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October 14, 2009
Redemption Buck - 16
Last season, my son James Travis Faulkner, almost shot the biggest buck he had ever encountered in the woods during our state’s two day youth season. However, the sneaky old veteran was able to slip through the thick cover without offering my boy an ethical shot. For the next few months, this particular buck was the main topic of discussion at my house. James stuck with that deer for the remainder of the season, but the buck went into stealth mode and was not seen again.
I explained to James that he had done the right thing by not taking a questionable shot and that he may actually cross paths with the buck again. As fate would have it, we returned to the same area this past weekend for another youth season hunt. The first morning it poured rain and a few does were all that showed up. Later that evening, we found ourselves sitting in the exact spot where the first encounter had occurred the year before. I caught a quick glimpse of a tail flickering deep inside a thick entanglement of weeds and underbrush. After quickly glassing the area, I found the deer and there was no doubt this was the same buck. James already had his .270 rifle aimed toward a small clearing along the edge of the thicket. Within seconds, the buck stepped into the opening and momentarily paused. A loud echoing boom broke the evening silence and sent the long-tined trophy into a short death run that ended not 20 yards from our setup. I had smoked a nice buck in Illinois just before the youth season, but I wouldn’t trade 10 heavy-racked giants for this hunt with my son. James is on top of the world right now and all he can say is that redemption is sweet! Congratulations son. |
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Comments (16)
WOW! Way to go James you are quite the hunter. I for one am really truly impressed.
Travis, James,
Wow, congrats to both of you! James, way to stick with it and kill that old bruiser. I've been following your stories for a couple years now, turkeys, squirrell's, and deer. I love it when your dad writes about you. My boy goes squirrell hunting with me, he loves it, he's not old enough to hunt alone yet, he's 2, lol. I hope that he develops into a great hunter like you.
Travis, I know you are proud, these "family traditions" turn into memories of our heritage never to be forgotten. It is what fules my daily drive. This addiction gets stronger. Good luck to all, and get your kid, or someones kid hunting.
Dirty
Charlie Elk,
My son is flying high right now and I don't think he is going to come down anytime soon. It's becoming really hard to keep his mind out of the woods, especially during the spring and fall of the year. James is 100% addicted to the outdoors and I am one proud father.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Dirty,
I really appreciate your comments and there is no doubt that your son will be one heck of a hunter. Starting him out young is the key and squirrel hunting is probably the best teacher. This is where a hunter learns the woodsmanship skills that are needed to make a great deer hunter. Hunting is all about family and I wouldn't trade my memories in the woods for all of the money in the world.
Tell your son to stay in the woods and good things will
happen. Keep us posted on how your season unfolds this year.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Congratulations to young James. That is a great story of patience, persistence, and ethical hunting. Nice buck too!
great hunt james way to go!that hunt was a good teaching tool travis.be an ethical hunter and to never give up on a deer.good luck the rest of the season!
Travis & James,
Great storie & great bucks good to see such ethical hunting passed down the blood line.
great job james i am happy you got your buck. this year i had an encounter with a bull elk but the shot was not worth the risk even though it was a big 6x6. hopfully i will be able to get redemption as well. my hunts with my dad are truly the most important things in my life. i would never trade anything for hunting with my dad
Taylor1,
I am proud of you for not taking a questionable shot. Also, it sounds like you've got a great Dad and hunting partner. I would love to take my son James on an elk hunt some day and encounter a big bull. Don't worry about not getting to take the shot. You made the right decision and before long you will have another chance. Stick with your Dad and stay in the woods as much as possible. My father and son all hunt with me and I wouldn't trade these trips for anything. Keep us posted on the BBZ about your fall season.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Seadog,
James wanted me to tell you thanks for the comments. We will always remember that hunt. In fact, I think it's already one of my favorite hunting memories. Simply because he didn't take a bad shot and dedicated himself to sticking with that one deer. The deer weighed well over 200 pounds and it was a job getting him out of the woods, but well worth it. How is your season going so far?
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Patrick88 and Dropjhook,
It makes you feel good as a hunter to see your child learn and develop in the woods. James is a really good student and basketball player. He's already a little girl crazy, but hunting and fishing is what he loves the most. It's nice to see the family tradition come full circle. There is no better enjoyment than passing a love for hunting and the outdoors on to another individual. Nature truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Congratulations to both of you. James that is a monster buck. Travis, I am sure this is a hunt you and your son will remember for the rest of your lives. Congratulations again.
Beautiful deer James you are one lucky boy not only a great deer but a Father that cares enough to spend time in the woods with you. My 14 year old daughter Abby hunts with me and she had a beautiful 10 pointer show up first morning of Illinois youth season last year but like yourself could not get an ethical shot so she passed it up. Then in November our first shotgun season i had a buck show up across a field at about 125 yards i put the cross hairs on the Omega on the spot and took the shot. After getting the deer back to the house we started looking and with the help of our video tape i realized had shot the same Buck she had encountered during youth season. (Boy did i catch --- over that. Again GREAT JOB ON A BEAUTIFUL DEER!
taylor1,
That takes great discipline to pass on the marginal shots. A salute to you my fellow hunter. Many highly experienced hunters can not bring themselves to pass on those shots.
