Hunting White Tail in 9th Grade

When asked what his favorite hobby is, ninth grader Kevin Hardin flashes a quick smile. “Hunting. I’d do it every day if I could.” He states white tail deer, turkey and dove are all that he hunts. He beams, tellling me he bagged an eleven point deer two years ago and even field dressed it himself.

Kevin completed his Hunter Safety course in July and is allowed to hunt alone now, but says he prefers to go hunting with either his dad or his grandpa because of safety. He says that you never know when an emergency will occur out in the woods and it’s always good to have someone that can get help if an accident happens. “Besides,” he adds, “it makes it easier to carry the deer.”

He owns his own Winchester 243 bolt action rifle and uses Super X ammo. He says he’s a pretty good shot and hasn’t had any misses since he was nine or ten.

Sitting before me in his Mossy Oak stocking cap and Real Tree sweat shirt, I asked if those were his hunting clothes. He told me that he only wears Real Tree Camo because he feels it is the most comfortable and provides the most warmth. He also says it provides the best camouflage.

When asked if camo is important, his quick reply is yes. “They pick up on your scent real easy and they pick up on your movements. They’re really smart animals.” He then tells me about using deer scent and taking precautions not to pack snacks with strong odors.

I asked him what he does carry in his pack.

• A shooting stick, because he doesn’t like to see an animal suffer.
• Plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
• Extra cloths in case you get wet or need to layer for warmth.
• Spare ammo. (Just in case you do miss).
• Quick snacks-jerky, seeds and granola bars, in case you miss dinner.

What safety tips does Kevin offer? “Never kill just to kill. You hunt to feed your family. Guns are very serious, even a toy gun. You never point one at a person.” His favorite tip, that he credits to his grandpa, “never shoot towards a building, even if it’s a prize winner.”

I asked what advise he had for new hunters. He stated, “Stay calm and take deep breaths. If you are too reactive or hyperactive you will scare the deer. Squeeze the trigger slow and aim behind the front legs for it’s heart or lungs so it won’t have to suffer. Immediately reload before checking the animal.” He said it’s hard to recover the first time, but it’s worth it.

When asked why you don’t aim for the head, he explained that you could crack the skull and cause a slow painful death. Also avoid the juggular because it can sometimes take days for the animal to bleed out and die. Hitting the animal in the rear half can also cause the animal to run and lead to a slow death.

Thinking that I could trip him up, I asked, “Where is the safest place to be when a gun is around?” He’s no match for me. “Behind the person with the gun.”