Have a friend of the family with a son that's had some hard knocks in life. He told me a few months ago that he'd like to hunt deer. My response was get your grades up, keep doing good, and take hunters safety in ag, then we'll go hunting.

He calls me up last week to tell me he's on A B honor roll, has his hunter safety, and is starting RB and line backer on the football team. So, I congratulated him then spoke with his mother, she confirmed he's doing really well and had actually stayed on the field the entire last game, RB then swapping to linebacker on defense. Now he will be starting basketball. I'm not shocked he's a good kid that just got side tracked a little, but has tightened up.

So, after a few days at the range over the last week, he's ready. Wish us luck!!

thats great, hopefully this will help keep him on the right track

You are doing a great thing.

Good luck to the 2 of you and thanks for doing such a good thing. These youngsters are the future of hunting and without our help and teaching, the sport perishes with us.

Only takes one act of kindness to change a kids life.

Good Luck

That is great. Seems like you don't hear too many of these stories more. Based on what you said, it sure sounds like he took you to heart and made good on a personal challenge and then exceeded it. Sure hope you two have luck and that he gets a nice deer.
Good luck

Good job

My wife and I adopted a 16 year old girl over a year ago. She is now 17 soon to be 18. I have been trying to get her to go hunting. She calls me bsmbi murderer and refuses. But eats the deer chili. Wish i could take a page from your book and get her out to the lease.

photo safari!

That's great.

This is why I became a THF member!!!! I'm proud to hang out with great people! Well done and good luck

Good luck on the hunt, and a BIG THANKS to those getting kids and other new hunters out this year.

After he was comfortable shooting 2 inch patterns at 100 yrds, I told him to run down the hill at the range then back up and try to make a good shot, something I do to try to simulate buck fever (heavy breathing). This kid don't get winded, he went down the hill then back up in a flash and made a good shot. I was think damn I'm old.

Probably cause you are! Thanks for sharing and let us know how he does. Great thing your doing.

great to hear a story like this. beats the hell out of reading another thread with a pissing match between members at the center of topic

I'll second that!

8pointdrop - Good work, here's your star!

that is awesome. If i had a bunch of land and money, my dream is to be able to take people, kids, dads, etc. hunitng at no charge. I would love to be walking down the isle at walmart or somehwere and here a father and son talking about hunting and go up to them and invite them to come hunting!!!!.......i will say i have guided a few girls and guys hunts out in Mason,TX for the Operation Orphan Hunts, were we take kids from say 10 to 18 who are orphans, in kids homes, less fortunate, troubled, etc and the ranchers around mason so gratiously let us come out to the ranches around Mason and let the kids get a deer, exotic, or whatever......it is the best feeling ever to see those kids smile and have fun, even if just for the weekend in some cases!!!

Great story, you might have helped to change this kid's life. Good luck to you and post pics if he gets one!

We had a young 10 chasing a doe around the wheat field for 10 mins without stopping. At one point they were 30 yrds out, but I couldn't stop them. Finally got her to stop for about 2 sec and the buck dang near ran over her, chase was on again. I don't want him shooting running deer yet, so we just watched. I said maybe she will die of exhaustion and we can just pick her up. The kid got the giggles at that one, which gave me the giggles, so we had fun. Going back after a while to try again.

Great story. That kid is learning great leasons in life from you and from playing sports.

Things didn't go exactly as planned but we got it done!! We'd been watching a little 6 in the cut coastal field behind us all afternoon. I was watching the wheat field in front of us while my lil buddy was turn around watching the 6 through the binos.

I saw a doe coming into the wheat, so I gave him a nudge and said get ready. He turned around as the doe went below terrace at 85-90 yrds and all I could see was her head and top of her back. I told him to get the gun up to shoot the doe. I said wait til she clears for a good shot. He says I can see her whole shoulder now, can I shoot? Told him if you're confident you can make a clean kill take her.

Shot rang out and the doe bolts. I say missed her, his reply was she dropped like a rock. So I point at the doe leaving the field. He said oh I didn't see that one I shot the other one and point to the far trail where the doe had entered the field. I can see the white belly and immediately know its her yearling.

I take it as a win though, it's not about the size of the deer to this kiddo, he was smiling from ear to ear and shaking bad. I ranged the lil white belly at 136 yrds!!

I'm happy and happy don't describe his reaction.