Your father is doing an excellent job mentoring and bet he is very proud you.
Later,
charlie
Crossbow54,
I would like to thank you for your kind comments and for taking your daughter deer hunting. Hunting can form strong father and daughter bonds too. Also, tell your daughter to hang with her dad and good things will happen. I hope both of you smoke giants this season. Keep us posted on the BBZ this year.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Congratulations, Dad/T,Sr., get used to it James, it comes w/ the name Jimmy.
JimboS
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)
WOW! Way to go James you are quite the hunter. I for one am really truly impressed.
Travis, James,
Wow, congrats to both of you! James, way to stick with it and kill that old bruiser. I've been following your stories for a couple years now, turkeys, squirrell's, and deer. I love it when your dad writes about you. My boy goes squirrell hunting with me, he loves it, he's not old enough to hunt alone yet, he's 2, lol. I hope that he develops into a great hunter like you.
Travis, I know you are proud, these "family traditions" turn into memories of our heritage never to be forgotten. It is what fules my daily drive. This addiction gets stronger. Good luck to all, and get your kid, or someones kid hunting.
Dirty
Charlie Elk,
My son is flying high right now and I don't think he is going to come down anytime soon. It's becoming really hard to keep his mind out of the woods, especially during the spring and fall of the year. James is 100% addicted to the outdoors and I am one proud father.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Dirty,
I really appreciate your comments and there is no doubt that your son will be one heck of a hunter. Starting him out young is the key and squirrel hunting is probably the best teacher. This is where a hunter learns the woodsmanship skills that are needed to make a great deer hunter. Hunting is all about family and I wouldn't trade my memories in the woods for all of the money in the world.
Tell your son to stay in the woods and good things will
happen. Keep us posted on how your season unfolds this year.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Congratulations to young James. That is a great story of patience, persistence, and ethical hunting. Nice buck too!
great hunt james way to go!that hunt was a good teaching tool travis.be an ethical hunter and to never give up on a deer.good luck the rest of the season!
Travis & James,
Great storie & great bucks good to see such ethical hunting passed down the blood line.
great job james i am happy you got your buck. this year i had an encounter with a bull elk but the shot was not worth the risk even though it was a big 6x6. hopfully i will be able to get redemption as well. my hunts with my dad are truly the most important things in my life. i would never trade anything for hunting with my dad
Taylor1,
I am proud of you for not taking a questionable shot. Also, it sounds like you've got a great Dad and hunting partner. I would love to take my son James on an elk hunt some day and encounter a big bull. Don't worry about not getting to take the shot. You made the right decision and before long you will have another chance. Stick with your Dad and stay in the woods as much as possible. My father and son all hunt with me and I wouldn't trade these trips for anything. Keep us posted on the BBZ about your fall season.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Seadog,
James wanted me to tell you thanks for the comments. We will always remember that hunt. In fact, I think it's already one of my favorite hunting memories. Simply because he didn't take a bad shot and dedicated himself to sticking with that one deer. The deer weighed well over 200 pounds and it was a job getting him out of the woods, but well worth it. How is your season going so far?
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Patrick88 and Dropjhook,
It makes you feel good as a hunter to see your child learn and develop in the woods. James is a really good student and basketball player. He's already a little girl crazy, but hunting and fishing is what he loves the most. It's nice to see the family tradition come full circle. There is no better enjoyment than passing a love for hunting and the outdoors on to another individual. Nature truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
taylor1,
That takes great discipline to pass on the marginal shots. A salute to you my fellow hunter. Many highly experienced hunters can not bring themselves to pass on those shots.
Your father is doing an excellent job mentoring and bet he is very proud you.
Later,
charlie
Crossbow54,
I would like to thank you for your kind comments and for taking your daughter deer hunting. Hunting can form strong father and daughter bonds too. Also, tell your daughter to hang with her dad and good things will happen. I hope both of you smoke giants this season. Keep us posted on the BBZ this year.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Congratulations to both of you. James that is a monster buck. Travis, I am sure this is a hunt you and your son will remember for the rest of your lives. Congratulations again.
Beautiful deer James you are one lucky boy not only a great deer but a Father that cares enough to spend time in the woods with you. My 14 year old daughter Abby hunts with me and she had a beautiful 10 pointer show up first morning of Illinois youth season last year but like yourself could not get an ethical shot so she passed it up. Then in November our first shotgun season i had a buck show up across a field at about 125 yards i put the cross hairs on the Omega on the spot and took the shot. After getting the deer back to the house we started looking and with the help of our video tape i realized had shot the same Buck she had encountered during youth season. (Boy did i catch --- over that. Again GREAT JOB ON A BEAUTIFUL DEER!
Congratulations, Dad/T,Sr., get used to it James, it comes w/ the name Jimmy.
JimboS
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)