Doe and Management Hunts

[Larry]

I was truly honored to share camp with you two, Stephen. I'm even more honored to be a part of such a special moment for you as a dad. I felt it the moment Jacob hopped out of the truck! The term is often used, but I just have to say it...weekends like this are pretty much "what it's all about." I love to hunt, but playing a part in fanning the flame that ignites the passion in our kids is as rewarding as it gets. I had a blast getting to know y'all, chatting about anything and everything, laughing with Jacob and most of all, watching Jay get treated like a punching bag.

Here are a few more pics I snapped with my phone of the recovery and then back at camp in no particular order.













That Jacob was so excited when he got to get out and open a gate. If only Jay was so enthusiastic about this necessary chore!



Thanks again for letting me be a part of this memory for you guys. Hope to see y'all again next season.

[Buckshot-73]

Tex,that is good stuff...the Cross J is becoming a great place for making memories of a lifetime.congratulations on a great deer..

Jay,next time you have a cancelation,call me. I have to redeem myself with that slickhead!!

Johnny,that is a great pic you posted.


And for the record,I was not sleeping. I was surfing TBH,catching up on Mr. Micheal's south Texas adventure. !!

[Buckshot-73]

Hi Larry.

[Buckshot-73]

And I am still kicking myself for not attempting a shot at a turkey,since they came in three times.

[LastHurrah]

Great write-ups! Congrats on the buck Stephen!

[Larry]

Hi Larry.

I am kicking myself right now for not texting you Friday evening as I was leading Stephen and son to camp. No lie, as soon as we left the meeting spot headed down 2850, I said to myself "I bet Alan would be here in a flash if I told him we had an opening..." Sorry bud. I won't make that mistake twice. I had to cook Saturday night when I should've had my feet kicked up waiting on you to bring me a bowl of your stew.

[texbama]

Yep that is him Johnny. Biggest deer in the world right now as far as Jacob is concerned. Backstraps on the grill tomorrow night.

Ol Split Ear! This was a weekend you or your son will never forget. Thanks for the write up and congrats on a great buck!!

[justhrowit]

I want to thank Jay and Larry for being such good hosts. I know after a million questions and the rowdiness of a youngster can be tiring but they made my boy feel special for a weekend. He has not quit talking about you guys, Dallas, and the buck. Again, thanks for making the trip to Cross J so memorable and special for both Jacob and me. I look forward to seeing you guys back at Cross J next year.

Stephen

Thanks for the kind words, Stephen. This means a lot to me. By far, the best weekends this year for me have been with kids in camp. I've mentioned it before, but I really enjoy the enthusiasm that kids bring to camp, and Jacob was certainly enthusiastic. He takes the Kids Prize for most energy thus far for the year. He was great to have around!

I can't add a whole lot of detail to the weekend, other than what Stephen has posted. Just my perspective and take on the weekend. This thread and my postings, among other things, have become sort of a personal journal for me that I really enjoy. I hope others enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing (typing) them.

This past weekend flew by. It was over before I knew it. I/we usually arrive in camp early Friday afternoons, but both Larry and I had prior commitments which prevented us from doing so. A longer two and half hour trip from East Dallas, landed me at The Cross J camp house around 7:45 Friday night. It was the usual entrance to camp. I let Dallas out of the truck to relieve himself then head into the house to greet and introduce myself to the newest members of the Cross J Camp! Due to a couple last minute cancellations, we ended up with just Stephen and Jacob in camp. This was a little bittersweet, honestly. It was nice to have a slower, more low key weekend, but at the same time, having more hunters, gives up more opportunity to put deer on the ground. After the previous weekend I was beet down, to say the least. It took me off my game all of last week, quite honestly. As I stated, I arrived in camp, gun in hand, ready to put some ducks on the ground.

I dropped Stephen and Jacob off at "Jeff's Draw" early Saturday morning, before going over to Tully's house to catch a ride with him to the duck pond. It was an interesting duck hunt to say the least. No decoys, no cover! Just five guys and a dog, hunched down at the side of a large tank, waiting for some ducks to lock up, and boy did they ever! Five minutes before shooting time, we had ducks dropping in by the, what seemed like, the dozens. At shooting time hit, guns were blazing.

