10 Year Olds Dream
It all started prior to the 2012-2013 Maryland Hunting Season, I would watch my son Cory stare at his computer while viewing the trail cam pictures as he wished for his one shot at a Trophy Buck. He would say “Daddy I want to kill this deer” (at just about everyone he saw). Even though Cory has only been hunting a few years, he has gained a lot of patience in the woods. On September 10, 2012, I had planned to hunt all day while doing some testing for Lowes Whitetail Scents. Cory laid the guilt trip on me and I decided to wait to go hunting until after he got out of school. I picked Cory up from school at 2:05pm and his first words were “Daddy are we going hunting”? I smile at him and reply “yes”. We couldn’t get home fast enough to change for him. On our way home from school he said he had homework that he would do in the truck on the way. No chance in that, his homework had to be complete before we could leave to go hunting.
We finally left the house around 3:00pm and Cory was already preparing for the hunt, almost as if it had already begun, he was talking about different scenarios and a whole lot of “Daddy what if’s”. We arrived at our hunting spot about 3:45pm and proceeded to spray ourselves down with Lowes Whitetail Cover Scent. Now it was time to go off into the woods! We decided to hunt a ground blind set up that day. We set up the cameras and chairs and started our wait in the woods. Cory continued asking many questions concerning different things and one that sticks in my mind is different shooting angles that he may have to take, I would talk him through any scenarios he would throw out. I have to say I still find it amazing how this young man is 100% so committed to this sport that has also become an obsession at only 10 years old. We are about 30 minutes into the hunt before we start to see deer. Our first is a Doe and her two Fawns as they walk through and fed on our WYLD Mineral site. I asked Cory if he wanted to shoot the mature Doe and his reply was no. Right after they walked out of sight a Spike and an 8 point walked into his life. Cory sat there and just stared so I again asked if he wanted the 8 point. Cory knew these Bucks well and even had them named. He casually said “no” and they too walked out of sight. After this a good hour passed without us seeing anything and he started to regret his decision of not taking the 8 point. Cory said “if that 8 point comes back later I will take him” I just smiled and said okay, knowing that he thinks that he made a mistake.
The 8 point and Spike circled back into Cory’s life and he was ready for the shot but the 8 point Buck never offered a clean shot and once again walked away. Cory turned into an emotional mess after this. I had to sit him down and reassure him that good things come to those who wait and that everything happens for a reason. A hard life lesson in a way, but if you know Cory you also know he wasn’t having that.
At 6:20pm this same 8 point came in once again and he was ready for the shot. I had the camera ready and rolling but this deer just would not cooperate and provide the shot. This Buck played with his emotions for at least 15 minutes and it just wasn’t going to happen. As I look over at Cory, I could just see how crushed he was but he refused to give up. About fifteen minutes into the standoff I looked to the left and was completely shocked. A Big Velvet 9 point wanted walked right into Cory’s life. I tapped him on the leg to pull his attention to this velvet monster. He is one Buck that has been quite the Model on our Spypoint Trail Camera and believe me I think everyone was waiting to meet this buck in person. The velvet 9 point Buck walked in at 19 yards and was slightly quartering to us. I started to coach Cory and tell him to make sure he takes his time and to remember everything that we have practiced and discussed. I’m not sure who had Buck fever worst, me or him. My little buddy was shaking out of his boots. The Buck finally gave him the opportunity that he had been waiting for and he took his shot. This Buck immediately jumped straight in the air and bolted down the logging trail behind us. Cory first words were, “Did I get him Daddy”. I smiled and said yes buddy you got him and then we heard the deer crashing 25 yards behind us. I asked him if he wanted to go see him and he said “no let’s just wait just to make sure”, and I just laughed and said ok. Thirty minutes passed and then he was more than ready to finally go and put his hands on this deer that he has drooled about for two months. As Cory retrieved his bolt from his crossbow with his Rage Broadhead on the tip, I watched him look it over and look at the color of the blood, he said “it’s good blood and he is smoked”. Again I just laughed and watched him start to track his dream. He needed some help here and there but all in all he did real well. It took him about 15 minutes to come up on his Buck. Cory immediately turned to me and said “Daddy, I love you and I’m sorry for shooting your Deer”, I again smiled and said don’t be sorry I never owned that animal. I told him that he earned it and that he has put a lot of work into this physically and mentally. He looked at me and said I guess good things do come true to those who wait, huh? All I could say was “Yes they do little buddy”
I wanted to share this story because we always hear about involving children in the outdoors but it goes much deeper than that. Teaching a child to live, experience, respect and love the actual sport is much more than just taking a child out and letting them harvest a animal.
