This is a story from the 2005 Deer Hunters’ Almanac about a mom hunting with her son. This year, she sent us a follow-up story about hunting with her grandkids, called “There’s a Deer in the Skid Steer!” Read that story here.

I made one of those “I would never” statements. You know the kind … I would never jump out of an airplane. I would never pay to eat raw food. I would never sit in a tree to look for deer. But I have to take that last statement off my list. 

My son, Jacob, eats, sleeps and breathes hunting. As most mothers of 16-year-olds will tell you, we will do almost anything to spend time with our sons. So, I told Jacob I wanted to go hunting with him. I had recently taken up photography and thought at least I could get some fall scenery pictures. We got in our stand about 5:30 a.m. It was cold and misting. Not a good hair day! But it doesn’t matter when you’re wearing an orange toboggan. About 6:30, Jacob tapped my knee. “There’s a deer,” he whispered. 

It took a minute to figure out why I was waking up outside and about 20 feet in the air. But I soon saw a doe about 200 years away.

We watched the doe for 15 minutes, then it went back in the woods.

Within seconds, it reappeared about 50 yards farther away. This time, Jacob put the scope on it. 

“It has horns!” he whispered. 

Now this was exciting! I wanted to get my camera out, but Jacob wouldn’t let me. Before I knew what was going on, Jacob whistled and then BOOM!

Like a good, supportive mother, I said, “You missed!”

It was a long shot and the deer ran away, but Jacob didn’t think he had missed. He told me we would wait 30 minutes and then look for the deer. But we didn’t wait 30 minutes. We might have waited three! Jacob quickly found a blood trail. A mom has to be a good detective now and then, but while I was looking for little spots, Jacob found the deer!

I will never forget when he yelled, “It’s an 8-point!”

I had to get up early. It was freezing cold. I wore ugly clothes and had hat hair. And then it started pouring!

I would never do that again … unless my son asks me to!