Brother & Sister Take First Deer On Same Day

By Mark Malueg

Both of my kids, William and Hannah, started to show an interest in 2020 to hunt with me and try and get their first deer.

On the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 24, William was sitting in a buddy stand with my father about 250 yards from where I was sitting in my climber. Around 7 a.m., I heard a shot ring out, and I knew right away it was coming from William and my dad’s stand. I rushed down my tree and quickly hiked over to find them both still in the stand patiently waiting for my arrival. William gave me the thumbs up as my dad had me walk over to where the deer was standing to look for blood. I immediately found good lung blood and signaled to come on down and track the blood trail. William came to me, and I showed him the blood. He told me the story of seeing a buck walk up the road long before my dad saw it. He got his gun up and ready for a clean shot just ahead of where the buck was walking. My dad got the buck to stop and look for a brief moment at 30 yards and William squeezed the trigger. My dad described the shot as good because he saw the buck jump and give a good “donkey kick.”  

We began tracking the blood over a hill and down into a draw. With William out front and leading the way, he quickly found his 8-point buck about 60 to 70 yards from where he shot it. He walked up and grabbed his buck with a smile that was from ear to ear. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He described how bad he was shaking.

On the way home, we called his mom and sister to tell the story. While both were so happy for him, Hannah told me over the phone that she wanted to hunt that evening as she was slightly jealous that William killed his deer before she could. I told her of course we could later that afternoon.

So that afternoon, Hannah and I sat together in a buddy stand overlooking a food plot. Just before dark, we could hear a deer approaching the food plot and got ready. Hannah’s adrenalin dumped, and she told me she couldn’t quit shaking. We had a couple of minutes to take a few deep breaths and calm down as the deer walked away from us just inside the wood line. Then, the deer popped out on the food plot about 100 yards away and began walking away from us. 

She was hunting with a 30-30, and I told her anything over 100 yards might be tough. She looked through the scope and said she couldn’t see it very well. I cranked up the power on the 3x9x40 scope from a 3 to 9, and she looked again. She told me, “Wow, I can see it really good now.” I told her that if she felt comfortable that she could try the shot. The deer was almost 140 yards at that point. She said she felt she could and wanted to try. I told her to take some deep breaths and relax and pull the trigger slow. She focused in on the deer and took her time. She squeezed the trigger, and the deer dropped in its tracks. I was ecstatic, and she was, too. We both rejoiced and shed some tears, too. Then she was quickly ready to go take a look at the deer.

Both of my kids got their first deer the same day. I was so happy for both of them, and I couldn’t believe the day had finally come that I could enjoy both of their successes with them. It was a hunt to remember for all of us. I hope this is just the first of many more to come for both of them.