A Friday afternoon phone call from my dad inviting my sons to go hunting with him was followed by packing camouflage, orange vests and hats, etc. while two excited boys jumped around the house. We quickly gathered everything up and headed to my parents house for the weekend.
This would not be their first outdoor adventure with Papa, but would be the first time they had been able to participate in the Arkansas youth hunt with him.
The previous weekend had been the Missouri youth hunt and our oldest son, Dustin, had got his first deer during that weekend. However the previous weekend had not brought his younger brother, Logan, luck in harvesting a deer. Logan would be the first of the two heading out with Papa during the Arkansas hunt. Logan was excited for another hunting trip and anxious with hopes of getting his first deer.
The sun was quickly rising in the sky, as Logan and my Dad headed out to the woods on opening morning of the Arkansas youth hunt. The morning was chilly and the wind was lightly blowing as they made their way to the hunting location. They had waited until after it was light so that Logan could see where he was walking easier and not get hurt.
Dad had set up hay bales so that they could be used as a blind and Logan could also use them as a rest if he needed to make a shot.
Normally on a hunting trip you sit for a long time, if not hours before you get a chance at a deer, but Logan did not have to wait long for his chance. His opportunity came within only fifteen minutes of reaching the hunting location. He found a large doe in the scope of his rifle, 
he took aim and fired. After hearing the shot we quickly looked out the window and soon saw Logan walking beside Papa as they headed toward the house. We knew that Logan had hit his target and as we hurried outside to meet them, Logan was bouncing up and down excitedly saying, "I got one! I got one!"
Although Logan was ready to go hunting for his deer immediately, we waited approximately thirty minutes before heading after the deer and upon reaching the woods we spread out in the area the deer had gone.
Nine-year-old Dustin was the first one to spot the blood trail and quickly followed the signs, with the rest of us close beside him. It was not long before we found the one hundred fourteen pound doe.
We drug the deer out of the woods 
while Logan's Dad went to get the truck with Logan wanting to help every step of the way including getting his deer up the slope and through the woods. It was such a cute sight to see my little boy struggling with all his might to help get his harvest out of the woods. Logan stayed with his deer through getting it out of the woods, lots of pictures and watched as his Papa and Daddy cleaned the deer taking in every step along the way.
Dustin did not have luck during the Arkansas youth hunt, but he did show that he has learned many things. Not only did he show us how great he is doing at learning to track a deer, but he also had a spike in front of him at one point and did not feel comfortable with his shot so he did not take it. He knew that an uncomfortable shot might lead to a wounded deer that he might not be able to find.
Our children grow up so fast and we treasure every little moment as we see things through their eyes. I am such a proud mother and know that my sons each accomplished one of their goals only a few days from each other. Dustin, age nine, and Logan, age seven, had got their first whitetail deer. They have the hunting fever now and are ready for their next hunt.
