Youths in the Outdoors
ShoMeOutdoors is looking for Stories from viewers and members to add to this page, if you have a youth hunt or related story feel free to submit it for this page, so that others can share in the excitement of a youths first hunt. Be sure to send a picture of the successful youth if you have one.
Turkey calling contest held in Columbia January 29th at Bass Pro has turned up a young lady, 15yrs of age, who really knows how to scratch a Turkey call.
In a Time when children are to busy running around with friends, Playing electronic games on the www or Television set, and peer pressures that land Alcohol and drugs in the hands of our children, and parents seemingly to busy to take a real interest in what their kids are up to, it sometimes seems hopeless. Now add the fact that the sport of hunting is dieing a slow death because the hunting parent seems to have little to no time, or even the desire to take a youth hunting, to teach them a love for the sport. It is good to know that there is hope for the future of hunting and outdoors activities. Someone has passed on a love of calling Turkeys.
Armed with a Poor Valley Cedar slate call, Elizabeth Lenox climbed onto the strutting stage for the first time and showed the big boys what its all about. and took 2nd place in the Jakes division. and her Father, Bill Lenox, took 4th in Friction Division. This is a first time a Poor Valley call has made it to the stage in a calling contest, and it is the first time either of these callers have competed. To pull off such good placement, with so many Firsts taking place says a lot for the competitors, the Call, and the maker of Poor Valley Turkey calls.
ShoMeOutdoors.com would like to congratulate all 3 of these people for their success. And to wish them continued success in the future. To the young lady who pulled a 2nd place out of the contest. You Go Girl, We see a champion in the future, Next year will be First place I am sure of that.
Nephews First deer
First morning of the youth season found me and 2 of my nephews in a Pop-up blind, sitting on a wooded ridge on the Mark Twain National Forest. The older Nephew, Peyton (13) had already been out with me for s successful youth hunt for spring Turkeys, so Today was Marshall's (10) turn to get first crack at a deer.
We had been sitting in the blind since before daylight, there was a light breeze and it was cool out this morning. At around 9:30 A.M. one of them seen movement out of his designated window and sent up the alert, as we all three scooted around in the little blind to have a look, I do notice a deer coming right toward us, I tell Marshall to get the 30.30 up and pointing out the window in the direction the deer is and to wait till I give the ok before shooting. Looking through my Binoculars I notice that it is a buck, small but it actually had a horn, The little buck stopped and put its nose to the ground and when its head came up it was munching on an acorn. it then turned and headed over the side of the Ridge to our left, I had Marshall pick and opening and be ready, when the Buck stepped into the opening, I gave a grunt and he stopped. I told Marshall to take the shot, after just a second he told me he could not shoot as there was to much brush in the way, and the Buck started walking again, this time there was no hope of another opening so we sat and watched the Buck leave the area. I didn't say anything to Marshall other than we would get another chance, but inside I was proud that he would not try to take the shot, this 10 year old boy who has never hunted or shot anything in his life had enough in him to pass on an marginal shot, Wow.
Later that afternoon, around 3:00 P.M. he again seen movement and sure enough there was that Buck back again. The buck is about 70 yards out and so much brush it is impossible to get a shot...And I am wanting to do my best to get Marshall a shot, So I tell Peyton to stay put, I climb out the back of the blind and tell Marshall to stay right on my heels, don't move unless I move and don't make any noise. So I stalk him up to about 40 yards Where we finally have a shot, I tell him to take it, he aims using a Sapling as a rest and shoots, he misses and the buck just jumps and takes about five steps and stops, looks around and goes back to whatever it is he is doing...so I tell Marshall to take another shot. he aims, he shoots and he misses again...deer just looks around but does not even act like he heard the Rifle. Well, I finally figure I just am going to have to get Marshall closer somehow, I see a big oak about another 10 yards away, so I have him follow me to that tree while hiding himself behind me, Giving him my version of military sniper hand signals :) we manage to stalk to within 30 yards of this little buck...And this is not easy task with an 10 yr old who walks with his feet on backwards through the woods, heck it isn't easy to manage by yourself, but I was determined he was going to tag this Buck...we get to the tree and I step out from behind it, and hit a knee, I told Marshall to rest the gun on my shoulder and shoot the buck, of course he is wanting to put the muzzle right next to my ear, and I am pulling the gun forward and whispering to him that I would like to be able to continue hearing, Finally we are situated, I tell him to cock the Hammer back and take the shot, he does and that buck just hit the ground like a sack of taters. At the sight of that Buck hitting the ground I heard both Peyton and Marshall yelling with Excitement, Peyton Grabs my pack with my Knife and runs down to where we are standing. and for the first time they both get a lesson that no amount of words can ever teach, Gun Safety, this is the first time either have seen so much blood and the damage that a high powered rifle can do. All in all, These boys are hooked, and Marshall is one happy hunter.
