Shot placement, tough lesson learned with son.

[Farmshine]

I was out with my 11 year old son this afternoon hoping one of the nice ones would show up for him. He had beginners luck last year and killed a 10 pointer his third time out. This year has been tougher. We headed to the same spot I shot an 8 pointer last Sunday. I had a 10 and an 8 on camera this week but only after dark. Didn’t see a thing until 450 when a nice shooter 8 came in facing him at 15 yards. It got to quartering towards at 5pm and I said don’t take the shot. Soon it was dark and the buck walked off. My son was very disappointed that I said not to shoot but more disappointed in a missed opportunity. I later explained to him the anatomy of a quartering to shot and the importance of a quick efficient kill. Overall a great sit and a great lesson. A lesson not learned the hard way with a sleepless night and a suffering deer and coyotes. And needless to say he is very eager to get back out.

 

 

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[Swamprat]

Sounds like a good hunt.  He will understand.  He'd be disappointed 10x over if he made a bad shot.  

Good job dad. Good job young man. 

[Tuck]

Good job dad.  Had a situation earlier this year with my 11 yr old daughter and a big 11 pointer.  She has the crossbow on him and as I said shoot she said I cant steady the bow.  I swallowed hard and said ok and we watched him walk off.   She looks for him everytime we are in the stand now!!!

[SoxFan]

You are an AMAZING dad!!! One day, he will learn that your advice was PERFECT!!!!!

[Kype]

he will remember that. life lesson. 

[iluv2hunt]

Very good lesson learned on your sons hunt. You did the right thing. 

[CatchinDeers243]

Excellent work

[OldMenRule]

Patience is a virtue and these days a rarity. Excellent job Dad. 

[Buck154]

Great call. He is learning from a experienced hunt and will respect your call as life goes on.

[JHbowhunter]

good pass - I do NOT like quartering too shots at all - just too much can go wrong     Good job 

[mazzgolf]

I like this post.

Your son probably won't really understand what you just saved him from until he himself has to actually trail a wounded deer for hours, sleep on it overnight, and possibly lose it to coyotes OR the deer not dying at all, OR! he does find it only to then have to drag it the hundreds of yards it was able to run.

I had a deer this past week inside of 20 yards. Facing me, then quartering to. All I kept thinking about was my first deer that I shot in the neck because I made a bad quartering-to shot -- I had to get a dog to track it over 400 yards before I could find it (hours later). I kept saying to myself, "DO NOT make that mistake again" - I let it walk.

Hopefully, your son learned that lesson the "easy" way