A Killer Is Born

So, I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do about fishing because of the weather. I started the morning by taking my son (10 yrs. old) squirrel hunting at the farm I bought (and soon to move to). We stepped in the woods and Mr. Nutsy takes off but no love from the .22 with him on the run. We walked another 20 yards and I started seeing small rubs, then another, then another. I told my son we needed to leave because there was a buck near. He left, unwillingly, but I told him we would go this afternoon. I figured it was time to give him another shot at a buck bc he had not been deer hunting since he was 8 yrs. old when he panicked and froze on a big 8-pointer, the deer spooked, and was gone. I scoped the area out but I didn't have the time to hang a stand. I looked at contour, found a good transition point that would funnel deer on the convergence of a wooded bottom, bean field, and small pasture. I asked Jake if he still had his ground blind and he said yes. So, we set up the ground blind at the spot I picked, both armed with shotguns with buckshot, me sitting on a pickle bucket, him on a dove stool. Time passed and it was getting dark. He asked where they were at and I said give'em time. Well he asked again and I said sometimes they just don't move. We were a few minutes from pitch dark and I was out to give up and walk. I told Jake we would leave in about 4-5 minutes but I told him to keep checking the woodline on the pasture side because that buck would work the rub line then come back up the edge of the woods. Well, 2 minutes later, he says "I see one" but I couldn't peak low enough to see. Jake said, "he's right there" and I said well shoot him. Jake busted his ass twice, the deer ran across the front of me but it was hard to see but I saw horns. We got out of the blind with the flashlight but I found no blood. I quizzed him about his shot but he was sure he hit him and I remembered when the deer was running the flag was down (good sign). We went into the wooded bottom looked probably 15 minutes and found him in a pine thicket. A small 7-pointer (counting the nubs for brow tines). Happy Happy little boy and I was proud bc he had screwed up the 8-pointer on his first hunt and was already sick this go round cause I thought the deer was lost. Anyway, I feel good.... the best I have felt in a long time. I can finally mark this one of the list.