Oh so close!

Spurchaser

Spurchaser

Well-known member
It’s been cloudy and drizzly all day and I had a couple nice bucks on camera this morning so about 4:30pm I called CJ and said if you want to hunt this evening get ready and we’ll go as soon as I get home.
I pulled in the drive and he was outside waiting on me, lol. I grabbed the rifle and changed clothes real quick and off we went.
We parked and double timed it to the stand. We ran off a doe and yearling climbing up and immediately started seeing deer. I was on the East side and he was on the West side so you can imagine which side the bucks show up…my side.
His buck just appeared at the scrape after I’d just scanned that area, lol. We played musical chairs and the buck disappeared in the brush. Being in a rush to get to the stand I’d left my optics in the truck so I’m using my phone as optics.
We spot the buck but now there are other bucks around and a “hot” doe up there as well. I asked if he was confident in the shot and got a solid “yes sir” without hesitation so I gave him the green light. I’ve been “preaching” no deer, no matter the size, is worth a bad shot and we only take broadside shots.
Well, you can see from the video how close he came to pulling the trigger…



He wasn’t as disappointed as I thought he’d be as we waited until dark to see if he’d come back out. When we got home he told his momma, “That buck didn’t want the smoke” lol, whatever that means. We went this one morning this past weekend and saw 10 different bucks and his response to every single one of them was “not big enough” He’d already seen this buck on camera and said that’s the buck he wanted. We’ll see if he changes his mind if the old 10pt we got on camera this morning starts making more visits.
All in all a great hunt even though a shot wasn’t fired!
 
Hope he gets another chance. It’ll be interesting to see just how committed he is to that deer should a different stud buck appear. I have a feeling that one way or another, we are going to see a hero shot of CJ smiling behind a nice buck before this comes to an end. I truly hope that is the case anyway.
 
hunt0168 said:
Hope he gets another chance. It’ll be interesting to see just how committed he is to that deer should a different stud buck appear. I have a feeling that one way or another, we are going to see a hero shot of CJ smiling behind a nice buck before this comes to an end. I truly hope that is the case anyway.
Click to expand...
Yes sir, we have a nice old 10pt in the area too…I have a feeling if he steps out he may change his mind about that one particular buck. I don’t care either way, I just encourage to take something a little bigger than the previous year. He’s going by body size and not antlers and this 10pt may not meet his criteria, lol. We’re thinking this other buck is on the downhill slide, I bet he doesn’t weigh more than 150lbs and “if” he survives the rut he’ll be lucky to make a 125lbs. He’s skinny!
 
Just a little history on CJ. With his life with us uncertain, I would write things down hoping that if one day he was taken away, he might could read some of the things I’d written over the years. It was 4yrs of a rollercoaster ride with highs and deep lows. I wrote this on his one year anniversary with us in 2015…

October 18, 2014 started out like any normal day. It was the opening day of rifle season here in Georgia and if I remember correctly it was a little cool. Angie decided to hunt with us that morning which wasn't too strange. Always love it when the wife goes! Little did I know this would be the only time she went last year. I know she saw one deer but claimed it was too small to shoot.

After the hunt we went home and Angie cooked her "famous" breakfast for us, again not out of the norm but not expected after getting up early herself to hunt. After breakfast I told her I was just gonna snooze in the recliner and wait for College football to come on. I asked if she was taking a nap and she said she had to go to town. I asked if she wanted me to go, and she said no. Again that's normal. When I asked if she was gonna take a nap first she said no. Now that's not normal, lol!

Well, after being gone for a few hours she returns with someone that would change our lives from that moment until this very day!

She walks in carrying a baby car seat. My first thought was someone we know is having a baby shower and this is a gift. But, gifts don't consist of an actual baby in the baby car seat!! My first words were, "I don't know where you got it, but take it back!!!!" She replied she couldn't! I told her, "Take it back and get a refund!!" Again she said she couldn't. I then said, "Tell me where you got it and I'll pay them to take it back!!" Then she replied it's just for 45 days. 45 days?? That would mean Thanksgiving!! That would mean the Rut!!

Needless to say I wasn't a happy camper!! I was 46 years old! My "baby" would be 16 in a few months!! I was just really enjoying extra money, freedom, sleep, etc...

I was so ticked about the whole ordeal I didn't even hunt that afternoon. I finally asked Angie what its name was and she replied CJ. I asked what it stood for and she said the mothers and fathers initials. She couldn't pronounce his real name. I thought great, initials for a baby, how wonderful is this!!

