| 'Getting the Lucky Part Right'. | | | | tick tack toe and hang man on the inside walls of the |
| | | | stand. Of coarse all hang man words must be hunting |
| As with most worthwhile endeavors, success only | | | | related. Chase always gets me with past tense prizes |
| shows itself after meticulous preparation, untold | | | | like 'killed' 'hunted' and 'scoped'. We took turns 'resting |
| hours of training and a bit of luck. Last night, as my | | | | our eyes' as the other glassed the 15-acre field. Night |
| nine-year-old Chase knelt beside his first deer, I was | | | | settled across the tree line and the breeze calmed to |
| thinking that at least we got the luck part right. | | | | a few welcome puffs as the crickets began their |
| It was a warm afternoon with that kind of bright | | | | chatter and song for us. |
| squinty sunlight that makes a fall day feel like no | | | | Shooting light is a fleeting thing. You know it is leaving |
| other. Our plan was to leave the house about 2:00 | | | | and departure cannot be delayed. But this evening |
| pm but a late afternoon nap got in the way. Around | | | | was different. In the time between light and dark, |
| 3:30 p.m. we threw our gear in the back of the truck, | | | | time stood still for Chase's first deer to step into the |
| (it's always packed and ready to go this time of | | | | field. Standing tall with ears forward, the doe scanned |
| year) and headed to the local Chevron A.K.A. "The | | | | the darkening field for danger. Sensing safety she led |
| Blue Store" for some jerky and a couple or A&W | | | | three other doe into the field, unaware that her fate |
| root beers in the glass bottle. (Chase is convinced | | | | would forever be tied to my youngest son's fondest |
| that the glass makes the root beer taste colder). | | | | hunting memory. Like magic, appearing and |
| Once provisioned, a short drive to LaRue had us | | | | disappearing from view the four deer crossed the |
| arriving at our lease around 4:15. That's at least 2 | | | | field, passing briefly in front of an enormous oak to |
| hours too late in my opinion but to be honest, it's | | | | eat a few newly fallen acorns. |
| more about time with my youngest than hunting. | | | | I left the view from my binoculars and glanced at |
| A couple of open fields, an old logging road and we | | | | Chase as the deer found their way to 100 yards |
| were with in half-mile walking distance of our favorite | | | | directly in front of us. As I began to whisper |
| stand. It's an old elevated 4 by 4 that we cleared | | | | instructions I realized that Chase had with out a |
| the red wasp out of and rescued from a field of | | | | sound picked up the .270 and had it steadied on the |
| goat weed and bull nettles. Three weekends, $60 to | | | | windowsill. As I went back to my glasses, I saw all |
| Loews and three cans of spray paint and we had a | | | | four deer. One doe was the obvious choice to me |
| stand that little boys and 45-year-old hunters dream | | | | but to a 9 year old it might have been difficult to |
| about. Staying in the dark shade of a tree line, we | | | | choose wisely and be decisive. With only the words, |
| slinked our way to the stand well aware of our | | | | "I see her" Chase clicked off the safety with out |
| lateness. I guess luck was with us because the only | | | | leaving the scope and squeezed off a shot. The doe |
| creatures we disturbed were the large rust colored | | | | dropped in her tracks, taken by a dead perfect shot |
| spiders that had begun to build their webs in the | | | | through the heart. |
| evening shade. Chase and I both marvel at these | | | | I will never forget the smile on Chase's face and the |
| spiders but after having walked face first into | | | | moment when he knew he could achieve what ever |
| several, they make me a bit skittish, (especially in the | | | | he set his mind to. We love to hunt but hunting |
| dark!). | | | | together is what we love to do most. I am the |
| After climbing up and into our custom camo shack, | | | | luckiest Dad in Texas today. |
| we got ourselves settled and had a few games of | | | | |