The rut has got to be the best time of the year with out a doubt. I had my two nephews hunting with me this last weekend (David aka Red Devil and Vince aka Bowboy) and Vince got his first bow kill, a nice year and a half eight pointer. I have to tell you about Vince, he is 14 years old and lives and breaths hunting. I got him and old Bear Panda for xmas two years ago for starters and the last winter at the Wisconsin Traditional Archers banquet he picked up an old Shakespeare bow, it was short and difficult for him to shoot so I found a 62" Wing @42lbs which worked much better. Then about a month ago I found a Kodiak @47 lbs. This I gave to him just the weekend before this. It was amazing how well he shot this bow right from the start.


This is Vince's second group with his new Kodiak(18yds)


After Vince had started shooting the Shakespeare bow he decided he would hunt with that. At the time he had been using a compound but had yet to kill anything with it, so I made sure he knew I was not pressuring him to use a recurve and wouldn't think any less of him if he continued to use the compound. He said he wanted to hunt with the recurve anyway. Since it wasn't shooting just for fun anymore and I knew just how difficult this could be I made a commitment to myself to help him be successful. Arrow flight and shooting form was always on my radar screen while on our weekly 3D shoot. My old razorheads found a new home, sharpening demos, and assorted other old gear of mine found it's way to him. To say he was successful without any problems would be far from the truth. There were a couple heartbreaking blood trails which made for the tough lessons learned that patience and shot placement are so important. I am sure that has set in on him as he let a group of five deer walk past him at 12 yds and did not take a shot because they did not stop moving. That takes patience. Anyway as I tied to explain to him just one week before this sometimes you are tested and if you pass the test you are rewarded. As you might guess, a short time later the buck stepped out turned broadside and without even having to stand up he drew and sent the arrow into the chest cavity tight behind the front leg. The deer took off, looped to the right and went down in plain sight of him. How's that for a reward!




Red Devil aka David with the happy hunter: Bowboy aka Vince

Cool !          


Hooked forever !


Nice buck


Carl

That's awsome!    

Bakes

way to go.      

I second it. That's awesome!

There's the future of what we love so much!  

Congrats young man  

Man I know exactly how that kid feels,  I love seeing this stuff.  Congrats to him!  The bug bites deep....
 

Great job guys, wishing you many, many more!

good job!!!
gil

Very cool! Top effort all round, fellows!

right on !      

       

Congratulations Bowboy ! I'm still lookin' for my 1st trad kill.

OUTSTANDING!!!!  

What a great success story, I just love to see members of our younger generation get involved in hunting. Congratulations on you first, with the way your shooting that bow I can tell that there will be many more to come.

Beautiful animal.Love it when the young ones get their first,the smile says it all.

   Leland

"lives and breathes hunting"... we NEED more like him.

Tell him congratulations!

Big thanks to you for showing him the trailhead.
His journey has just begun.  

Absolutely outstanding. Vey proud of him. Keep the tradition alive.