me to get lulled into forgetting what my first whitetail felt like and sharing this experience with Daryl gave me an opportunity to reminasce the shooting of my first, a 3" spike I took on the opener way back in 1979.
Daryl informed me that some day when he had his own property that I could be a guest of his. I have no doubt it will happen someday and I have no doubt Daryl will someday mentor an enthusiastic youth with visions of big bucks dancing in their head.
Big T
Due to a number of circumstances Daryl moved back to Michigan and is living with friends while pursuing his GED and an eventual career in the U.S. Army.
When I was informed that he would be moving back to Michigan I was asked if I would be interestd in continuing to mentor him in the deer woods, of course, I jumped at the chance.
Because of Daryl's school schedule archery season wasn't an option so we focused on the firearm season. Daryl came out to the Smith Ponderosa to shoot on a couple of occasions until I was confident in his shooting abilities. A game plan was formulated for Nov. 15th and plans for Daryl as a guest were set. Daryl called on the 13th to ask if I would be upset if he hunted with another friend on opening weekend on state land. Although I was confident he had a better opportunity at my place, I conceded and we made plans for the 2nd weekend.
On Friday Nov. 21st, I picked up Daryl for the weekend and by 3:00 in the afternoon we were settled into a pop up blind in the corner of my Eaton Co. lease. Deer sightings were slim and we saw 2-3 does moving along the neighbors line about 75 yds out. Just enough action to keep our attention.
About 20 minutes before the end of shooting light Daryl informed me we could go any time. I instructed him to look through the scope to see the difference the light gathering capabilities of the Leuplod made vs. the shadows of the pop blind and he was satisfied we could stay a few more minutes. About 5 minutes later the tell tail sound of an approaching deer snapped us to attention as a doe headed our way. She stopped about 20 yds in front of us and Daryl quickly had the crosshairs on her. I asked if he had a clear view of her and he said yes so I informed him that if he wanted to take her he had a green light. It was less that a second and the hammer was back and down as the doe collapsed in her tracks.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/522/medium/Tony_s_2008_buck_056.jpg (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/522/Tony_s_2008_buck_056.jpg)
Daryl had his first, but not last, whitetail deer. Hugs and high 5s were flyin as we approached Daryl's trophy.
It's easy for me to get lulled into forgetting what my first whitetail felt like and sharing this experience with Daryl gave me an opportunity to reminasce the shooting of my first, a 3" spike I took on the opener way back in 1979.
Daryl informed me that some day when he had his own property that I could be a guest of his. I have no doubt it will happen someday and I have no doubt Daryl will someday mentor an enthusiastic youth with visions of big bucks dancing in their head.
Big T