On the second day of PA gun season (yesterday) my nephew and I were walking back to he house when he stopped on the trail ahead of me. "Deer standing in right there", he said. "Buck or doe?", I asked. "Wall hanger"' was the response. I ask if he had a shot. "Can't shoot", he said,"There are houses up behind him". I told hime to walk alittle further up the trail to get a better angle but the buck spooked and was gone.
Heres a 17 year old who passed a shot on a great buck at 40 yards (it was at least a 10 pt) because he thought about safety first rather than taking a shot. I know everyone here has probably seen the look on someones face after they missed an opportunity. He had that look the rest of the day.
This was graduation day for me. I have been taking him hunting with me since he was 10, preaching safety everytime and asking questions like "What would you do". He made the decision and I know he would have made the same call whether I was there or not. This is the kind of guy I like to hunt with.
The back of my little 20 acres is up against the Jack Matthews Park in Grayson County VA. On Friday morning after Thanksgiving, I set up on the highest part of the ridge at the property line. I was facing my property and had set up in a way to make sure all my possible shots were safe ones.
Around ten a.m. I hear a noise behind me. Two mountain bikes come racing down the fence line along the ridge. The Matthews property is a multi-use facility . . .I just couldn't believe there were two guys riding bikes along the property line during rifle season. One bike was black with white trim . . .smart, eh?
Probably a couple of antis. I was proud of myself for not taking the shot.
I'd rather wear out than rust out.
Perception trumps intention.
Shotnbeer wrote:On the second day of PA gun season (yesterday) my nephew and I were walking back to he house when he stopped on the trail ahead of me. "Deer standing in right there", he said. "Buck or doe?", I asked. "Wall hanger"' was the response. I ask if he had a shot. "Can't shoot", he said,"There are houses up behind him". I told hime to walk alittle further up the trail to get a better angle but the buck spooked and was gone.
Heres a 17 year old who passed a shot on a great buck at 40 yards (it was at least a 10 pt) because he thought about safety first rather than taking a shot. I know everyone here has probably seen the look on someones face after they missed an opportunity. He had that look the rest of the day.
This was graduation day for me. I have been taking him hunting with me since he was 10, preaching safety everytime and asking questions like "What would you do". He made the decision and I know he would have made the same call whether I was there or not. This is the kind of guy I like to hunt with.
he took the high ground.Excellent.
Scott
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Take a kid hunting
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Hopefully he'll get another opportunity at that one, or even a better buck.
He made a wise decision to pass a shot when there was any doubt in his mind. Congratulations to him!
If he's willing to pass on shots like that, he can hunt with me anytime. A hunter who ranks safety above harvesting his quarry is the type of hunter we need more of.
I was out yesterday moving my stand when the landowners granddaughter was walking and we started to talk. she asked me if i shot gun hunted (in nj we cant use a rifle) and i said no and she went on to say a man was hunting and misssed the deer and hit a house that im close by.
