Let me start off by saying this, I have been sleep deprived and exhausted all week. Starting on Wednesday night into early Thursday morning we tracked a buck that is likely still doing deer things. I got home about 1:30 Thursday morning, went to sleep a few hours got up ready for work, and called a football game in Smiths Station at Glenwood Academy long night back to West Alabama got another few hours and got up Friday morning and drove to McCalla for the banquet after getting some mounts to take. The banquet is work and I stayed busy all evening. Finally got me and Whitlee to the hotel room and laid down a few hours only to awake at 3am get dogs loaded a 90% sleeping 11yo and pack the truck and head to the hunt, but hey Red Bull gives you wings they say.


This year was a little different youth hunt, most of the time I bring my oldest daughter out for an evening hunt and track deer for kids all over the West Alabama area. Starting on Friday we were involved in the Kidz Outdoors Banquet. My daughter looks forward to these events all year long and has made some great friends along the way. I always told her these kids are just like you there is no reason they have to be treated any differently. She has always helped organize the bags and t-shirt sales for the kids for several years now. After the banquet we would have special needs kids hunt and guides would go and sit with them in hopes of getting a deer. Well this year Whitlee had the opportunity to hunt, but instead floored me when she said, " I think I'd really like to sit with a kid and video the hunt." I could not have been more proud, she sees what I see in these kids and has the same heart for them I do. So with that said I said absolutely and we got paired with my man Ty. He is a hoot and always having a ball. Well Ty is now older and cant hunt with a rifle on youth hunt weekend but that was ok we sat off with the crossbow. The 1st morning I told Ty, "Hey we aren't playing games if a deer steps out we are gonna put the smack down". He was pumped up and ready to go. Well we get to the blind and I forgot my rangefinder, so I head back to the truck and got the rangefinder only to realize that the battery had fallen out, so back to the truck I go and get the battery. I make it back to the blind for the 3rd time. I could tell Ty was getting a little disappointed so I said hey lets say a prayer, it was still pretty dark and I wasn't worried, but we did and it wasn't 30 minutes later a group of does come out. I asked Ty's dad how far they were and he said 53 yards.... that's a long shot with a bow and dad agreed. Well a few moments go by and they aren't getting any closer. I sad to dad, "You think Ty can make that shot?" To which Ty cut us off, "YEP!!!" So I said "you know what I got 2 blood tracking dogs in the truck, let her rip tater chip," And instantly Ty sent one downrange. We all heard that distinct sound of a balloon popping sound and I knew he made a perfect shot. Well I give it a little while and I go out and start looking for blood, well lets just say Ray Charles could have found this deer but we kept the search suspenseful. Told Ty we cant find the bolt so we don't know what kind of shot we were dealing with so Ty who is usually always smiling said very seriously, "Go get the dogs" How could I refuse. So we turned both Ada and Heidi loose and as they ran about 120 yards we followed close behind with Ty. Seeing his excitement as we went down into a beautiful hardwood bottom and there were the 2 dogs standing over Ty's 1st bowkill was AWESOME, having my daughter there for the hunt and recovery with a child with special needs and her wanting to be there on her own was PRICELESS.

Best youth hunt story so far! May God’s blessings be on you as you bless God’s children through serving them

you’re a good man mr dano!!!

Love this! Great read!

Awesome hunt and great shot! That is an outstanding organization that does great things for those kids. I built a shooting house on a trailer once that was wheelchair accessible. Brown metal on a black trailer I believe. I have wondered before if they still use it and would love to hear the stories of the kids who may have hunted/killed out of it.

Awesome read!!!...Good stuff Dano and thanks for sharing....

Awesomeness all around. Congratulations

Awesome job, congratulations to you all.

Great story!
Hats off to you, your daughter, and everyone else involved.

Love it!