2 weeks ago a torch was passed in the Krivokucha Family, and i was front an center watching it unfold. My son Hunter who is 7 years old has been tagging along with Dad on some hunts over the last 3 years... He has scared away his share of deer for me as well as tested Dads patience on numerous occasions. But when it all leads to a magic moment in your life, it is all worth it.
To the hunt. For those that don't know me, I own and manage a ranch in the Hill county in Lampasas county. It is not a giant ranch by any standards, but I do not let that stop me. Over the last 11 years we have been able to take crappy deer and make them nice. It was not instant or over night, but it has been worth it. 3 years ago I started getting pictures of a wide 2 year old that carried 9 points. What stood out about him was his width and Red hair. He had the reddest patch of hair between his horns I had ever seen. His tines were short, but I did not pay much attention to that at the time as he was only 2. But over the last 3 years he has gotten bigger in the body, but struggled in the horn category. He got wider, but not heavier or taller. So last year I had him on the hit list as a cull/ management deer. I had a friend come in from Ohio and hunted him a week, but never was able to get on him. He came back again this year from Ohio and never saw him although he was hunting the stand that he was a regular at. Once Rodney (Ohio friend) left back to Ohio, I knew this was going to be Hunters deer.
So with a little time at the range, I quickly learned that my son is left eye dominant and could not shoot most of my guns. He just can't close his left eye. So My dad suggested that instead of him getting my 243 that I used as a kid, we should let him shoot my granddads 243 that is a lever action. My granddad was a left eye dominant hunter as well. So we went to the range with the new weapon. We figured out quick that his little arms would not reach. So back to the house for a little "Tim Allen" tool time adjustments. I was in the middle of building a house and had a whole crew of workers in the house putting up wood trim. I knew they had a very high quality miter saw so I decided to just pull up and whack about 2 inches off the gun. Well I am not sure the crew appreciated me walking into a construction site carrying a riffle. People were **** near jumping out windows.... it was funny.
Anyway, got it all fitted to him and went back to the range. Hunter drilled the x 3 times at 50 yards so we were on. (he had already been shooting a 204 ruger for the last couple years so he was practiced in shooting)
back to the ranch:
Hunt after hunt found us in the blind. Hunt after hunt found me explaining why the 17 different bucks in front of us were not good enough to shoot!
I would tell him to small, too young, To narrow etc.... If a 4 point walked in, Hunter was asking, can I dad!!! No son, we are in an antler restriction county and he is only 6 inches wide etc. Or I would say, no son he is only 2 years old. Then Hunter would say, Are you sure, he sure looks 6 years old to me!
Anyway, On our 10 or so hunt, we were settled in watching some darn nice deer. I almost let him air out a 3 year old 8 that was just not that good, but made him hold out. TC pics revealed that the Wide 9 was still around and a regular at this location. 1 hour later opportunity came knocking. 150 yards away a doe ran out followed by the the red headed wide deer. When I told hunter that it was in fact the deer we were after, his head bout popped off. I had to keep him calm as we were in close with the other deer. (forgot to say we were hunting in a bow blind, so deer were 12 yards from us). About 30 minutes passed and it appeared the deer was going to hold his doe away from the other bucks, but the doe got away and brought him in. The footage on the hunt is amazing. This deer is not a high scoring deer, but makes up for it with width and maturity. One Snort Weez and all the other bucks cleared house.
The Shot, Was a long shot. He really had to reach out there and pop him. So after checking the wind speed and the Changes in thermals, I let him take the shot. Of course I had to turn the scope down from 12 to 3 so that he could get the buck in the scope at 14 yards!
My son did everything I asked him to do. It was amazing feeling what i was feeling. It was amazing watching what i was watching. i do not remember the report of the gun, But I was watching the LCD screen so I knew he shot. Hunter saw the deer go down about 40 yards out. I was blocked by a tree and did not see it. The recovery was awesome. To see my son sitting there felt great. The circle had come round. There was a time my parents were not sure I would be a hunter. So to see my boys following down this path is very rewarding.
With Chest puffed and head held high, I give you my boys first of what I hope is many hunting moments.
