I spent a LOT of time in the deer stand this year. We were at our lease for 3 and 4 days weekends all of November and the first weekend of December including the entire week of Thanksgiving. It was great. There are actually two specific hunts that I consider my favortie hunts of this year.

We've been on our current lease for 3 years now. I spent the first year hunting with a broken ankle in a cast (I managed to fall off a curb just 1 week before opening day) and the second season 8 months pregant so it was nice not to have a "disability" this year. Or so I thought. Turns out a taking an 11 month old to a deer stand is not such an easy task. I figured he'd be fine with toys and something to drink..haha.

Anyway, one of my best hunts this year was when my baby was with me. He was with me (though not born yet) when I shot a 140 inch perfect 10 pointer last year so I hoped he'd be my good luck charm this year. Well, I did see a nice mature buck on Thanksgiving evening about the same size as the one that I shot last year. I saw it run away when Aaron (the baby) pointed it out for me rather loudly with a "Ooooh. What's that?" I was pretty upset at first but then I realilzed that he actually SAW the deer and was excited because I've tried to get him to see them and understand all season that it was something REAL out there. Can't stay mad at something so cute for long.

My second favorite hunt was when my 7 year old son was with me. We had just bought him a youth .243 this year in anticipation of him taking his first deer. We checked it and made sure that the scope was on when we got to the lease and opening evening, I took him with me. He was so excited that it took everything that I had not to let him shoot the tiny spike that came out first. Finally a nice sized doe came out and he got ready, took a deep breath, and shot his first deer (a doe). Now I don't get nervous anymore when I'm about to shoot a doe. I've killed plenty of them and it really doesn't get me revved up as much any more. Well, seeing my son about to shoot his first doe, you would have thought there was a 180 class buck standing in front of me. To finish though, he dropped her straight to the ground, perfect shot. He is so proud and thinks its time to move onto something with horns now. I keep telling him that his dad and I get to go first.

And maybe I'll still get that buck this year. I've got one more weekend to make it happen. If not though, it will still be worth it.