As we continue to chase down our dreams and follow our passion, please follow us at Team Urban Nocks on Facebook and on the web at www.teamurbannocks.org . Stay tuned for more action from us as the video will be out in a few months.
Collapse this postWe finally left the house around 3:00pm and Cory was already preparing for the hunt, almost as if it had already begun, he was talking about different scenarios and a whole lot of “Daddy what if’s”. We arrived at our hunting spot about 3:45pm and proceeded to spray ourselves down with Lowes Whitetail Cover Scent. Now it was time to go off into the woods! We decided to hunt a ground blind set up that day. We set up the cameras and chairs and started our wait in the woods. Cory continued asking many questions concerning different things and one that sticks in my mind is different shooting angles that he may have to take, I would talk him through any scenarios he would throw out. I have to say I still find it amazing how this young man is 100% so committed to this sport that has also become an obsession at only 10 years old. We are about 30 minutes into the hunt before we start to see deer. Our first is a Doe and her two Fawns as they walk through and fed on our WYLD Mineral site. I asked Cory if he wanted to shoot the mature Doe and his reply was no. Right after they walked out of sight a Spike and an 8 point walked into his life. Cory sat there and just stared so I again asked if he wanted the 8 point. Cory knew these Bucks well and even had them named. He casually said “no” and they too walked out of sight. After this a good hour passed without us seeing anything and he started to regret his decision of not taking the 8 point. Cory said “if that 8 point comes back later I will take him” I just smiled and said okay, knowing that he thinks that he made a mistake.
The 8 point and Spike circled back into Cory’s life and he was ready for the shot but the 8 point Buck never offered a clean shot and once again walked away. Cory turned into an emotional mess after this. I had to sit him down and reassure him that good things come to those who wait and that everything happens for a reason. A hard life lesson in a way, but if you know Cory you also know he wasn’t having that.
At 6:20pm this same 8 point came in once again and he was ready for the shot. I had the camera ready and rolling but this deer just would not cooperate and provide the shot. This Buck played with his emotions for at least 15 minutes and it just wasn’t going to happen. As I look over at Cory, I could just see how crushed he was but he refused to give up. About fifteen minutes into the standoff I looked to the left and was completely shocked. A Big Velvet 9 point wanted walked right into Cory’s life. I tapped him on the leg to pull his attention to this velvet monster. He is one Buck that has been quite the Model on our Spypoint Trail Camera and believe me I think everyone was waiting to meet this buck in person. The velvet 9 point Buck walked in at 19 yards and was slightly quartering to us. I started to coach Cory and tell him to make sure he takes his time and to remember everything that we have practiced and discussed. I’m not sure who had Buck fever worst, me or him. My little buddy was shaking out of his boots. The Buck finally gave him the opportunity that he had been waiting for and he took his shot. This Buck immediately jumped straight in the air and bolted down the logging trail behind us. Cory first words were, “Did I get him Daddy”. I smiled and said yes buddy you got him and then we heard the deer crashing 25 yards behind us. I asked him if he wanted to go see him and he said “no let’s just wait just to make sure”, and I just laughed and said ok. Thirty minutes passed and then he was more than ready to finally go and put his hands on this deer that he has drooled about for two months. As Cory retrieved his bolt from his crossbow with his Rage Broadhead on the tip, I watched him look it over and look at the color of the blood, he said “it’s good blood and he is smoked”. Again I just laughed and watched him start to track his dream. He needed some help here and there but all in all he did real well. It took him about 15 minutes to come up on his Buck. Cory immediately turned to me and said “Daddy, I love you and I’m sorry for shooting your Deer”, I again smiled and said don’t be sorry I never owned that animal. I told him that he earned it and that he has put a lot of work into this physically and mentally. He looked at me and said I guess good things do come true to those who wait, huh? All I could say was “Yes they do little buddy”
I wanted to share this story because we always hear about involving children in the outdoors but it goes much deeper than that. Teaching a child to live, experience, respect and love the actual sport is much more than just taking a child out and letting them harvest a animal.
As we continue to chase down our dreams and follow our passion, please follow us at Team Urban Nocks on Facebook and on the web at www.teamurbannocks.org . Stay tuned for more action from us as the video will be out in a few months.
