I just got back from a trip to West Georgia with my daughter and Little Ernest. I guess he works as well in the States as he does in Africa. BTW, the lady can shoot... albeit it sometimes takes two!

I'll report when I get some sleep. I've been up since 3:00 a.m. this morning (long story).

Fellow A.R. member Adam Hunter was our host and there's no finer fellow.

Congrats to her on a nice deer.

Nice deer, she looks very happy. Bet you were all smiles too.

Isn't A.R. great?

I've met some really great folks through this forum and Adam Hunter certainly is among the best!

Last year in Atlanta (at one of the safari mini-shows) we met and talked a bit about getting together and deer hunting. Adam and I communicated some more during the year and he was kind enough to invite me and Emmy to hunt for a weekend in Meriweather County (near LaGrange, GA).

Emmy drove over from Athens, where she is a senior at UGA and, after finishing up on the 7th Marine deer hunt (which was very successful, btw), I drove up from Albany (where it was conducted).

We got to Adam's hunt club about 5:00 p.m. (still EDST) and found deer in the green field that Emmy and I were to hunt. Adam told us that a doe or two had to be culled so Emmy and I crawled to the edge of the field and she took a prone position resting the gun over my butt. Too bad Adam didn't get a picture of that! With a swirl of wind, that attempted ended and we proceeded to our respective stands.

Without a bunch of detail, both of us saw several young bucks (me even seeing a four-point and a six get into some serious battling.) I was proud of Emmy in that she recognized a couple of button bucks instead of making a mistake, assuming that they were "cullable" does.

Saturday was crisp and clear, a perfect morning. We hunted along a acorn-rich hardwood ridge line. Well before first light, Adam dropped me off first, then Emmy about 300 yards further along, then he went to his stand, about the same distance further.

I hadn't hunted the Georgia Piedmont in years and the sunrise was a real treat. As sky before me lightened from black to a gold glow, the greens, yellows and reds of the leaves began to morph from gray shadows to explosions of color that periodically rippled with the gentle breeze that put a pleasant bite to the 37 degree weather.

We began to see deer immediately. The rut was on and small bucks were all about with high-pitched staccato burps. I don't think 20 minutes passed without some lonesome 6-pointer trotting buy Adam or Emmy looking for a ready doe. Adam wasn't ready to shoot a doe yet and Emmy got into the buck-only mood when she heard all the grunting going on. We texted each other and had a great time reporting what we saw.

Saturday afternoon, I had the great pleasure of sharing a big pop-up blind with my daughter on a field planted with chicory, winter wheat, rape and other deer goodies. Spending time with Emmy in a blind where we can whisper back and forth, talk a bit about life and share the anticipation of seeing deer is one of the best treats of my fatherhood.

Again, we saw little bucks, single, anterless deer at distances too far to make sure of sex (there's a big fine for a button at Adam's club!), but no big bucks or a family of does in which a big-mama could be identified.

That night we ordered pizza and watched an official's bad call rob Alabama from victory. Well, every weekend has it's disappointments, I guess.

Next morning, of course, I screwed up the change from Daylight Savings Time and got up and took a shower at 3:00 a.m. Adam did the same. Emmy, being brighter than us two men, got her extra hour of sleep.

Anyway, on the drive back to the hunt club, Adam decided to take us to a different area. We, again, hunted the top of a ridge, but Emmy was dropped off first and me last, with Adam in the middle. Adam's club has some permanent stands, made of treated lumber and are about 14 feet high with a comfortable seat, a cloth skirt over a shooting rail for concealment and to cut the wind a bit, if it's blowing.

The lease has lots of deer and turkeys, too. As it began to get light, I discovered that, in the dark, I'd climbed up a tree that had a roosted hen it it. Boy, was that lady nervous, clucking and putting up a storm, trying to figure out what the new lump on the tree was. In the surrounding trees, as the world awoke, I could see 8 or 10 other hens prepping to pitch out to begin their scratching and pecking. Even though I knew they were there, I jumped about a foot every time one flapped its wings and sailed out of their perch. Dang, it was wonderful.