And you know what, as an Uncle and Experienced hunter, I have to tell you that I have way more fun taking these boys hunting than I have when I hunt for myself, I think this is a memory they will both carry with them long after I am gone from this place, and I hope to make many more memories for them and with them. Happy hunting.
Brendan & Christopher
Callaojoe '06
Brendan's Story
My 14 year old son made it a
clean sweep by the Callaojoe family. 2006 turns out to be my most memorable deer
season. Least with a rifle....
Anyway. Bout 3:30 this afternoon after he'd spent 9 hours on stand yesterday,
and then another 7 1/2 today. We finally saw a deer. We got up in the stand I
started rifle season in about 2:00 pm this afternoon. To our left is a bedding
area that I've routinely seen deer in over the years, including several on
opening day this year. Anyway, after sitting there & glassing for an hour & 1/2
I see a patch of brown that don't match the rest of the leaves & brush. Turns
out to be a pretty nice doe. Anyway, I let Brendan know there's a deer bedded to
our South. She's about a 100 yds away, and her head is mostly covered by a small
hickory tree. After about 10 - 15 minutes of him trying to identify the deer, I
ask him if he's comfortable taking the shot, or would he prefer if I tried to
get her to stand up. He tells me he's no really been able to identify a good
shot yet, and If I can get her to stand up he'd prefer that. So, I do the bleat,
trying to get her to stand.
She doesn't stand but turns her head to her back, and he
tells me he can now see her nose, and if I think he should shoot at her nose,
which is covering her vitals. I tell him to aim right for her nose...I'm
watching through my scope as he takes the shot, and BANG....Her head drops as
soon as she's hit. He put it right through her ear, and out the back side of her
head....He really made an awesome shot on this deer. Guess the time at the range
is paying off....Turns out to be a real nice doe, probably 110 field dress
weight. Good eating size.I'll post the rest in the Macon county outback journal
later. This means myself & both of my boys took deer this year.Here's the happy
hunter, and one proud, and very satisfied father.
Christopher's Story
Well, third youth season for my son Christopher. He'd
spent a lot of time on stand over the last couple of years without seeing a
single deer yet.
Anyway, after listening to the Cardinals win the world series on Friday night...
Woke up at 5:30 am on Saturday morning to a perfect NW wind, and our
anticipation running high after all the work DWD, and myself had done preparing
for this morning. Pulled into the shooting house at 6:15, and get ready to greet
the morning. Poured him a cup of hot cocoa, and just sat there listening to the
morning. Well, the morning awoke about as beautiful as a fall morning can
awaken, but no deer to be seen or heard. I tried rattling, grunting & the can,
but no response. Only seen one squirrel, which is unusual for the Macon county
squirrel sanctuary...... Anyway, we sat it out till about 11:00 am before
heading up for a hot lunch, and a short nap.
I'd been planning to hunt the food plot stand on Saturday night, as long as we
could get the wind to cooperate. As we stepped out to head back into the woods,
the wind had shifted to a WSW wind, perfect for the food plot stand. Anyway, we
pulled into the stand around 3:15 and settled down for the long wait. With a 8 -
10 mph wind in our face I knew that any deer that stepped into the field was in
trouble. 6:00 pm rolled around with still no deer sightings. I told him that for
whatever reason, we just weren't having much luck, but the next 1/2 hour or so
was the best time to be on stand, and that our luck could change in a moments
notice. At about 6:15 or so, he leaned over to me, and I put my arm around him,
and told him to just be patient. Said a little prayer to let him at least see a
deer before it got dark. With that, what I thought was a 4 point buck walked out
into the field about 20 yds to our left. I whisper to him that a buck had just
walked into the field, and he immediately went into action. He got the rifle
leveled on the deer, and I told him that as soon as he thought he had a good
shot to go ahead & squeeze off a shot.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity for me, he squeezes off the shot,
and the buck does the death hop and heads across the field. I'm telling him he
did it, that he's going down. The deer crosses the creek on the other side of
the field & piles up.
Turns out that this deer is a 7 point, not a 4 so he's on top of the world. I
couldn't of walked down, and marked an X on this deer any better than the shot
he made. I asked him if he was nervous when he was lining up the shot, and he
said no, but as soon as he pulled the trigger he thought his heart was going to
jump out of his chest. (or something to that effect...) Told him that's the way
it is for me too.
Anyway, enough of my ramblings... Here's a picture of him with his deer:
Home ShoMeOutdoors Forums Homemade Trailcam Project
Store Member articles Links Contact
Hunting Missouri Ozark National Scenic Riverways