He has a Bear Grizzly, broadheads and other assorted gear and a day off so I decided to ask him to go scouting with me. He has never been before and was anxious to go.
There is a 1300 acre wma about 4 miles from his house and that is where I decided to take him.
We left the truck and within minutes we were at a brush pile. I had him go on one side and I started kicking the brush hoping a rabbit would run out. I saw Josh lock on to something for a secound and asked what he had seen. He said it looked like a rat. I told him to take the shot if he had one but the rat was safe.
We walked aways into the woods and I noticed some mature oaks in a area that is dominated by scrub trees. I told Josh we needed to check it out. After making our way into the thicket I saw 2 rubs and asked him if he knew what they were? He wasn't sure and asked if they were rubs? Here was something I have seen a thousand times and yet it was Josh's first. I could see the excitement in his eyes. Got me excited for him.
We did some more walking and I showed him where I had shot a deer with a 30.30 about 6 years ago and explained how to set up for that particular spot.
Some more walking and we found a tree that had been chewed on by a beaver next to a ditch. Josh kept an eye out for the beaver but no luck.
Some more walking and we saw two deer as they took off through the trees. To the best of my knowledge those were the first deer he had ever seen while actually holding a bow in his hand and a broadhead in his quiver. I was tickled that I was with him when he saw his first wild deer in the woods.
As we made our turn around to head back to the truck I selected a route that would take us back but would still be new territory that we had not covered. We found a crossing that was used heavily. There wasn't a tree big enough to climb but I did notice a cedar tree about 20 yards away. I said that if he cleared out a few limbs on that tree and sat on a stool he would more than likely see a deer or two. We walked over to the tree and 10 yards on the other side was a second trail coming out on the other side and it was beaten down just as bad as the first.
Wish I could have found some old scrapes for him to see but the rubs, tracks and trails were a first for him and I know the ember has been ignited.
My legs are sore as heck from all of the walking but I feel honored to have been the one to show Josh the ropes today and hope it is just the beggining of a great hunting future for him.
Topic: Took SIL on his 1st ever scouting trip (Read 164 times)
