Hunter Geary, 10, is shown with a doe he harvested in the South Dakota Mentor Hunting program. Geary hunted with his father, Travis Geary, in Union County. This is his first deer.
Provided
Will Geary, 12, holds a pheasant his father, Travis Geary, shot during the pheasant hunting opener in Union County on Oct. 18. Will Geary was taking part in his second pheasant hunt. He has earned his youth tag for South Dakota.
JEFFERSON, S.D. | Will and Hunter Geary offer a new spin in the phrase "brothers in arms."
No, the Geary boys aren't charging up a hill or waging war. Rather, they're traipsing the Union County countryside in search of wild game.
On Oct. 17, Hunter Geary, 10, shot a doe, his first, as part of the South Dakota Mentor Hunting program.
On Oct. 18, Will Geary, 12, got a shot off in his initial pheasant outing of the season. He may have missed, but their dad, Travis Geary, claimed a decent rooster on a rather windy day.
"This was Will's second actual hunt," Travis Geary said, explaining that, at age 12, one qualifies for a youth tag.
Will Geary, a seventh-grader at Elk Point-Jefferson Middle School, will return to the fields this fall in southeast South Dakota as pheasant numbers are rebounding, according to the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks organization, which reports a 42-percent surge in pheasant numbers.
As farmers continue the corn harvest, prospects should grow.
"We probably saw two other roosters and two other hens on Sunday (the second day of the season)," Travis Geary says. "It was a pretty windy, so a number of birds sat tight. I think the numbers this year should be good."
Speaking of good, the Geary family enjoyed the first bird of the season about four nights later. They put the pheasant in the crockpot, mixed with cream-of-chicken soup and enjoyed a true Union County feast.
Hunter, a fifth-grader at Elk Point-Jefferson Elementary School, shot his doe while participating in the South Dakota Mentor Hunting program that encourages children to get involved in the sport. Travis explained the mission of the program, noting that a mentor, who doesn't carry a gun, must be present during the hunt.
"They are allowed one doe as part of that program," he said.
Hunter and Travis noticed many deer moving that October evening, a sight in line with Travis' belief that deer numbers are plentiful in this region. Within minutes of getting set up, Hunter was able to get a shot off, which hit both lungs and partially damaged the animal's heart.
"This gives him an introduction to hunting," said Travis.
Hunter and his dad cut up Hunter's first deer and made jerky, another Union County treat.
Possibly the worst place to feel wheezy is in a dusty field during hunting season.
Hunter Geary, 10, is shown with a doe he harvested in the South Dakota Mentor Hunting program. Geary hunted with his father, Travis Geary, in Union County. This is his first deer.
Will Geary, 12, holds a pheasant his father, Travis Geary, shot during the pheasant hunting opener in Union County on Oct. 18. Will Geary was taking part in his second pheasant hunt. He has earned his youth tag for South Dakota.
