A little back story before I start in on the Sunday morning activities - My son has been buck hunting the last two years. I don't say deer hunting, because he has had multiple opportunities to shoot does, but wanted his first deer to be a buck. So he has been buck hunting. We have been close on sealing the deal multiple times, but just couldn't get it done for one reason or another. This year he decided to become a deer hunter as he and I have logged many hours in the field with no tangible reward for our time and effort, but memories that I know I will never forget. Rewind to youth weekend and we take his buddy who has never been in the woods before. We only have Saturday to hunt. Sat morning we see some young bucks and a single doe and fawn. I don't like shooting does with yearlings, so we can't take advantage of the situation. I introduce shooting to his friend midday while we wait for the evening hunt. We get into the stand early and even with the colder temps it's slow. We finally get a 7 to come into some hand corn. I tell my son it would be a great first buck for him to take it if he wants to. Indecision fills his mind and I can see it happening. He wants to shoot the deer in front of his buddy, but he knows its smaller than the ones he seen before. That bit of hesitation allows his buddy to chime in "Garrett, you only get one buck like that a year? I wouldn't shoot that one then. I would wait for something bigger." - Hunt over.

This past weekend we get out for the opener. Decent action Sat morning considering the temps. Unfortunately no does and either spikes or young illegal deer show up to the hand corn. Saturday night we get blanked. Nothing shows up, its hot, and morale is sinking. Sun morning is supposed to be windy and we have never fared well in higher wind conditions. The time change is not helping either. But we make it out but a bit later than what I would like. I hand corn the area once again and then we both get up into the tripod stand. No sooner than I sit down and get somewhat situated I see a brown figure moving across the pasture. I know its a buck by the size of it, but we are still 10mins from legal. I can't see the antlers, but thought it was a decent deer due to the size of the body. It finally gets light enough to see and its the 7 from youth weekend. I tell Garrett it would be a fine first deer to take, but its his decision. I can already see the gears grinding away in his head so I press the issue. The deer has had its meal and is starting to move off to the west. I tell him I will stop the deer if you want to take him but I need to know now. He finally says yes, but now the deer is on my side of the tripod stand. We do some reshuffling and I ask him if he's got him. He answers yes, so I give the BAAAAA. Deer stops and bang. I see dirt fly. Deer wags tail and slowly jogs off to the west. Garrett pulled the shot. I try grunting at the buck to turn him but he walks off behind the mesquite trees that have taken over the old pasture. This is a let down. Once again for both of us, we are super close, but can't close. My frustration at his indecision comes out and I let him know about it. Probably not the best thing to do, but he made the shot so much harder by waiting. His Papaw is sitting to our West and I know what's coming. Bang. I look at Garrett and say "well, he took the 7" and continue to whisper about how he needs to more decisive and act with a sense of urgency when it matters. While I'm on my soap box, he says "Big Buck on the right." I turn and see a nice buck standing at a point of trees that separate the old pasture. There is a doe in the hand corn I didn't see and the buck starts to walk directly to our stand. There is no shot to be had so I tell him to wait until the buck turns. Right after I say that, the buck stops and he has winded us at about 50 yds. He turns and starts to head back around the point, but suddenly stops and turns broadside before going behind the line of trees. Before I could even ask if he's on him - BANG. The bucks gives a little lurch starts to walk behind the trees then gives one last effort to run and we hear a crash. We sit there for a couple minutes and I ask him if he hit him. "I'm positive or like 95% positive since I missed the first buck." We climb down and walk the 75yds to where the deer was. No blood. My heart sinks for a second. I start to walk the path around the point the buck took and see blood. Then it stops. I start to look into the woods due to the sound the crash made and see the deer lying in some old tree limbs on the ground. I turn to Garrett and say "There he is and he is awesome." Garrett's face lights up and we give each other a hug. The range of emotion we both felt at that time is indescribable. I'm so proud of him on so many fronts and I'm lucky to be his Dad. I think he set the bar high as this is probably the best deer anyone has ever taken off the 250. Sorry for the long write up.

Way to GO!!!

thanks for sharing the story and photos

Great story and congrats! I’d just assume never to shoot another animal and just take kids out! I love it!

That is an amazing buck, and an amazing first buck!!!!! A lot of character! Congrats to you and your son! A wondefrul memory that will last a lifetime.

Great write up, and great memories! Congrats to both of you.

Outstanding buck! Congrats Garret, good shooting!

Congrats

Congrats Garret!

Don't apologize for the long write up. I enjoyed it. Congrats to your boy, and to you! I got my boy a deer rifle this year, and his first hunt will be Thanksgiving. If we can't seal the deal then, we will have one Sat in mid December, then new years weekend, and late youth weekend. Yes, I already have planned out my entire hunting season. LOL. Again, congrats!

Congrats Garret on a great first buck.
Thanks for sharing, long read, worth every word

Congrats to son and dad. Great write up and stellar buck--thanks for sharing.

Nice - congrats to you both

Congrats to your son on a very cool buck.

Very cool story! Congrats!

Congratulations!! Son, you are hooked for life now, few things in life are better than hunting.

That is a GREAT story. Congrats to you and your son

Really cool first buck.

Great job and great story. Congratulations to the both of you.

Atta boy Garrett, great first buck and nice story dad

Great picture and a beautiful first buck. Congrats to all.

Guys,
Thanks for all the kind words. It was a great experience with high and lows and everything in between. Nothing will replace the time spent together and finally closing the deal. The good news is, I get to do it all over again with his younger sister next year. I hope that journey goes a bit smoother, but is just or more enjoyable than the one Garrett and I took. Either way, I am blessed to have two kids that seem to be hooked on the outdoors. It doesn't get much better than that for me.

Great write up, love the stories. Great buck and awesome first deer for the young man!!! Congrats to you both