Mike Giles
Hayden Comans quickly made his way into woods in the darkness shortly before dawn last Saturday on opening day of youth season. Comans anticipation was running high as he joined his dad, Lee, and quietly constructed a ground blind just off a gas pipeline.
The West Lauderdale seventh grader had been in similar situations before and scored on other deer. Young Comans had also been preparing for opening day for quite some time, as he made several trips to the rifle range practicing at distances up to 200 yards. Practice makes perfect as an old saying goes, and it’s never been truer than in the deer woods of central Mississippi.
Comans’ hunting rifle was a Rossi .223 single shot loaded with 55 grain hollow point federal cartridges. The .223 is a deadly rifle that is light on the recoil, and bad on the bucks when handled by a competent marksman.
Encouragement
Not too long after daylight, things started looking up as a couple of does crossed the pipeline not far from the ground blind. Since it was opening day Comans let the slick heads pass, hoping for a shot at a buck.
It didn’t take long for the youngster to get revved up either. Around 8 a. m. a buck entered the pipeline. That buck was followed by yet another buck and things were really heating up.
And then it happened. Yet a third buck joined the pair and Comans got ready. The trio of bucks consisted of one small buck, a six point and finally a nice nine point. The group of bucks was easing across the pipeline and offered a broadside shot for the aspiring young hunter.
Hayden judged the distance at about 185 yards and deliberately settled the crosshairs on the nine point buck. As he squeezed the trigger the rifle roared and the deer scattered.
Buck Gone?
“Where’s the buck?” Comans asked as he spotted deer running off. “There’s your deer son, he’s laying right there,” answered Lee Comans. “He’d dropped him in his tracks and the buck fell straight down.”
After a short celebration by the father and son, the Comans got down to the business at hand of dressing the buck. Needless to say the youngster was fired up and already planning another opening day hunt with his dad for the regular season.
But first the youngster had one other thing to do and that was to thank his hunt host Ken Mansfield. Lee and Hayden were very appreciative of joining Mansfield on the opening day youth hunt and wanted to send out special thanks for the opportunity to experience an opening day deer kill. Making memories with friends and family is what it’s all about.
Contact Mike Giles at
601-917-3898 or e-mail him at Giles1958@bellsouth.net
