Every now and then we get the opportunity to witness an event that helps us to put the world in perspective and remind us of our connection to the past, which is more often than not, forgotten in the day-to-day murk we trudge through. For me the latest such event transpired on a chilly October morning during the Oklahoma Youth Anterless Deer Season.

I was honored to escort my 13-year-old niece, Ariel, during the weekend long season. We took up position in a 25 foot ladder stand in the darkness of the early morning thirty minutes before dawn. I was a little worried the crisp, early morning air might be a little much for her; but as she has proved time and again to me, she is one double rugged little lady. She has already trekked through cold and rain in the mountains of New Mexico in search of a brown bear (she took one of the largest in the area, if not the largest by the way). I am always truly in awe of how well she handles herself in any situation. This morning would be no different. She made no complaints about the briar patch we had to walk through to get to the stand, she did not balk at the biting cold air, she insisted on carrying her own rifle and she never made a sound once we got to the stand and got set up.

It was our second (and last) morning of hunting. On our first morning, luck was not with us and we didn’t see anything but a million tree rats and half again as many tweety birds. At first shooting light, I felt that old calm feeling that today was the day. I just could not see her not bagging a deer. Everything was perfect. There was no wind and there was a brilliant stillness in the woods surrounding us. Seated next to me, I felt Ariel shiver after almost an hour of complete stillness. I had just leaned over the edge of stand, shifting my weight looking for a more comfortable position, when I noticed a doe deer coming our way out of the corner of my eye.

Immediately my heart started pounding so hard I thought it was going to come out of my chest. But, coolness is a virtue and I didn’t want to get her to jittery so I took a deep breathe and very softly said to her, “Here comes your doe, get ready.†Very slowly and with great care she began to raise her rifle. Just as she did the doe looked up at us. We were separated by about fifty yards and I was not about to let this deer spook by getting sight of anything abnormal moving in one of its trees.

“Stop moving.†I whispered. She froze on command. The deer went back to feeding and apparently decided whatever it had thought it had seen, it didn’t really see. “OK. Get your rifle ready†Ariel again slowly began moving into position. The deer crossed in front of us and began to angle off to our left. Rather intently I watched the doe move out from us as Ariel, with great patience, brought her rifle up level with the built on shooting rest on the stand. She moved so slowly and deliberately, it was amazing how experienced she was acting. She was showing none of the classic signs most novice deer hunters are plagued with.
She was still moving, trying to gun the gun to the rest when another, smaller, doe appeared from the same lane and began following where the other doe had come. Now both were in sight and easily within range. As if reading from our copy of the script the smaller doe looked up at us. “Stop moving.†This went on for what seemed like ten minutes, but in actuality was about ten seconds. Starting and stopping, the deer looking at us and then back to the ground or at the other deer. Finally each had their back to us and Ariel lightly laid her rifle on the shooting rest. Just as she was taking the safety off, I noticed she had placed the barrel on the rest. I moved my hand up under the gun and slid it forward, giving her a more solid rest and getting the stock on the rest, preventing any vibration from altering the intended path of her bullet.

Ariel had been waiting for this set up for two years. “Whenever you are ready. Pick the one you want (I knew she would want the bigger doe) and take her.†Just at that moment, the smaller deer stepped directly in front of the other. I heard her sigh and she said, “The little one is in the way.†“Wait for a moment and she will clear. Wait till she is completely out of the way.†Within a couple of seconds she got her perfect shot opportunity. “It’s clear.†I heard her say. “Take it.†I was so excited I was about to explode. God what drama! Boom the report of her little 7.62x39 cz carbine woke the woods and I saw the bullet strike just behind the shoulder. The perfect shot. The doe leap into the air spinning and was off to the races. She and I exhaled enough air after her shot to blow over a house. “Good shot!†I was almost screaming at her. The look on her face was priceless. She had “The Look.†I started to get down from the stand and nearly broke my neck. I looked up at her from about a quarter way down the ladder and asked her if she was OK. She answered me by showing me her trembling hand. She even had the after shake!

We got over to when the doe was standing at the shot. No blood! I am a horrible tracker - or so I thought. I searched and searched. No blood. I followed where the deer had gone at the shot and after twenty or so yards ran into a fence. Still no blood! I saw the bullet strike, I heard the bullet strike. Where was the blood! We went back over and checked the shooting location again. Nothing! I was starting to get a little upset at this point.

I told her to stand next to the fence, I would be back in about five minutes or so. Just as I was walking off in the general direction of her deer looking for tracks, I heard her whisper, “uncle Brian.†When I turned back toward her, she was pointing into the woods ahead of her and mouthing “Deer.†I looked and sure enough it was the smaller of the pair we had just fired on walking back toward the fence at an angle about thirty yards form us. I got back to her and put her in the kneeling position telling her to get ready the deer was going to cross back in front of us headed back toward the fence. She was all set up. The der did cross our path, but was too far and there was too much brush for a clear shot. So back to standing at the fence I’ll be back in a few. I turned from and walked about ten yards when I found the tracks. I began picking my way slowly through the woods actually following the tracks - a first for me, I was fairly excited I was able to do that, but I refused to let her deer get away and was sure it was down, still no blood though, because the littler deer was traveling alone at this point.

I had gone about twenty yards when I reach inside my coverall and just put my hand on my 41mag when I saw it. It was folded up in the bottom of a little dried up creek bed. I hollered back to her and she came through the woods to me like a bullet. She was grinning ear-to-ear when I said your deer is right there. She bolted past me giving me a high five on the way. We looked the deer all over. It had pooled a little bit of blood where it was, but hadn’t apparently leaked any, in its little travel. I set Ariel up for some photos and left her there with her broad smile to retrieve the truck. When I came back up to her several minutes later, she was kneeling beside her deer, rifle in hand, still smiling.

The whole experience really touched me. We now share a very special moment between us that no one can take away. Of all the place on earth and all the people I could have been with on that morning, I couldn’t have dreamed a better combination. Being able to be with her at that moment, being able to share her experience means more to me than I will ever be able to express with words. All I can say is - that is what it is all about.

P.S. When I field-dressed her deer, I discovered she had made a perfect heart shot. Her bullet passed just about two inches down from the ventricles. What a helluva shot. Maybe her dad can post one or two of the pics? How about it boet?

Great story, thanks for sharing it with us. It is one of the finest moments of your life to share a thrilling event with a youngster. Nate

Well Done !! Enjoy the venison !

sounds like a moment to remember. POST PICS!

The kid is calm when the shot opportunity is present and can really stick them where they need to be. Diana would be proud!

Perry

Great! Tell her congrats and that she did an excellent job!

quote:

Originally posted by Doc:
Great! Tell her congrats and that she did an excellent job!

Sure enough. Only problem with this kid is...she always does an excellent job. Ain't that a helluva problem to have.


Thanks Doc

Brian

quote:

Originally posted by Allout:
she always does an excellent job. Ain't that a helluva problem to have.

Right you are. I keep reviewing this thread as well as the others where kids are out enjoying the outdoors and hunting. Really puts a smile on my face.