One last hunting post for this season

Well Grant ended the hunting season one-up on Mac. Mac hunted his little heart out the last few days of the season to no avail. I think the deer get smart toward the end of the season.

Not all of them, though. Oh no. Not the one Grant shot. He was, well... let's just say he was special.

A friend of Chris', Steve, invited Chris to take Grant hunting on his property. He said he had been seeing an 8 point in the field that would be a good deer for Grant. Well Grant didn't get the chance to shoot that deer, but he did bag a 9-point.

Wouldn't you know I cut the deer's head out of this picture.
Oh well, it shows the most important part. 

And not just any 9-point I tell you. This deer was a dwarf. I kid you not. A dwarf deer. Apparently they're very rare. Ya think!?! It only weighed about 110 lbs. It was 5-6 years old. It had short stumpy legs (I'm laughing as I type this), as well as a short face. He was also missing most of his teeth - didn't realize Elmore County produced redneck deer too. HA!

Dwarf or not you couldn't tell it by the horns. Grant was one happy hunter (and Chris was a proud papa), and we can't wait for Granddaddy to work his magic on a mount.

Speaking of mounts, Grant also killed a five-point earlier in the season. Jack the Taxidermist brought the finished product over this past week.

I think we're going to need to turn the play room into a trophy room before too long.

More so than trophies on the wall, what I love about the hunting season is the time Chris and the boys spend together. However, I would be lying if I didn't admit I'm glad it's over for now. It's nice to have my guys home in the afternoons. Not to mention I got my chef back. :)

One more thing so I don't forget it.

Grant has been sick this week. When I picked him up Monday from school the moment I saw him I knew he had fever. He missed school Tuesday. He toughed it out yesterday since he woke up without fever but went to bed early last night.

Back to Tuesday. Reid woke up fine and dandy Tuesday morning but as soon as he found out Grant was staying home from school he tried everything in the book to stay home as well. However, it's tax time so there was no way I could get any work done with two of them at home. He tried it all from my stomach hurts to my head hurts to I don't feel good to I feel like I have fever, etc., etc., etc. None of those worked so in a last ditch effort to tug on the ol' heartstrings he said, "But momma, my heart hurts when I don't stay home with you."

Good try, Turbo. It almost worked.

Hard to resist that :)

Bueller Bags One

Mr. Competitive could take it no more. Ever since Grant and Sissy got their first deer last season Mac has had the fever. He understood last year he was too small/young, but he kept telling us this year he was ready - that this was his year. To be honest we still didn't really think he was ready.

Leave it to Bueller to prove us all wrong. Yesterday my four guys headed to the hunting land in hopes of seeing a shooter for Grant.

At first it was just going to be Chris and Grant. Then Reid decided he wanted to tag along too. Mac hasn't been wanting to go much this year because he said he wasn't going unless and until he could shoot, as was the case yesterday. However, a little talk between Chris and Grant about a trip to Academy beforehand as well as candy and pizza, and he changed his tune a bit.

I bet he's glad he did.

Chris and Grant went hunting the other day and watched a spike. That same spike was in the field when they got in the stand yesterday. Chris got Grant's attention and mouthed, "Do you want to let Mac shoot it?" Grant being the sweet big brother that he is (and his sister and brothers' biggest "cheerleader")  said, "YES!" So Chris asked Mac if he wanted to shoot it. Of course he wanted to. While I'm not a proponent of killing spikes I was really glad Chris let him. Mac climbed up in his daddy's lap, got the gun situated where he was comfortable with it, and watched the deer through the scope for a while. Chris coached him for a bit and told him to shoot when he was ready. I think they took the safety off three different times before he finally felt ready. :) The fourth time he took the shot. It was a perfect shot. Chris said they watched to make sure he was down then Mac, beaming and grinning like a cheshire cat, looked at Chris and said, "YESSSSS!"

If he looks like he's about to throw up or pass out in that
picture it's because he is. He has a very weak stomach
and said the smell was "Ewwww-wee NAAASTY," and
that he was holding his breath the whole time. :)

That's one proud little 6-year-old deer slayer. Way to go, Mac!

Ok Granddaddy, break out the tools because your Mac-man is requesting a European mount. ;)

Christmas post coming soon... It honestly was the best Christmas yet. So.Very.Blessed.

Youth Deer Hunt

Youth hunt was this weekend. Chris had barely gotten the words out of his mouth when Grant jumped up and said, "I WANNA GO!" So Professor and his daddy headed out for their first hunt together this season, the first of many I'm sure. 

Not long after they made it to the hunting land I received this picture from Chris: 

Then he had me going for a minute making me think he was letting Grant sit in a stand by himself. Here are the texts that ensued (excuse C's spelling - he was texting while walking haha):

If you know Chris you can just hear him saying it and laughing. ;) I knew better but I will admit the blood pressure was up a little at first. No worries, though.

I received this picture a few minutes later which I knew meant they were both tucked safely away inside the shooting house - Grant curled up in his chair that he's almost too big to curl up in now. He was getting ready for that good ol' nature snooze he takes until daddy wakes him to see some deer. 

Love these memories my guys are making.