Most of us probably remember our first time we went hunting; or perhaps we were so young we remember remembering!  I know I can distinctly recall my first hunt.  My older brother took me duck hunting, and I got a drake wood duck.  Later my dad took me out deer hunting for the first time.  I remember the thrill of waking up early and the stillness of the woods while we waited for the first streaks of light.

Recently, I had a chance to take someone out on their first deer hunt.  And someone else on what is likely their last.  It even happened on the same day.

This summer my wife surprised me by saying she wanted to go ahead and get her Hunter’s Safety Certificate.  I was more excited about it than she was.  After working her way through the on-line portion and successfully passing the all day event, she was good to go.   By the time the Kansas rifle season started my tags were filled between the muzzleloader and bow seasons.  That left me free just to focus on making my wife’s hunt successful.  I had set up a ground blind earlier in the year that overlooked an open field with the remnants of a food plot, just north of my creek.  The blind would be perfect for two people, including one new to hunting who wasn’t keen on either hunting alone or having to climb a tree in the dark. 

Before the season arrived a wrinkle entered into our plans.  My parents planned on having Thanksgiving with us, and because of a chance my mother got to visit her sister in California, and it was decided my father could stay with us for an extra ten days, which would include the first portion of the Kansas deer season.

My wife didn’t like the idea of us leaving my father, 88 years young, at home all day while we spent the day 100 miles south of our home.  She was starting to get cold feet, especially since winter was starting to show up.  The weather forecast for the season opener called for temps in the 20’s, which is a bit cold around here for hunting, especially for an 88 year old. However, it was to get into the 40’s by the afternoon.  That gave me an idea. 

The morning was indeed quite brisk as my wife and I made our way to the blind in the predawn.  I had purposefully stayed in the car an extra 30 minutes longer than I typically would because the last thing I wanted was for my wife to get cold and discouraged on her first trip out.  It was legally time to shoot while we were still half way to the blind.  When we were 20 yards from the field edge, and probably 10 more from the blind, I saw a deer in the food plot.  We both froze, and with the aide of the binoculars I could make out a young 6 point buck staring right at us.  It was awesome.  Still not daring to move, a few minutes went by and a doe walked right in front of the trail opening that led to the field.  Finally, they moved on, and we climbed into the blind.  We saw a fork horn and a number of does over the next couple of hours.  The highlight of the morning though was the multiple flocks of turkey that crossed in front of us.  My wife was amazed at their numbers, which totaled around 100  birds.  Then it was time for the second part of my plan.

We made our way back to town around noon.  We ate a quick lunch, piled back into the warm clothes, and along with my dad headed back to the property.  With the temperatures in the mid-40’s and little wind, the conditions were perfect to bring my father out for the evening hunt. 

My father and a group of his pals went deer hunting every fall in Minnesota.  I grew up anxiously awaiting the day when I could go with them.  We didn’t see many deer back in the 70’s, but I cherished every moment.  My dad was right at my side when I harvested my first deer.  Sometime after I went off to college he went on his last hunt.  He couldn’t remember when it was, but we determined it was over 25 years ago.  25 years or more since his last hunt, and I know he would never have believed he would go on another one.  We got to the blind and settled in.  He was so excited looking over the field edge with the binoculars, whispering occasionally, and all the related things that go with ‘the hunt’.  It was quiet,  too quiet.  I was begging we would see something...anything.  I nervously glanced at my watch.  30 minutes to official sunset, and no more than 60 minutes of legal and ethical shooting light.  Suddenly, a deer came into the field from the neighbors property. It was a fork horn.  My dad got excited.  The buck waltzed right in front of us at 40 yards and then started feeding.  A spike joined him and  then another fork horn.  My dad had absolutely come alive.  He excitedly whispered updates on their every movement.  A few minutes later a pair of does popped out.  The bucks checked them out and soon the does left.  The three young bucks though stayed in the field until the last rays of light disappeared.  The ‘big one’ never appeared,  but that was OK.  We were starting to get chilled but warmed up fine on the way back to the truck.  On the trip back home he recounted the exact details of the deer we saw.  When we got home he talked to my sons and told them every detail. 

When I went to bed that night I reflected on the day.  We had seen around a dozen deer, but nothing worth shooting.  That was OK.  Getting to take my wife out on her first deer hunt, and my father on one last unexpected hunt made for as great of a day in the field that I could remember.   

By Miscellaneous Authors

This section is for articles published by a host of amateur authors. Some of these authors are former staff members but many of them are just regular people that had an article in their heart they wanted published. Here at TalkHunting, we believe everyone has a message and we try to accomodate that when possible.

Comments(5):

1. Lucky man

   You are a lucky and a blessed man. How many of us wish we could have taken our dad on one last hunt. How many of us should have... Thanks for sharing.

   Sunday, March 06, 2011 Robert

2. a first deer hunt and last

   wow doug, great gripping story with a lesson for all of us. how wonderful it must have felt for you that day and the years to follow.

   Sunday, March 06, 2011 brad

3. Thanks!

   That was a great story Doug! Thanks for sharing. A great reminder of 2 things: take the time for the first time hunters to insure they have a good time and focus on their experience, 2nd, don't forget those that took you on your first hunt. Too many times the elders get left behind! Thank you for remembering!

   Monday, March 07, 2011 Anthony

4. A great reminder...

   A great reminder that it's not all about the result of the hunt, but much about the hunt itself. Thanks Doug!

   Wednesday, March 09, 2011 Duane

5. Great Story

   Great story and it does bring back a lot of memories of my dad and also my hunting mentor Russ......thanks Doug

   Saturday, March 26, 2011 David