Wahoonbox Youth Hunt

[Sea Draggin]

Kelsey(the dolphin killer), who is my 11 year old daughter, and I met Marty at his house on Friday afternoon for a youth hunt in the infamous tabacco barns of Tarboro.

The day was clear and cool, in contrast to the day before, that was warm enough for the skeeters to make a good showing. A two hour run and we made a quick stop to suit up, then on to the killing fields. Neither Marty or I carried a gun, because this was all about Kelsey.

We parked and made a short 150 yd walk in to the area. We quickly set up under a fallen down barn roof, and tied up some camo for total concealment. The small clearing was a perfect set up for Kelseys 20 gauge. 30 Yards across. If one came in it would be nice and close. An easy layup shot.

And we wait. Just a few hours of daylight left.

Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I catch movement. Its a deer, a front quarter. Now I'm sitting behing Kelsey on a bucket and I start to spinner her around to take this deer.

The we see it......the deer drops its head.......a beautiful perfect 8 point buck with a 16" spread and 7-8" G2's. I start tripping out....shooter buck....shooter buck.....walking right down the path we had just come in on. Kelseys gun is cocked and up and we wait for the perfect shot.

Well they don't get that big by mistake. The big buck skirts the edge of the thicket at 35 yards, refusing to give this little girl the trophy of a lifetime. Instead of coming between the barns, it goes around and slowly makes it way on by us at a safe distance. At this point kelsey needs a little support. She was so shook up that I literally had to hold her from behind.

We had him......He was busted.....And there we were and all we had was a short 20 ga single barrel with open sites and an inexperienced shooter. It was a Carolina adventure for sure.

We decided not to chance it.....That ones not going anywhere. And we slowly slipped out....that big boy never even knew we were there.

Kelseys classic repsonse was when I said "I just keep replaying that over and over in my head."

She replies "I'd like to be replaying blood splattering over again in my head."

Thanks for the trip Marty!!! We will get them next time.

[Capt-D]

Awl man!

I guess she wil just have to give it another try next weekend!!

-D

[DROPBACK]

Thats great story. Thanks for sharing. Im 26 and just spent the last 2 days in the woods with my father. Those are the days you never forget.

Karl

[Sea Draggin]

Dear Marty Hiatt,

Thank you so much for taking my dad and me hunting. I had a blast! My favorite part was when we saw the horns and dad whispered in my ear
"SHOOTER BUCK, SHOOTER BUCK'', when you were taping us ,and also when I
was shaking so bad because I was so excited! I hope that you can come to my hunting spot sometime soon. Thanks again so much. It was a great privledge!

Sincerely,
Kelsey

[saltwaterbucks]

That was a great story. My daughter is 24 and she killed her first deer at 14. Since then she has taken 5 more nice trophies and one for the record book. Hunting is a great hobby for kids and adults alike. Kelsey, keep living the dream, it is real. Thanks for sharing with us your zeal for life.

[saltwaterbucks]

P.S. Please tell me the Box will be posting a video of your hunt.

[gaffer]

This is the stuff heros (DAD's) are made of...

Great story of great times...

Thanks for sharing with us other Dad's, especially those with daughters, ain't nothing quite like it...

[bassvamp]

Was this her first hunt?
It's awesome getting the kids into hunting and fishing.Way to go guys!

Mine started fishing with me before 2 and by 7 he was pulling allnighters with me perched upon a bridge in below frezzing temps and loving it! now he's 12 and last year youth day he got his first buck-just a button-but I think the smile on his face would have been just as big if it was a state record! This year youth day (with only one kill under his belt) he has become a selective hunter passing up the first doe and waiting for his buck. This time is was only a spike but it supprised me that he decided to pick his deer rather than just shoot the first one that came in.

When we hunt together I never take a gun or bow either my conscience would never let me snuff one out from underneath him!

[Sea Draggin]

No this wasn't her first hunt, but she hasn't taken anything yet. Almost had a pair of toms back in the spring and we deer hunted one day last year.

Shes overdue for some blood splattering, as she says.

[bassvamp]

"I'd like to be replaying blood splattering over again in my head."

I like the way she thinks!