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Kody's first compound deer

cotty16

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
There are a lot of sons and daughters of members of this great forum. They all put time in and hunt hard. As far as Kody, my 13 year old, goes... I couldn't be more proud of him. He hunted his ass off this year and just continued to stick with it. From early October until now, he was holding out for a buck.

During bow, gun, and muzzy he had plenty of chances at doe. He missed a nice buck opening morning of gun week. During muzzy he was tempted by 4 doe feeding 45 yards in front of him. He kept whispering to me about taking one. I told him it was his decision and in the end, he decided to wait on a buck.

The attitude about what to take changed around early last week. We set up a spot behind my house. The doe were coming in like clockwork and we were getting one nice 8 pointer on camera, but always after dark. The first two sits he held out for the buck while passing on doe. By mid week though, he had made the decision to take whatever gave him the first chance.

Three consecutive evenings produced near shots. Each time, he would attempt to draw and get nailed. The one time he did get to full draw, he had just settled the pin, and she bolted before he could shoot.

Frustration was setting in. At the last minute today I posted the question on my journal page about using the netting in the window and if it would affect the shot any. Brock chimed in quickly and said to use it. At the same time I sent out a text to a few members on here. Flutey was the first to respond saying to use it as well and Joe confirmed. In fact, Flutey said we could break dance behind the netting and they wouldn't see us. So, I asked Kody to do the worm. Lol

Mainly, I was worried about what it might do to the shot. The guys were right. Their advice paid off big time tonight!

We left my house around 4:45 and was sitting in the tent by 5:00. During the day I watched doe come in to feed repeatedly all day. Two were there when we walked out. They trotted over the hill and we continued on to get set up.

About 5:15 I see doe coming out of the woods to my left. Kody looks past me and sees her as well. He slowly grabbed his bow and readied himself for the shot. She walked past the front windows without even looking our way (they usually peer right in at us). Kody slowly draws, but she pauses behind a tree... of course!

He's holding and a second doe comes out. I whisper to him that another is coming and he slowly tries to settle on her. She stops short of the opening.

A third is coming... Kody is still holding. I can hear him breathing and he whispers "I can't hold any more."

At this point I'm not saying a word. This is all him.

I can see him start to let down. Another doe comes out and he firms his draw back up as she is walking steady toward his lane.

The lead doe must've heard him re-draw because she snorts and bounds a few times back where she came from and freezes. The fourth doe continues on and stops perfect.

I whisper, "now or never bud... 25 yards."

With that, Kody settles in and lets her fly. The arrow settles in and she bounds one time and goes down. Game over!

"You drilled her!", I tell him and look over at him and give him a high five. He's all smiles. Then he starts breathing again.

The time he put into this season is unreal. Granted, there were days he took off and two of them bit him. November 13th he was supposed to be in the tent where Klay, the little brother, shot his 10 point. He was also supposed to be in the spot I was Saturday of gun week when I got the 9 point he missed on Monday of that week. If you take away those two days, he didn't miss many. Even lately he has been attending after school lifting for football/baseball and then rushing home to hit the woods. He was committed. It just seemed luck wasn't on his side. We all know a little, or a lot, of luck is involved with hunting.

So, with the season dwindling down, Kody finally got to put his bow to work. All the hard work of practicing, getting up early, sitting in the cold, missing out on things with friends, and spending long hours just waiting finally paid off.

I have to give a big thank you to my dad, Old Scout, for helping me get spots ready and always coaching Kody.
I also have to thank various members of this site for continuous support and help. It may have been in person, on this forum, or via text. Regardless, we greatly appreciate it!

At Woodbury this summer Flutey, Beener, Jesse, and Joe all took time to work with Kody and Klay on their shooting. Milo took the time to let me bother him via texts about things to do to Kody's bow to help him out. And of course, the last minute advice today by Brock, Flutey, and Joe most definitely helped seal the deal. If I missed anyone, I sincerely apologize as my memory sucks. Lol

Oh! And Ric, Ron, and Ryno for putting up with all my texts this year as well.

I must say, we had a pretty cool season. Both boys harvested their first compound deer. I was able to cash in. I'm just a proud dad! And... The freezer is full!

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CJD3

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
14,629
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NE Ohio
CONGRATULATIONS KODY!!!

What a great story! Dbl bonus that you were there to share in it with him. He will... (strike that) You will both have a wonderful memory to share for the rest of your lives!

High fives to you both and a great write-up Cotty! :smiley_clap:
 

brock ratcliff

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
24,834
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Cotty, that's a great story! You fellas have had a great season, spent a lot of quality time together as a family, and managed to put some deer on the ground...it just doesn't get any better than that! Heart-felt congratulations to all of you!
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,735
274
North Carolina
This made my day Mike..... That's so cool too read..... Congrats on his luck and you being there too see it all unfold.....
 

finelyshedded

You know what!!!
Supporting Member
31,855
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SW Ohio
:smiley_clap: So friggin pumped for you guys! What a great way to end this season! Great memories made for your entire family for sure! Congrats again!!!
 

Fullbore

Senior Member
6,439
126
South Eastern Ohio
Priceless! Awesome recap of your alls season. Congrats Kody! It's great seeing you and your Dad (ole Scout) taking these young men out and spending time with them. What better way than deer hunting together ?
 

NEOhunter

Junior Member
That was a great story and is so exciting to hear. I get pumped reading stories about families spending time together in the woods hunting. I have a two year old daughter as of tomorrow and a little one on the way in March, so I'm years off from them hunting with me but I'm excited for that chance down the road. I hope I get to have these memories with my children like many of you have.

Congrats again that's awesome.
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
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18,060
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Ohio
"and then he starts breathing again..." Ha! That part was my favorite. Such a short tidbit, but it really sums up what we go through as bowhunters when we harvest an animal. I'm extremely happy for Kody, and you. Congrats to you both!
 

RedCloud

Super Moderator
Super Mod
17,381
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North Central Ohio
Congrats to Kody and to the rest of the Cottis klan for sticking with it. This was not an easy season and for a young guy to have that much determination is amazing.

Kody, My first bow kill was a doe as well so don't beat yourself up for not getting a buck for your first. You have to start somewhere and if you ask me, some of those doe can be harder to get to follow the script then bucks. Shooting doe is still a great accomplishment and one to be very proud of man. CONGRATS and keep on shooting that bow buddy.