Black Friday Double
Contributors to this thread:Whitetail Deer
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
This year's Black Friday was one I will never forget. This bow season has been busy here in Kansas. My son is now 16 and will all know at that age there are many factors competing with time in the woods with your dad. Eli has always enjoyed being outside but is very active and competitive in high school sports and other activities. Prior to November I think he had been out on two or three hunts, mainly focused on trying to take a doe. It seemed like the couple of sits we had whatever stand I choose the deer I was hoping he would shoot would give me multiple opportunities and he would get skunked. This has really been first year that Eli communicated he wanted basically wanted to do everything on his own, until this season I would accompany him on his sits would often carry a portable stand and be right over his shoulder. Up graded his Mission to Mathews No-Cam and shot all summer, he was ready I don't know if Dad was ready to let go.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
Eli is busy and this took up majority of early season!
Eli is busy and this took up majority of early season!
From: Scoot
01-Dec-23
Wow- there's a lot in that first post that sounds incredibly familiar to me, KS! Looking forward to more details.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
Managed to slip in a hog hunt for 16th birthday this year!
Managed to slip in a hog hunt for 16th birthday this year!
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
Black Friday morning I headed to work earlier in hopes of getting off around lunch time to hunt with Eli. He is a teenager at this point evening hunts are much more appealing. Kansas rut this year has been solid but weather has not cooperated. End of October we had a good cold front but has been relatively mild throughout November. While our trail cams were active on our family farms, there were no pics of deer that stopped you when scrolling right away. Several bucks from last year were missing, or the draught throughout the summer severely altered antler development in our area.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
It was epic adventure and Shiloh Ranch was the best host as always!
It was epic adventure and Shiloh Ranch was the best host as always!
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
So back to the hunt we headed to our farm on Friday evening. Was nice north breeze and finally felt like a real rut evening, overcast low 30s deer were on the move. Last season we had two really nice deer on camera, on two separate occasions he had the bigger of the two at under 5 yards and never had a shot. Those close calls had him being a bit pickier than expected las season and ended up passing several deer hoping to get another opportunity. We all know how that goes, those fleeting opportunities never presented themselves. He ended up filling his tags in doe only season and did some needed management.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
Black Friday before heading out Eli said I am going to shoot a doe or a buck tonight when I get a chance. I reminded him during the rut to assure that does this time of year are rarely alone to assure there was not buck before shooting. Took all this for granted in past because I was normally right over his shoulder, he shot before we headed out and is shooting great. Really the only thing I worry about is getting into tree safely safety harness hooked up and just know what angle to shoot deer at. He is more than capable in his shooting.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
We got into our stands about 250-300 yards apart at about 1:45 pm, it was good evening. As you do with teenagers we were snapping back in forth, yeah I don't know why you don't use the message app on your phone. Anyway Eli and I both started having some deer movement about 2:30, he was mentioning I should have sit stand I was in because I just passed a doe. Shortly after 3 I got 3 snaps in a row with something I couldn't understand. This prompted a call as he didn't really answer, he picked up and said Dad I just 10 ringed one. We went over the shot sounded like he was broadside or slightly quartering Eli was very excited and so was I. I told him stay in your stand until at least 4:00 than I will head your way lets give him at least 1/2 hour.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
After much convincing he decided to stay in the stand. His sister and mom were at home, I messaged them and said head to farm about 4:00 then we will head to Eli. At this point my excitement level is at 10, Eli has assured me its not a monster but its a nice deer and made what he believes is a good shot. Size had this point does not matter, this is his first deer all on his own and you can hear the excitement in his voice. I was sitting in stand reflecting on how lucky I am had text my good friend about 10 minutes before Eli text exchange and said I really don't care what the outcome is tonight just hope Eli gets one.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
In my daze I look up and here comes a doe into the footplot I am on. Its obvious she is not alone her tongue is out and she looks beat. I grab my bow of the hanger and here comes a buck I have not seen in over a year. Where did he come from? Well he is coming at a trot doe comes right at me, and is within 20 yards I am like no way this happens tonight. He kinda loses interest in doe and is skirting edge of plot I shot a single pin and I am in hurry to get dialed to 37 where he is going to go. I bleat to stop him big mistake doe he was chasing is inside 20 and freaks out blows, does not really phase him, I am in kinda of secluded timber plot, on edge of big ag field there must be does out there becuase he heads straight that direction blowing did not seem to bother him at all.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
Somewhat dejected I hang my bow and than remember I still have Eli deer to trail. By this time is about 3:50 expecting wife and daughter at any time. Start to slowly gather my stuff and look at at ag field there are does running around, figure that buck bust still be out there. Grab my grunt and give a couple of blind grunts to kill time waiting to trail Eli buck. No sooner than I sit back down and look to timber east of me and here he comes. At this point I have doe fawn in food plot about 15 yards out. The buck is totally committed, I draw as he enters the plot and basically turn right too me the fawn is under my stand. He comes to about 6 yards and turns broadside, I give soft bleat and let fly. At the shot I initally thought I was low, there is immediate blood and arrow is still in him hit off side shoulder. Takes me a minute to get my thoughts under control, I had text Eli when buck first came through and said we should be tracking two I just missed opportunity at great buck. At this point I call him and explain we are going to be trailing two. He is excited and tells me he can't wait any longer, and says he is going to look at arrow. He keeps me on the phone as he climbs down and explains "Dad its completely covered", tell him don't make too much noise I will be there as soon as his mother arrives.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
Arriving on the scene see stand in background.
