Youth Shotgun Food Plot Hunt 2010

Well the youth season this year was October 9th and 10th and I took a few young friends out for their very first  hunt. Those hunting with me during the youth hunt were Rand and Mattie along with their father Edwin. I have gotten to know the three of them really well this past year as I have been out and about their property prepping and planting food plots for the 2010 deer season. We started off the year with tractor work and field preparation, after we created a fine seedbed we planted Biologic Clover Plus which due to the heavy rains of the early spring this year washed the clovers out. So we regrouped and came up with a dynamite plan of Buck forage oats, turnips and rape. These are very durable and great for the cooler temperatures and will still be great for the later shotgun seasons as well. We also made a small ¼ acre sunflower plot which filled in beautifully and was a great source of food for rare and common birds. The doves loved them as did the deer early.

                              

   

Any way back to the hunt, we met up mid September to do some practicing as it is always important to make sure your equipment is functioning properly. I brought some deer targets along and we put them out on the food plots in different positions to practice taking shots. Gun choice for the hunt were HR single shot 12 gauge shotguns with Nikon 9x40 scopes “Mini Cannons”, as I like to call them. We teamed the guns up with the Hornady 12 gage shells, which are incredible shells and as the Marines say “one shot one kill” that’s what these shells deliver. After Mattie and Rand shot through a box or two of shells we checked out the targets and came to the conclusion that Mattie’s grouping was the better of the two, but both were very successful and no deer could stand a chance with these two behind a gun.

                                            

Well the morning of the hunt I found myself arriving at the hunting grounds a little before 6:00 am, and the hunters were ready. So we headed down to the blind (Texas Hunter 4x8 by 10 ft high) which is positioned nicely on the plots we have established. So it’s an hour before light and it’s pretty quiet in the blind as the kids are nodding, until the lights came on that morning I spotted deer in the woods across the field. So I nudged the kids and said, “We have movement, get ready!” That sure perked the two up. I glassed the deer for awhile as they held tight to the woods but eventually they did as expected and made their way to the plot. They came out on the rape and turnips and were munching away when Rand brought his HR 12 gauge into position and took the shot. POW! The brown was down. What a shot the deer just dropped straight to the ground. Rand had taken his first deer, what an experience! I believe this kid is going to be hooked for life. Well we got down tagged the deer and phoned him in and headed back to the house, from there we taught the kids the proper way to field dress and of course Rand's father made him take a bite of the heart of his first kill. After proper photos and showing off we then processed the deer for dinner that night. Their father Edwin is a "Master of the Grill" and boy did those back straps and loins taste delicious! Secret spice and draped in bacon was the choice for seasoning. I think we ate about the whole deer by the time we were done it was amazing! Thanks again you three for an exciting hunt and adventure, look forward to establishing more plots around the property and getting Rand into bow hunting here in the future. What an experience and a great way to spend my 30th Birthday!

Rands first Deer!

Field dressing!

Rand following up Tradition!

Proscessing!