Let’s start off about 50 years ago. I would be 4 or 5 and be so heartbroken when my Dad would go hunting with out me. He would say I was just to young. I remember crying sometimes for hours. Then, with a little more age, it started happening. My Dad, Uncle and myself. We did not use bait and blinds back then. It was spot and stalk or just find a good point and sit the afternoon away. Whitetail Deer, Turkeys ,Armadillos, coons and ringtails. I shot my first buck with my Uncle by my side when my Dad put a little drive on. It was a mighty 3 pointer. Many, many deer have been harvested since then. No real trophies, just blue collar hunting. Texas and some western hunting too with success. Our Family hunts
This brings me to today. My Dad is 81 years old. And while not the 250 lb, solid, behemoth of a Man He once was, He’s still the most level headed Man I know. Albeit a little fragile these days.
Our place is in the Hill Country and while we cannot raise a good white tail buck, We do have Axis. Most evenings here lately, I have had a mature axis buck showing up on the newly planted hay crop. I am a bowhunter for the most part and I just cannot get in the mood to pattern this deer and sit for several sits to kill this axis. I do my bowhunting in the winter mostly.
Friday evening (I can watch all this from my porch at about 900 yards) There were 3 mature axis bucks show up on this field. I told myself, That’s it, I’m calling my Dad. It’s a, Hey Pop, get over here tomorrow evening, I’ve got this axis buck I want You to shoot. He did not seem all that enthused (His freezer stays full of venison) So I just let it go. Well, Saturday about noon, He calls and says, OK, I’ll be there. So with that, I got the double bull out and set it up back some oaks. Cleared some limbs to have ample shot opportunity’s. Got Him in the blind about 6:15 and told Him they should start showing around 7:30. Well, 7:30 and nothing. 7:45 a few axis does started showing. 8 oclock and there He shows.
Now mind You, I am on my porch With my 12 power bino’s on a tripod watching this all take place. As He enters the field, about mid way in, I’m thinking, the first time He stops…….And just that fast, His legs just collapse under Him. IT’S OVER. Hilarious. With the muzzle blast hitting me about a second later.
Nadine (My Wife), Marley and I, hop on the Ranger and halfway down there I see my Dad walking to his Axis. We all get there at the same time.We look at the Buck, we look at each other, We shake Hands, and I see Me in His eyes, 50 years ago
For those of You who are fortunate enough, get out there with Your Parents and Children…… it really is all about them.
Thanks for listening
This brings me to today. My Dad is 81 years old. And while not the 250 lb, solid, behemoth of a Man He once was, He’s still the most level headed Man I know. Albeit a little fragile these days.
Our place is in the Hill Country and while we cannot raise a good white tail buck, We do have Axis. Most evenings here lately, I have had a mature axis buck showing up on the newly planted hay crop. I am a bowhunter for the most part and I just cannot get in the mood to pattern this deer and sit for several sits to kill this axis. I do my bowhunting in the winter mostly.
Friday evening (I can watch all this from my porch at about 900 yards) There were 3 mature axis bucks show up on this field. I told myself, That’s it, I’m calling my Dad. It’s a, Hey Pop, get over here tomorrow evening, I’ve got this axis buck I want You to shoot. He did not seem all that enthused (His freezer stays full of venison) So I just let it go. Well, Saturday about noon, He calls and says, OK, I’ll be there. So with that, I got the double bull out and set it up back some oaks. Cleared some limbs to have ample shot opportunity’s. Got Him in the blind about 6:15 and told Him they should start showing around 7:30. Well, 7:30 and nothing. 7:45 a few axis does started showing. 8 oclock and there He shows.
Now mind You, I am on my porch With my 12 power bino’s on a tripod watching this all take place. As He enters the field, about mid way in, I’m thinking, the first time He stops…….And just that fast, His legs just collapse under Him. IT’S OVER. Hilarious. With the muzzle blast hitting me about a second later.
Nadine (My Wife), Marley and I, hop on the Ranger and halfway down there I see my Dad walking to his Axis. We all get there at the same time.We look at the Buck, we look at each other, We shake Hands, and I see Me in His eyes, 50 years ago
For those of You who are fortunate enough, get out there with Your Parents and Children…… it really is all about them.
Thanks for listening
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