Arriving on the scene see stand in background.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
Arriving on the scene see stand in background.
Arriving on the scene see stand in background.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
Tracking
Tracking
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
Proud Dad perfect double lung!
Proud Dad perfect double lung!
The team
The team
Can’t leave out Mom
Can’t leave out Mom
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
At this point my evening has been made, having Eli walk me through where deer was standing and how much fun we had tracking his buck as a family puts this at top of the list of things I have done as a bowhunter. To see him share my passion is amazing, sometimes I find myself pushing him a little too much to get out and go, my amazing wife reminds me let him lead the way. Tonight he established stand he was going to sit, and lead the adventure from start to finish. Leg 1 of amazing night is complete I had not idea or expectation that it would get better.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
We load up deer with help of grandpa and headed toward my stand at this point it has been about an hour since I have shot my deer. We pick up blood immediately, and start tracking. I know the direction my deer was headed, and was concerned if he got to the CRP grass, he was bleeding pretty good I have had great luck with rage heads and this was no exception deer actually got easier to follow in grass. What was laying at end of the blood trail kinda caught me off guard. Very rarely in my time deer hunting have I walked up on a deer and it got bigger than I expected this was that one exception.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
The grass actually made him easier to follow.
The grass actually made him easier to follow.
In disbelief
In disbelief
This is deer Eli spent last year chasing. Wish he would have walked in front of him!
This is deer Eli spent last year chasing. Wish he would have walked in front of him!
Eli gets his hands on buck that gave him slip
Eli gets his hands on buck that gave him slip
From: sitO
01-Dec-23
This is simply awesome, congrats Eli, and thank you for passing it on Lucas! A couple of great KS bucks!
From: SteveB
01-Dec-23
Congratulations to your family! Love this on so many levels!
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
The grass actually made him easier to follow.
The grass actually made him easier to follow.
From: KHNC
01-Dec-23
Quite the combo. Nice bucks!
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
A pic I will keep forever
A pic I will keep forever
Did something right
Did something right
3 generations of bowhunters on our family farm
3 generations of bowhunters on our family farm
From: bowhunter24
01-Dec-23
Way to go men, a job WELL done!
From: tobywon
01-Dec-23
Awesome!! Congrats to you all!! Memories for a lifetime!!
From: APauls
01-Dec-23
What a night to remember!!! congrats! I love that dragging photo - totally the one a guy frames!
From: JohnMC
01-Dec-23
Cool story and congrats! Did you get a picture with both of you with your deer(s)
From: KB
01-Dec-23
Very cool! Congrats to both of you. Special evening.
From: KSBOW
01-Dec-23
Absolute best memory
Absolute best memory
From: molsonarcher
01-Dec-23
Awesome!
From: John in MO / KY
01-Dec-23
Good stuff!
From: KSflatlander
01-Dec-23
Wry cool to have a double with your son in his first. Congrats!
From: Charlie Rehor
01-Dec-23
Well done for you both. It’s a family affair. Enjoy
From: Supernaut
01-Dec-23
Awesome all the way around! What a special day for your whole family.
Congrats to you both and thanks for sharing with us!
From: PK
01-Dec-23
FOREVER AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!
From: Old Reb
01-Dec-23
Congrats to you and your son. Definitely a memory of a lifetime.
From: GLP
01-Dec-23
Fantastic story! Thanks for posting!
From: t-roy
01-Dec-23
What a great thread! Congrats to both of you and kudos as well, for having the rest of the crew along to get to share the entire experience!
From: RT
01-Dec-23
Awesome, to say the least
From: ND String Puller
01-Dec-23
Heck yeah! Congrats to you both, thanks for the write up!
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
01-Dec-23
Awesome! Congrats guys
From: Hunts_with_stick
01-Dec-23
Congrats! But the ears are droopy…
Congrats to Eli!
From: EmbryOklahoma
01-Dec-23
Love it! Congratulations fellas!
From: Matt
01-Dec-23
I was halfway through reading about your hunt and realized I had a giant smile on my face anticipating the finale. Glad you and your family are making memories.
From: BillyD
02-Dec-23
Just awesome all the way around - congratulations!
From: pav
02-Dec-23
Making memories! Congrats to the successful father and son team...and the family members in the photos!
From: Zebrakiller
02-Dec-23
that's awesome stuff
From: cnelk
02-Dec-23
Way cool!
From: Rgiesey
02-Dec-23
Great day!
From: TMac
02-Dec-23
What a great hunt and congrats on a fine double!
From: Zbone
02-Dec-23
CONGTATS to family...
From: 12yards
02-Dec-23
What a hunt! Congratulations!
From: Scoot
03-Dec-23
Outstanding! Many congrats to all of you!
From: Ironbow
03-Dec-23
Great story and congratulations to you both!
From: Duke
03-Dec-23
Very nice! Congratulations!
From: Chief 419
04-Dec-23
Congrats to both hunters! Looks like your son is hunting on his own from now on. One day, he’ll be taking dad hunting.
From: Nick Muche
05-Dec-23
This was great, thank you for sharing! You all had an amazing time and you won't soon forget it. Congrats!!
From: Shug
05-Dec-23
Great stuff!!
From: KSBOW
07-Dec-23
Thanks guys really enjoyed sharing it here!!
From: caribou77
12-Dec-23
That’s awesome! Congratulations!
