Slacking here too...

OK people.. more posts here. I need new material to read!
I know we have those that scored this year... share the pics boys.
TrapperT did well and I know more of us got something. Great animal Trapper!!!!!
 
My youngest scored his first this year. A really nice doe at 60 yds with a muzzleloader.
I was very proud. I spent more time hunting for the boys this year than myself, so I didn't get a chance at anything.
But I will say this, I had a blast teaching them and watching them hunt.
 
 
So, the hunt story:
We were hunting up in Unit 75 here in Colorado. unfortunately, due to time and life we only got the weekends for ML season this year. New job and stuff keeps us busy.
 
We hiked up in the middle mountain area, lots of deer around and quite a few hunters too. We saw a lot of people take some nice freezer meat home with them the first weekend. We just didn't get lucky with the hunt those days.
 
The last weekend we went up though, we got to see some animals.
1st, we spooked a really nice 4x4 muley off the trail in front of us. I wasn't carrying this year, figuring I could borrow the gun should I get a chance at a buck.... no go, he saw me and bolted.
 
Next, we watch a pair of late birth fawns nursing with mom for a while. A really great thing to share with my boys. No fear of us, must have known I wouldn't let them shoot her with a pair of young'uns around. Either way, it was something to share with them and talk about while we ate some lunch.
 
About mid-morning, we had two doe spot us as we tried to shimmy up on them....my oldest tried a shot, but missed. He was disappointed, but we made a valiant effort at making sure there was no blood trail as I would have swore he got her. It must have been the fact that I was downwind from the smoke pole and my view was a little smudged! LOL
 
My youngest got a shot the next morning with my wife and I up talking him out. she stood broadside at 60 yards out chewing a small aspen up. He took his time, barrel going in circles as his breathing went nuts, eyes crossing, heart hammering, and then the shocker.....he jerk the trigger and realizes the safety is still on. HAHAHAHA, what a way to calm him down though. He slowly clicks off the safety, sights in and takes a breath...let's it out slowly and "BOOM". A 50 cal projectile flies true!
 
This time, I remembered to be upwind so I could see better. I see her jerk with the impact and she disappears over the knoll. I know he hit her and I know his shot was good... time to wait a bit.
 
I make him take several deeps breaths and re-load before he tries to run screaming after her in some wild Cherokee Indian fashion, scaring everything within 20 miles of us. (We are Cherokee, no offense meant here)
 
Taking our time, we go to her last spot and start looking for a trail. I don't see her on the downhill side...matter of fact, I don't see blood or hide or anything around. We start to do some circles, slow walking and looking for a trail. About 20 yards, I finally find a small drop of blood, about the size of my thumb nail. I'm thinking, WTH, I know he hit her better than this. Another 15 yards, another small drop. Now I am wondering if he only grazed her, I would have bet $$ he hit her with a text book shot.
 
Slowly scanning the ground still, I glance ahead and find her piled up against a young aspen... she is down and gone. She ran about 50 yards with a text book broadside shot. Liver and lungs gone.
 
We spend the next 45 minutes learning the art of caring for the animal, thanking the hunting gods for their blessing on him and for allowing us to harvest the meat from this beautiful creature, re-living the shot about 40-10000 times over in that time period, and smiling like a school girl after her first kiss.
 
I do my best to teach him to care for the meat properly, to clean her with respect and care. I

Awesome post, Mike!
 
Keep them coming guys and gals!
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

Reading that post made me feel like I was right there with you!!!  Great job and hope you have many more years of emjoyment in the outdoors with your family!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Thanks mgoodman

Semper Paratus
Final Approach Pro-Staff
Foiles Migrators Pro-Staff
Rig'Em Right Pro-Staff
Duck Junkies Pro-Staff
Clearwater Fl. Ducks Unlimited Committee Member
TEAM TRIPPLE H
TEAM BUSH QUACKED

Great memory,, I only hope this season I can have a similar story to tell.