If we didn’t already have confirmation enough, Topher tagged along on the opening day of deer season. He was super excited to get out and see what hunting is all about. We had been watching episodes of MeatEater on Netflix and he’s really come to enjoy the show a lot. Aside from some crude language, which he’s heard at school, but didn’t have context for (thanks Netflix for the conversations), the show prepped him for what to expect. He didn’t quite grasp just how much waiting would be involved though.

We woke up early in the AM to meet up with Lolo, and as we headed out he was pretty pumped. We were running a little late so we didn’t get any breakfast. Thankfully Beth brewed up a thermos of hot chocolate to take with us. After suiting up and heading out, we arrived at the usual spot. Uncle Dwight and Aunt Sara were down at my grandmother’s and we were up on my parents land.

Lolo, Toph, and I just fit in the tower blind. It was just about 24 degrees out and we turned on the heater. It wasn’t long before it was a comfortable 55 and we were able to open the windows and we were ready for action. I, personally, don’t prefer the morning hunting. Since deer are nocturnal, they’re already out and they hear you coming. Dad stated that there was a small group of does that made the trek across the field each morning. Unfortunately, they were behind schedule today, go figure.

Lolo told Topher, who ever sees the first deer wins. I think it must have been 15 minutes before Topher spotted the first deer of the day. He was excited. It was a singleton crossing some wooded hedgerows across from the pond. It was too late and I couldn’t get my scope on him in time, before he ducked out of sight behind some pines. I ran down the tower to try to head him off, but no luck. At least we didn’t get skunked.

We got word from Dwight that he shot a buck, and Aunt Sara said it was her’s. Turns out Uncle Dwight has an itchy trigger finger, like Dad. He eventually sent a picture and it was a really nice buck.

Lolo decided he had to head out for another spot and tried to push out some woods to us, but no luck. Topher’s single deer would be the only one we would see that morning.

We took a nice lunch break at my folk’s house. We forgot chili would be there and we eat with Beth before heading over. We checked out the buck and just lounged until we decided to head home to unwind while we waited for the afternoon hunt to start.

We headed back out, just Topher and I, at 3PM. When 4PM rolled around, I told Topher we would start seeing deer soon. It wasn’t 10 minutes and Topher’s morning deer popped out into the field. It was by itself. I was pretty sure it was a button buck and since it was alone I decided to wait to see what else would come along. We watched the deer eat in the field until it moved on. Another 15 minutes later two more deer popped out. A mom and a little one. I told Topher to cover his ears and once I had a shot I took it.

It was a good shot and the little one didn’t move, she just stood there and Topher insisted I shoot it too. I explained it was too small and needed to grow. We got down from the tower and headed over to the pond, where the deer were. The small doe finally ran off as we were half way there. Thankfully the deer died instantly and Topher was so excited. I had to calm him down and explain that we needed to take this very seriously, since an animal died. He wasn’t disrespectful, but I just wanted to make sure he had the proper understanding of how we should treat animals, alive and dead.

The neighbor’s son popped out of the woods to check on things and we chatted for a minute. It was still light out but our little chat burned a lot of the last remaining day light. 5PM darkness was upon us. I had texted Lolo and he was there in 10 minutes, just in time to bring the truck and it’s lights down. It was a quick gut job and then we heard Aunt Sara shot a doe as well. It was the most successful opening day of gun season the family has ever had. We loaded up and headed home.

It was a great introduction for Topher. It was the right amount of boredom and action. I explained to him that you may not even see a deer for a whole week if you hunt (though that’s an exaggeration). He really can’t wait to be of age enough to go hunting himself, and I can’t wait to take him squirreling.