Thanks for reading,
Krivoman! Proud dad
Look at that smile! Look at that Red hair on this buck...
This one shows the big body the best.
To the hunt. For those that don't know me, I own and manage a ranch in the Hill county in Lampasas county. It is not a giant ranch by any standards, but I do not let that stop me. Over the last 11 years we have been able to take crappy deer and make them nice. It was not instant or over night, but it has been worth it. 3 years ago I started getting pictures of a wide 2 year old that carried 9 points. What stood out about him was his width and Red hair. He had the reddest patch of hair between his horns I had ever seen. His tines were short, but I did not pay much attention to that at the time as he was only 2. But over the last 3 years he has gotten bigger in the body, but struggled in the horn category. He got wider, but not heavier or taller. So last year I had him on the hit list as a cull/ management deer. I had a friend come in from Ohio and hunted him a week, but never was able to get on him. He came back again this year from Ohio and never saw him although he was hunting the stand that he was a regular at. Once Rodney (Ohio friend) left back to Ohio, I knew this was going to be Hunters deer.
So with a little time at the range, I quickly learned that my son is left eye dominant and could not shoot most of my guns. He just can't close his left eye. So My dad suggested that instead of him getting my 243 that I used as a kid, we should let him shoot my granddads 243 that is a lever action. My granddad was a left eye dominant hunter as well. So we went to the range with the new weapon. We figured out quick that his little arms would not reach. So back to the house for a little "Tim Allen" tool time adjustments. I was in the middle of building a house and had a whole crew of workers in the house putting up wood trim. I knew they had a very high quality miter saw so I decided to just pull up and whack about 2 inches off the gun. Well I am not sure the crew appreciated me walking into a construction site carrying a riffle. People were **** near jumping out windows.... it was funny.
Anyway, got it all fitted to him and went back to the range. Hunter drilled the x 3 times at 50 yards so we were on. (he had already been shooting a 204 ruger for the last couple years so he was practiced in shooting)
back to the ranch:
Hunt after hunt found us in the blind. Hunt after hunt found me explaining why the 17 different bucks in front of us were not good enough to shoot!
I would tell him to small, too young, To narrow etc.... If a 4 point walked in, Hunter was asking, can I dad!!! No son, we are in an antler restriction county and he is only 6 inches wide etc. Or I would say, no son he is only 2 years old. Then Hunter would say, Are you sure, he sure looks 6 years old to me!Anyway, On our 10 or so hunt, we were settled in watching some darn nice deer. I almost let him air out a 3 year old 8 that was just not that good, but made him hold out. TC pics revealed that the Wide 9 was still around and a regular at this location. 1 hour later opportunity came knocking. 150 yards away a doe ran out followed by the the red headed wide deer. When I told hunter that it was in fact the deer we were after, his head bout popped off. I had to keep him calm as we were in close with the other deer. (forgot to say we were hunting in a bow blind, so deer were 12 yards from us). About 30 minutes passed and it appeared the deer was going to hold his doe away from the other bucks, but the doe got away and brought him in. The footage on the hunt is amazing. This deer is not a high scoring deer, but makes up for it with width and maturity. One Snort Weez and all the other bucks cleared house.
The Shot, Was a long shot. He really had to reach out there and pop him. So after checking the wind speed and the Changes in thermals, I let him take the shot. Of course I had to turn the scope down from 12 to 3 so that he could get the buck in the scope at 14 yards!
My son did everything I asked him to do. It was amazing feeling what i was feeling. It was amazing watching what i was watching. i do not remember the report of the gun, But I was watching the LCD screen so I knew he shot. Hunter saw the deer go down about 40 yards out. I was blocked by a tree and did not see it. The recovery was awesome. To see my son sitting there felt great. The circle had come round. There was a time my parents were not sure I would be a hunter. So to see my boys following down this path is very rewarding.
With Chest puffed and head held high, I give you my boys first of what I hope is many hunting moments.
Thanks for reading,
Krivoman! Proud dad
Look at that smile! Look at that Red hair on this buck...
This one shows the big body the best.
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