Again, the day was pretty chilly with a brisk wind, cold enough to redden your cheeks and blowing enough to make the trees to creak and groan some. Adam was seeing deer, but not the big buck he was looking for. I still had turkeys all around me, but had only seen one small doe that I'd passed on. Emmy texted me about 8:15 that she was cold, but wanted to keep hunting... good girl!

Then, about 5 minutes after the text, there was a "boom" from Emmy's direction, and then another about 30 seconds later. Then a single word text "Dead". Then another lone word, "Frazzled".

As later related by Emmy, she'd seen a few does apparently being chased by a buck (unseen) that had come from her right and never gave her a shot since they were moving right along. Then, 20 minutes later, she saw a brown movement right where the does had first appeared (and disappeared). She got out her binoculars and saw that it was a good buck with long tines. Fearing that it would keep to the heavy brush as the earlier does did, she immediately raised her rifle, a stainless Winchester Model 70 Classic in .270 WSM.

She lost sight of the buck for a moment when it was about 70 yards away and, as she texted when I inquired about the two shots, was quite "frazzled" when it appeared again at 30 yards. She put the cross-hairs on his shoulder and fired. Dad-gum if she or I know why, but she missed (as we all have) and the buck took off, headed behind her. Graciously enough, he stopped about 40 yards behind her and tried to figure out what the "boom" was all about.

Emmy, ever so slowly, worked the bolt, stood, turned 180 degrees and then knelt on bench seat, taking a rest on the tree. We've all been there. "Frazzled" wasn't the right word by then. Heart pounding, arms shaking, incredulous that the deer didn't fall over is the experience. Still, she took a deep breath and put a round right behind the shoulder and the buck was down after one half-hearted stumble.

Dang, I'm proud of my daughter.

And speaking of families, I made sure that Adam had a Little Ernest to take to his son, where, he now has a spot of honor on the supper table.

Nice deer! It's great you have a daughter to share your hunting with.

Great deer! Pretty cool how often you get to hunt with your kids. My dad did the same with me, and we still hunt together as often as possible. Gotta get him to Africa next time I go.

Well done Judge, great post as always.

Emmy,Judge,Adam
Nice buck Congratulations

Ahhh…it just so happens that I did take a picture of the “Judge G Butt Rest”




It was a great pleasure to have Emmy & Ernest come hunt with me. I had a wonderful time. As we all know, Ernest is a great guy and a story teller par excellence. He recounted many of his of hunting and fishing adventures with me and I must say I am envious! Emmy is a delightful young lady; gorgeous, smart and totally together. I don’t have a daughter, but if I did, I would like for her to be just like Emmy!

I don’t want to hijack Judge G’s thread, but did want to add a little since this was such a wonderful experience for me. I don’t have Judge G’s ability with words, so apologies in advance.

Talk about coming down to the wire. This hunt did. Emmy & Ernest would be my guest from Friday evening to Sunday morning. When Ernest and I set up the hunt, he said Emmy would be happy with a doe as would he. We have an abundance and I felt this would be no problem. I also felt that both would have a good chance at a decent buck as the rut was getting going. I have to say that I have never had a friend come hunting with me that went home empty handed except by choice. I have had a few that encountered those dreaded bullet dodging deer that we all seem to come across now and then. By the time we got off stand Saturday morning and neither Emmy or Ernest had a deer on the ground, I was in a near panic. To make it worse, it seemed that I was the only one seeing deer in range and easily identifiable. When I take a friend hunting I always put them in the stand I would hunt were I by myself. I then hunt whatever stand is available or use my climber. This time was no different, but it seemed Eustachius was smiling on me and not them. They were seeing deer, but no legal bucks and few does. We had clear skies and cool weather, but the high swirling winds made picking stands tough and slowed down deer movement. I was seriously doubting my abilities as a guide by this time.

