It worked :)

[gudspelr]

So, my oldest boy has had in his mind that he wants to go hunting next fall when he's old enough. I really wanted to have him with me when I got a deer just so he could experience it and we could have a better idea of whether or not it was something he wanted to do. I took him out last year with a friend who had access to some private property, but we only saw a lot of does. We went out yesterday to an area I'd never been and there were a LOT of hunters. I guess that's part of the down side with rifle hunting. Would be neat to do the whole archery thing, but I'm just not that good at it and wanted to be able to harvest something. We did a fair bit of driving as well as a few hikes and some glassing. I didn't really expect to get one the first day out with all of those cards stacked against us. But, it was getting towards evening and my son hollered out as we were driving.

I managed to seal the deal on a little buck-he was barely starting to fork at the top of his spikes. But size was far from the point. And an added bonus was getting to use a knife I made for the first time on a critter. I've had one in the kitchen for about a year, but for some reason getting to dress and skin a deer was pretty cool. And, my boy did fantastic and loved the whole thing. He'll be hunting for sure next fall.

The knife was one I'd messed up during handle shaping-I gouged the spine accidentally and left the knife on the back of the bench. The blade was finished and sharpened, just not done with the handle and guard. I was pretty pleased with the field dressing, but that's not exactly the most challenging "test". I used to keep a couple knives on hand during skinning because they always seemed to dull part way through. Happily, I didn't have to go to another knife    .

For the last bit of the process, I'm sure it could have gone a tad easier if I'd touched it up lightly, but wanted to see how it did without. And even without, it still finished the deer out well.

So, for any of you out there that want something better than that outdoor sports store knife, you really can have it. With the incredible makers on this forum and all their help and advice, if I can get it accomplished, anyone can    . So, thanks to a whole bunch of you on here for all the help you provide.

Jeremy

   

 

 

[Lin Rhea]

Good job Jeremy! With the knife as well as starting your son on his way into the outdoors.

[gudspelr]

Thanks, Lin. I ended up spending a lot of the spring and summer up to a week or so ago fishing with the kids. They're pretty well hooked on it now (no pun intended...). This weekend I go to spend some wonderful time in some beautiful country with my son and we got seriously blessed to harvest a deer. We were able to have some meaningful conversations, too-understanding where our food comes from, being a little self sufficient, and providing some meat for the family. We are challenged in so many ways as parents in this culture and I feel like I got to make a meaningful push in a good direction with my boy on something that's important, and frankly taken for granted by a lot of folks.

If he's not a life long hunter, I'm totally okay with that. He'll at least know and appreciate some more what happens to be on his plate   . Plus, this is a great opportunity for us to share some time in the shop. He's been wanting his own hunting knife and I told him we'd do that when he was old enough to hunt. I think it ought to be a great winter project.

Jeremy

[akaboomer]

Well done Jeremy! Congratulations! I am always happy to hear parents taking the time to teach their children a balanced view and an outdoor lifestyle.

Chris

[Bobby Urban]

Awesome all the way around.  I too, had not used my own knife hunting for years because I always seemed to give away the one I wanted before the season.  Past few years I have been using them and it was nice to know they work.

BTW - that looks like an awfully new towel you are using???  Did you get into any trouble for that??  LOL

[gudspelr]

Thanks, and Bobby-the towel didn't get me in trouble   . I'd first seen those up at Ed Caffrey's when I took a class. They come in a big pack at Costco and are some gee whiz lint free cloths that won't scratch up you blades. I use them in the shop as I get closer to finishing the blades. Since I never finished the handle and guard on this one, I didn't make a sheath for it, I just wrapped it in the cloth and put it in the pack.

Jeremy