Take em! by Jay DeSimone, on Flickr

Spent by Jay DeSimone, on Flickr
By 9:00 AM we had around 20 ducks down, and Dallas was actually getting tired from retrieving. I'm not sure why, but we actually just stopped hunting and just hung out on the side of the pond. About this time, I picked up the camera and starting snapping pics. I only took 5 shots that morning, and still managed 3 ducks. I was more focused on Dallas getting good marks. It was a proud moment for me as a "Dad", watching my boy do what he loves!

The Big D by Jay DeSimone, on Flickr

The Haul by Jay DeSimone, on Flickr
As we hung around talking a few more groups straggled in and we managed a couple more ducks. I believe we wound up just short of our 5 man limit. Had we concentrated more, that would have happened.

Duck Fest by Jay DeSimone, on Flickr

Afterwards, I headed back to the Cross J ranch to share a cup of coffee with Tully before picking up Stephen and Jacob from stand. I was disappointed to hear they had seen very little movement. This was unexpected with the cool morning and them sitting in a hot location, "Jeff's Draw". We ended up back at camp where everyone settled in for some food and well deserved naps. We headed back out to hunt around 3:00 PM, where Stephen and Jacob sat at "The Ridge". This stand location has blown up. Lot of good pictures, and we had high hopes for the evening. Larry wound up at the North 40. It take much, but Larry convinced me to bring my bow for the weekend and get back in the saddle. I did, and I went right back to DeVine where my mishap took place last weekend. I saw nothing. What did happen, was a not too distant shot that rang out from Stephen's direction. I won't bother to rehash the story, as it would be a complete replication already told by him. We ended up back at camp and I knew Stephen's pain as my memory from the previous weekend was fresh in my mind. The next morning, I ended up back in Devine and Larry was in The Cactus for a brief sit before going to track the downed buck. For some reason, even though there was doubt in Stephen, I knew we'd find that buck, which after a relatively short and easy track, we did!
This is the actual moment father and son walked up on the deer:

IMG_1483 by Jay DeSimone, on Flickr

To say that our little hunter, Jacob, was excited is an understatement. as with hunts in the past, it was an honor to be part of Jacob's first experience of this kind with his Dad!

IMG_1490 by Jay DeSimone, on Flickr

Picture Time by Jay DeSimone, on Flickr

All of a sudden, we realized it was Sunday and time to get back to the Big D for my real life of sitting behind a desk So, the sun has set on another successful weekend at the Cross J Ranch. New friendships and new bonds have been made while memories which will never be erased have been etched in the minds who were all part of this great weekend! I loaded up the truck, put Dallas in the backseat, and pointed North. As I do every weekend on the way out of camp, I got to reflect a bit on the weekend and this season. I got to say, life is pretty **** good in deer camp!

This will have been the last weekend of the 2011 calendar year for the Cross J Ranch. To all of those who are reading and have followed along with me/us this season, Merry Christmas and have a safe, happy, and prosperous New Years! I'm looking forward to Friday, January 6th 2012, when we are back in camp! Until next year!

Jay

[Jeremy7306]

Good write up Jay, and congrats on the nice buck taken!

[Johnny]

Per usual, great write up Jay and you and that camera seem to get along just fine. Great pics homie.

[texbama]

Thanks for posting the pictures Jay. As we were sitting around last night, Jacob said he wanted to go back to Cross J and have a boxing rematch with you. I know that you are probably shaking right now at the idea of have a rematch, but I would like to thank you and Larry again for a great weekend.

[justhrowit]

You tell Jacob ANY DAY, ANY TIME!!!!!!!!!

As I read this, I realize I'm supposed to send you some pictures via e-mail. I'll get those now.

J

Thanks for posting the pictures Jay. As we were sitting around last night, Jacob said he wanted to go back to Cross J and have a boxing rematch with you. I know that you are probably shaking right now at the idea of have a rematch, but I would like to thank you and Larry again for a great weekend.

[Cowboys5498]

please call me I am looking for a hunt with my wife and kids. Jerry Jackson 817-714-9316

[Cowboys5498]

looking for a doe and spike hunt please

[Buckshot-73]

Larry and Jay,I hope you both have a merry x-mas.

Jay,always remember.. You have my #, you can call me anytime,I will gladly come help track and drag your deer.. It was such an honor to share a camp with you and D, I look forward to doing it again soon.