Monster Raxx Trophy Minerals

I have waited for this day since April 15th 2001, the day my son Justin was born. The day that my son could go on his first ever deer hunt was something I could not wait for. At the time the legal age to hunt was 12 years old, luckily for us a few years ago the MN DNR changed the age to 10, as long as an adult is with the young hunter. The last few years, especially this last year, my son has taken a real interest in deer hunting.

Justin helped scout and set up mineral sites, and put out trail cameras to see what bucks were in the area. Every month this summer Justin and I would go and replenish our Monster Raxx mineral sites and check the cameras. We also put out corn with our Monster Raxx Whitetail Magnet and Apple Harvest along with protein pellets we have been working on to draw the deer in until archery season opened.

To give us another advantage at drawing in mature bucks, we started a mock scrape with Tinks power scrape. From the beginning of August we had a number of mature bucks from 125” to about 160” coming in to hit the minerals and the mock scrape. Soon the woods opened up with scrapes and big rubs from the bedding area to the bean field we were hoping to catch them coming from or headed to.

The only thing left was to pick the perfect ambush spot. With the help of Pro Staff member Pat Howard, we picked a spot to put the Covert blind, so we could get the best view, and not alert the deer that it was there. We chose a spot at the bottom of the hill up against a fallen cedar, with an open shot to the mock scrape, and the mineral site. The last check of the cameras before the hunt, showed deer were using the area a lot and were not bothered by the blind.

The day was finally here, we woke up at 4:30 showered in scent free soap and put on our hunting clothes. We made the mile walk back to Justin’s blind to get settled in before the deer worked their way through. To make things even better my Dad had joined us on Justin’s first hunt. My Dad was going to help Justin by holding the shooting stick while I filmed everything. We sat for the first hour without seeing a deer.
 
At about 8:00 my Dad said here comes a buck, and I knew it was a good one because he instantly started handing Justin his 20 gauge slug gun. I hit the record button and searched the woods through the windows of the blind. Then it happened, the buck turned perfectly to come right in to us. I told Justin not to shoot until I told him to, and to put it behind his shoulder. I can remember like it was yesterday, when Justin said I got him, can I shoot. He asked a few times waiting patiently with his finger on the trigger, while I zoomed in on the buck.

Just as I said shoot him, I heard the gun go off. I could see that Justin had shot the buck perfectly the buck kicked and took off.  The buck ran about 60 yards up the hill and went down. I was so excited and proud of my son I can’t even put it in words. Then Justin said “I can’t stop shaking”, which really made my day. My son was so excited about shooting his first buck that he was actually shaking with excitement and had a huge smile on his face.

After Justin called my wife to tell her, we walked up together to get a better look at Justin’s first deer, a 130” 9 point buck. I videoed the recovery and we took a lot of pictures to remember this special day. I have shot a number of deer over the years, but I was more excited over this buck that my son shot, than any deer I have shot myself.

This was definitely a deer hunt I will never forget. Watching my son shoot his first deer, and sharing it with three generations of Lester's was special. I have watched the hunt countless times, and look forward to watching it over and over again as I get older. Congratulations again Justin, I am very proud of you!