Well I rolled in late last night from another wonderful weekend. I had been asked about a month ago to take this young lady out hunting. Her sister used to work for me and they knew I was an outdoors person. She's enrolled in a University in Northern MO and they have a hunting class that she is taking. Part of the curriculum is to either go "real" hunting or go out to the farm and sit in the blind and observe what goes on. She decided she wanted the "real" hunting.
I told her I was coming up and at first I thought, she'll just tag along and observe. As we got closer to me leaving, I noticed she was wanting to harvest something. I told her fall turkey season was going and this would be her best chance. So instead of going after big bucks up in Northern MO, I packed for chasing some turkeys.
I was a bit pessimistic about how long she would want to be out and all. She said she'd call on Friday at 3:30 and right on the dot she did. I went and picked her up and off to the farm we went. She ended up spotting the turkeys and we roosted them that night. Afterwards, we went and met her sister for some dinner. Talked and caught up and then I headed back to the motel. She told me she'd be ready by 5 and call me. I really figured I would not get a phone call. 4:50 the phone rings and she's ready. I go pick her up and away we go.
By about 7, the woods were really starting to come to life. First off a nice 8 pointer cruises by less than 15 yards. She didn't get a chance to see him, but she sure did see the monster 10 that walked by less than 10 yards. He had to be in the 160 range easily. He stuck around and thrashed on some trees and messed with his scrape. I was watching her observe the deer and she sit still like a stone wall. I was caught off guard how someone who never has been in the outdoors hunting was so still and patient. He walked away and the birds came to life. I started out with a prototype trumpet and boy did they love it. The hens were yelping all around!! I could hear them moving closer and closer and then we hear a noise. Look up to our right and a 6 point buck is less than 5 yards away looking at us. I whispered to her that we were in deep trouble now. I had to quit calling since I was afraid the deer would spook the birds. As I quit calling, I heard the birds moving away from us. That 6 pointer stayed around for at least 30 minutes. We had no scent free spray or anything on. I couldn't believe how close that deer was and wouldn't go away. Finally he left our graces.
I was a little bummed out, but I hit the trumpet again and I heard the bird respond. I kept calling and I could tell she was closing again. Messed with her for awhile and realized, she was stuck right there. Then I pulled out a lil turpin and Chaos (Morgans Hen box) I kee kee'd on my little turpin and the woods went to life again. She smiled at me and I told her to get ready. The kee kee'ng worked for a while and then it was like, hey you come to us. Problem was, these woods were full of briars waste deep. Seeing beyond 10 yards was next to impossible. I pick up Chaos and hammer on it. I really really po'd the hen then. You could hear her death march. As she got closer and closer, I told Caroline I thought she was coming that way. We pointed that way and waited. We could hear her footsteps, but could never see her
Eventually, she started putting. I don't think she ever saw us, but she knew something wasn't right. We could hear them walk away and I said, let's spin around on them. We walked around them and got on the other side. I made a call real quick and oops... I saw them and they saw us. 15 to 20 hens with their eyes on us. No way to really spook them and bust them up so we sit and watched them.
About that time, my buddy texted me that he needed a tracker. He was deer hunting. Caroline said, can we go help. I said yes. Over we went and he explained where he had shot the doe at where he thought it went. Caroline tracked him via blood trail and we found her. She helped me drag her out of the mess and when it came time to gut the deer, she wanted to do it. Guess being Pre-Med things like that does not bother you
After gutting the deer we hoisted it and she helped skin and process her. She had one request, she wanted to taste some venison. After all her help, we cut the inner tenderloins and one outer and gave to her. Next thing I know, she asks if I'd cook it for her and her sister. I said yes. I grilled it wrapped in bacon and man was it good.
Next morning she overslept, but I called and she was ready in 10 minutes. We went out again and saw the 10 point buck and the 6 pointer. Had a raccoon try to attack us we called it quits. She had a huge Physics test to study for
One thing I will say, I've never seen so much grit and determination from a first time hunter. She never once complained about all the walking we did, helping drag and cutup the deer, or sitting on the ground so much. We walked many of miles through plowed fields and that is hard work. I was a little disappointed that she didn't harvest a bird and I told her that when I dropped her off the last time. I said I have one question, what did you think? She gave me a big smile and said, I hope you'll come up here in the Spring and take me and that she had a great time! She was quite the Trooper! After letting her off, I looked up toward the sky and I felt my grandpa looking down upon me smiling. Finally passed on what little knowledge I have to someone that I hope will continue to use it. I wish more of our youth/young adults were like her and that interested in the outdoors.
Here's a photo of her after we got the deer hoisted. She lifted the deer up and helped tie the rope to hold her up. The deer I'm pretty sure weighed more than her, so I was really impressed she got the deer up!
Photos of her getting ready to walk back in... She carried the gun and did a great job with it. Safety was always on her mind!
And Morgan, I'm not sure your calls have ever looked any better
She wanted to keep Chaos and I told her, that might be the most problem child call I've ever seen
I had a blast taking a first timer out. I'd definitely do it again. Oh and she even interviewed me for her class... I feel sorry for them
