BLANCHARDVILLE - "I finally get to carry a gun," was the first thought that crossed the mind of Brooks Chandler when he first heard about the new hunter mentorship law for Wisconsin youth age 10 and 11. Now he would get to join his father, Chuck, on the hunt as more than just an observer. And putting up that new double stand (dubbed the hot seat) on a neighbor's property would take on new meaning for both father and son.
"I was hyped," Brooks said, when describing how he spent hours practicing in anticipation of the hunt under the tutelage of his 69-year-old granddad, Carl Chandler. "He said you have to have a group like this (displaying a softball size circle with his hands)." To add to the family's hunting tradition, the elder Chandler hand loaded the .243 rounds used during the hunt.
The repetitive practice sessions with his Remington .243 bolt action Model 700 paid off during the recent nine-day gun deer season when he harvested two bucks, the last one an impressive 15-pointer.
The buck had been spotted several times during the past few seasons but never presented a harvest opportunity, according to Chuck Chandler.
"A few people had seen him from the highway so we knew he was still around. I was thinking when I checked the time on my cell phone that Bucktista (named for the pro wrestler Dave Batista) would make it through another year," Chuck said.
Things changed quickly, however, as several does appeared, followed by the buck. The animal dropped with one shot from the rifle.
Brooks called his cousin Drew first, then his mom. "She said, 'Wow, good job.'"
The Chandlers already enjoy the banter associated with the deer hunt, like the merits of using cover scents during the gun hunt. While Brooks insisted on using ample amounts of Tinks on that last day while Dad was telling him, "Why bother, that's for bow hunting."
"It was the last day of the season, and I was going to use it up," said Brooks emphatically. As it turned out, the buck followed the same trail that the two hunting companions used on their way in.
Another controversy arose over who would field dress the deer. Dad pitched in on this occasion, but "This is the last time ever," Chuck insisted. "He's the fastest guy to gut a deer," Brooks said in a complimentary tone reminiscent of Tom Sawyer's suggestion that his friends would truly enjoy helping him whitewash Aunt Polly's fence.
Brooks has already shared in the family's annual deer hunting adventures. In addition to a hunting trip to Minnesota this year, he has been tagging along with his father during past hunts.
"Last year Dad shot a doe that went down over the bluff and ended up in the river," Brooks recalled. "We couldn't get to it so we had to take a canoe up the river. It was really hard going against the current."
2009 is fourth safest
The 2009 gun deer season was the fourth safest on record, dispelling concerns that allowing 10- and 11-year-olds the opportunity to hunt would lead to an increase in hunting accidents. There were no reports of firearm incidents among these young hunters, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
"What is really exciting is the 9,907 mentored hunting licenses purchased by 10- and 11-year-olds," said Diane Brookbank, chief of DNR's Licensing and Customer Service unit. "These are the future hunters and conservationists that will step into the woods in place of the hunting 'retirees' as our population ages," she said.
It was also the fourth time in history the state has had a gun season with less than 10 incidents, according to Tim Lawhern, DNR Hunter Safety Administrator. There were seven hunting incidents during the nine-day gun hunt, Lawhern said. Four of the seven were self-inflicted gunshot injuries.
Brooks Chandler expresses confidence in his family's ability to stay safe while out hunting. "My dad is a stickler with rules about gun safety and doing things right," Brooks declared. "We've tried to teach him the right way," added his proud father.
- Lee Fahrney is the Monroe Times outdoors writer. He can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net
"I was hyped," Brooks said, when describing how he spent hours practicing in anticipation of the hunt under the tutelage of his 69-year-old granddad, Carl Chandler. "He said you have to have a group like this (displaying a softball size circle with his hands)." To add to the family's hunting tradition, the elder Chandler hand loaded the .243 rounds used during the hunt.
The repetitive practice sessions with his Remington .243 bolt action Model 700 paid off during the recent nine-day gun deer season when he harvested two bucks, the last one an impressive 15-pointer.
The buck had been spotted several times during the past few seasons but never presented a harvest opportunity, according to Chuck Chandler.
"A few people had seen him from the highway so we knew he was still around. I was thinking when I checked the time on my cell phone that Bucktista (named for the pro wrestler Dave Batista) would make it through another year," Chuck said.
Things changed quickly, however, as several does appeared, followed by the buck. The animal dropped with one shot from the rifle.
Brooks called his cousin Drew first, then his mom. "She said, 'Wow, good job.'"
The Chandlers already enjoy the banter associated with the deer hunt, like the merits of using cover scents during the gun hunt. While Brooks insisted on using ample amounts of Tinks on that last day while Dad was telling him, "Why bother, that's for bow hunting."
"It was the last day of the season, and I was going to use it up," said Brooks emphatically. As it turned out, the buck followed the same trail that the two hunting companions used on their way in.
Another controversy arose over who would field dress the deer. Dad pitched in on this occasion, but "This is the last time ever," Chuck insisted. "He's the fastest guy to gut a deer," Brooks said in a complimentary tone reminiscent of Tom Sawyer's suggestion that his friends would truly enjoy helping him whitewash Aunt Polly's fence.
Brooks has already shared in the family's annual deer hunting adventures. In addition to a hunting trip to Minnesota this year, he has been tagging along with his father during past hunts.
"Last year Dad shot a doe that went down over the bluff and ended up in the river," Brooks recalled. "We couldn't get to it so we had to take a canoe up the river. It was really hard going against the current."
2009 is fourth safest
The 2009 gun deer season was the fourth safest on record, dispelling concerns that allowing 10- and 11-year-olds the opportunity to hunt would lead to an increase in hunting accidents. There were no reports of firearm incidents among these young hunters, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
"What is really exciting is the 9,907 mentored hunting licenses purchased by 10- and 11-year-olds," said Diane Brookbank, chief of DNR's Licensing and Customer Service unit. "These are the future hunters and conservationists that will step into the woods in place of the hunting 'retirees' as our population ages," she said.
It was also the fourth time in history the state has had a gun season with less than 10 incidents, according to Tim Lawhern, DNR Hunter Safety Administrator. There were seven hunting incidents during the nine-day gun hunt, Lawhern said. Four of the seven were self-inflicted gunshot injuries.
Brooks Chandler expresses confidence in his family's ability to stay safe while out hunting. "My dad is a stickler with rules about gun safety and doing things right," Brooks declared. "We've tried to teach him the right way," added his proud father.
- Lee Fahrney is the Monroe Times outdoors writer. He can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net