Sunday morning the wind shifted to a more favorable direction and we were able to hunt an area I was hoping for. I put Emmy in a stand I call the “meat’ stand, as it is always good for putting at least a doe on the ground. I had told her about the “meat” stand before, but didn’t tell her she would be hunting it so as not to jinx anything. I had hunted it the week before with my son and seen a bruiser of an 8pt. I had shot a 10pt opening day so despite the urging of my son, I didn’t shoot it since we are limited to two bucks in GA. I was hoping the buck would still be in the area and would come by Emmy. The stand is on a gently sloping hardwood hill full of white, red and black oaks. The week before the oaks had still held acorns. At the base of hill it becomes a mix of mature pines and some water oaks that border a swamp. The deer typically come out of the swamp and feed up the hill, either directly in front of the stand or to the right of it.

With the morning winding down and the wind getting stronger, I started sweating bullets. I had seen a good 8pt earlier that would probably make our club 115” rule and it had wandered off towards Ernest, but he had never seen it. With an hour or so left, I heard a shot that could only be from Emmy. It was followed by another shot. I thought to myself that, Emmy having hunted Africa and killed a Cape Buffalo, put an insurance shot in it or possibly got a shot at another. I sent a text to Ernest saying ‘that’s our girl” and a few seconds later I got a text from Emmy saying “Dead’ and then she followed up with “8pt”. I immediately began descending the tree in my climber. You can’t imagine the relief I felt. By the time I reached the base Ernest, obviously excited too, had sent a text asking me to come get him so we could go see. I was so excited I forgot to take my stand off the tree in my haste to get the truck and Ernest. When I got to Ernest he showed me a text pic of the deer and asked if that was the 8pt I saw. I said “No, this is a better deer than the one I saw”. We drove over to Emmy and found her calmly waiting in the stand. Ernest went to assist Emmy getting down and I looked at the buck. Ernest again asked if this was the same buck I saw and I said “no, this buck will go in the low 120’s, the one I saw was a 115” buck at best.” After some congratulations to Emmy, Ernest took a bunch of pictures and we got the buck loaded in the truck and drove back to our barn to score him. He scored 121” gross. A great 8pt for sure.

A proud Dad


It's not often I get my picture taken with such a pretty girl!

I will add these to my scrapbook of hunting pictures. This will be titled " The last minute buck"

Thank you Ernest for the kind words. It was truly a pleasure to have you and Emmy!! Look forward to doing it again!

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
Emmy and I crawled to the edge of the field and she took a prone position resting the gun over my butt. Too bad Adam didn't get a picture of that! With a swirl of wind, that attempted ended and we proceeded to our respective stands.

'swirl of wind' huh? poor girl! i bet she won't be using your backside as a rest again!

Nice deer and a beautiful young lady. Congrats on a good hunt Judge.

Perry

That's an outstanding story, thanks for sharing. And, congrats Emmy on a really nice buck!

OK, so I gotta ask, as have only been on AR for a short while, where do all these Ernest's come from?

Congratulations to Emmy !

Way to go Judge & Adam !

Ask and it shall be given to you...(with apologies to Mathew 7:7)

quote:

Originally posted by Orvar:
OK, so I gotta ask, as have only been on AR for a short while, where do all these Ernest's come from?

Not back to Africa til next August...

But, if wild boar and red stags would interest little Ernest, he can come with me to France!

Orvar:

P.M. me with your address and, since you've asked, you shall receive.

Just remember, you have to report your hunts and post a picture with Little Ernest here on A.R.

And, of course, the little guy needs good cigars (preferably Partagas #10 maduros) and peaty single malts. A good looking woman for him to sleep next to ain't bad either.

Keep Little Ernest happy and all your buffalo will exceed 40", your elephants will exceed 60 pounds, your lions will be 6 years-old plus and every lottery ticket you buy will be a winner.

Fantastic.

Shot was perfect also I see.

Great story and congrats all the way around.

Nice buck Em, Congrats!