Our South Dakota youth deer season opened yesterday. This is a great opportunity for hunters under 18 years of age to purchase a antlerless deer tag. The season runs through January 15th so there is no time pressure to "fill" the tag.
This season along with a mentored hunting tag makes South Dakota very kid friendly for getting started into big game hunting.
Both of my boys have been shooting bows since they were old enough to pull a string back. They have also been accompanying me on many hunts throughout the years. As of this moment Cade is 15, and Ian is 13.
Enough of the background. Yesterday the Youth season opened with much anticipation by both of them. This season is an any legal weapon season, and both chose to use their traditional gear.
The morning found me hunting with my youngest out of a ground blind in an apple orchard on our property. True to form, when you have a antlerless tag, the bucks show up. The first buck was a broken off main beam 4x3, the second being what is affectionately called an 11 pointer in our house (meaning spike).
Both bucks gave textbook slightly quartering away shot presentations. So it was great reinforcing learning moment.
The first antlerless deer did not present a good shot as they came through looking for fallen apples. They seemed to be in a hurry to get to their bedding areas.
Finally a 1.5 year old doe came in about 0930. Gave perfect slightly quartering away opportunity.
One of things that I always emphasize to the boys is their shooting sequence. Draw, anchor, pick a spot, concentrate, release.
Well it worked, the arrow disappeared into the ribs and the doe exploded out of there. It was dead quiet and we could hear the deer run, then a crash as she ran into a small oak tree and to the ground.
Shot placement was perfect, straight up the leg, 1/2 way up the body and exited about three inches farther forward on the offside. Arrow zipped right through with no bone being hit.
Bow is a Sarrel's Blueridge S/R 48 @ 28 drawing 38#. Shooting Easton Traditional 600 shafts, weight is 435gr, using Magnus Stinger two blade heads. This bow was bought off the St. Jude's auction in 2013. (Thanks to Rob for donating)
This is Ian's 2nd traditional harvest and is anxiously awaiting the start of archery season to hopefully get his first buck. Updates will follow...
On to Cade, we left later in the afternoon to head out to another property that also has an apple orchard. We set up the ground blind and barely got settled when a dry doe literally comes running into the orchard.
She immediately set about to crunching crab apples off the ground. Cade went through the shooting sequence and released an arrow. At the shot, there was a loud crack and the deer fell, quickly regained her feet and took off, went out of sight over a small rise and made a loud crash as she hit the fence heading into the alfalfa field.
We quickly got out to see where she was heading, and she was struggling mightily to cover ground. Bedded down right in the alfalfa, and shortly thereafter rolled over.
Cade's bow is a Robertson Raven Styk 60#@28 and he is drawing real close to the 60#, I think it was 58# the last time we checked. Arrows are Big Jim GT Nugent blems. Weight is 525gr with a 175gr Eclipse broadhead up front.
This shot was not quite as good but it worked. Arrow entered at the last rib and did not exit. Hit the offside femur, which was absolutely shattered into pieces. Do not know if the arrow did all the damage, but probably a combination of broadhead and the doe trying to run on it.
This doe was also 1.5 years old.
Finished up breaking them down, getting into the refrigerator and packaging the loins about 2300 last night.
Will be spending the day processing the deer into sausage, and listening to football. I saw a taco recipe using hearts on a recent Meateater episode that we are going to try today.
Topic: Double Down on Youth deer (Read 499 times)