The baby hadn't made a sound the whole afternoon and Angie decided to try and smooth things over to go get my favorite dinner from a local restaurant. She said she wouldn't be gone more than 15 minutes. She said me and Zac could handle it! She had no more backed out the driveway and I heard this LOUD fart! I turned to Zac and said that was impressive!! He had this funny look and said I thought that was you. We both turned white as ghost when the quiet baby started this ear splitting scream. I thought of calling 911, but thought about jail time for calling them to change a diaper!! Started to call the wife back, but she was getting FOOD! I told Zac we got this!!

It had been almost 15 years since I had done this. It was like riding a bike, right?? Not sure what that kid had eaten but it came out as quarantined waste! 2 diapers, messed up the first one, and a box of wipes later and we had it changed!! Now this baby wouldn't quit crying!! I tried rocking, walking, and every other trick I could muster from an aging memory! Nothing worked!! Finally Angie got home and somehow consoled the screaming demon to a soft whimper. I could see then, this was going to be a long "45" days!!

For the next "45" days I learned a lot. I learned what it was like to have a baby born with over 5 different drugs in his system. I learned what it was like to take a baby in that had no interaction with its "mother" his first 5 days of life. (To this day he still won't hug or lay his head on your shoulder). I learned what drug addicts go through during withdrawals. I learned that because of withdrawals, certain meds couldn't be used for tummy and other issues! Some meds would just feed the addiction. I learned that we, mostly the wife, can actually function on less that 4 hours of sleep a day for 7, SEVEN, straight months!!!

Most of all, I learned that I can LOVE! After the "45" days the mother still hadn't tested clean and the state was going to take the baby unless we intervened. So, we became temporary guardians.

All was good. We made good money. Made a sacrifices in sleeping arrangements. Put up with all the rumors about the baby. Saw our boys take to the baby as their own. Saw my family and parents offer unconditional love, even if they thought we were crazy, lol. All was good.

You know "good" never last forever. All of a sudden, all of the things we were used to doing came to a halt in a big way. This baby was a bigger investment than we anticipated. Our savings went then it was almost paycheck to paycheck. Angie had to cut back on her work and the state insurance didn't cover all the meds baby CJ needed. Certain Specialist that he needed weren't covered either. We have two extra vehicles and two extra drivers, lol. And a son in college. ** Just want to take a second here and let everyone know, WE GET NO MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT! The only thing the state provided for was his formula (that he was allergic to) and medical insurance that only covers certain things! His formula he had to have was $58 a can.

On top of that, at about 3 or 4 months the "parents" decided they want the baby back. Just so happens they had been collecting food stamps on him and got cut off when the state realized they didn't even have the baby! Would I have had too much pride to use them if we got them?? Normally yes, but things were and still are tough at times, so yeah I would load the buggy right now!!

Looking at our post over the last year things might look normal. But trust me, a middle aged couple with a baby, is anything but normal. This post wasn't meant for sympathy or accolades. It was meant a little to my friends I turn down on trips. Can't afford things like we used to.

October 18, 2014 was a day that started out just like any other. Except this particular day God decided I needed another Son!

I love you baby CJ, my Lil' Man!!
 
Blessings both ways, Mark! Good on you and your family.

I can relate. My “son” came to us at age 11 in 2012. At the time, my youngest was 17. My wife’s mom Kathleen had passed away, and Kathy was doing her best to raise her grandson, Noah. He was at the time, the third child born to my wife’s sister who had alcohol and drug issues. She would go on to have two more children, but that’s another story. At the passing of Kathleen, my wife approached me with the question of taking Noah in with us. She said she knew it was a lot to ask, and understood if I said no. I didn’t hesitate on answering. I told her that there is no way that we can in good conscience let that boy be thrown back into that situation. Yes, he can live with us.

After court proceedings and whatnot, we had joint custody of Noah with his birth mother. That always bothered me but it wasn’t ever an issue. She never bothered to call or ask to see him. His birth mother went on to have the other two kids. 5 children by 3 different men. Noah is the only one of the 5 to graduate high school. At this point he is the only one of 5 to not have a criminal record!

He became a marine. He graduated Linesman School. He has a great job. Owns a beautiful home and is now raising twin daughters that are 1.5 years old. And he is an amazing father to boot.

It wasn’t always easy. The struggles and sacrifices were just accepted as part of making a better life for “our boy”. He has made us so proud to be part of his journey.

Doing the right thing isn’t always easy, but it’s always right! So again, Mark… Good on you!
 
Hunt0168, y’all are awesome!!! Man that story touched me!!
CJ’s biological mother ended up having 6 children and custody of none.

When he was 3 we came very very close to losing him when we hit one of those low points in the roller coaster ride…

I wrote this hoping if we did lose him, when he got older that he might find this on the WWW one day…

Dearest CJ,
This will be long and detailed, but I want you to know about the first 3 years of your life. I truly hope that one day you will get to read this and know about the man you called daddy and the woman that you called mommy. And, about my sons that called you their brother.

You came to us on October 18, 2014. It was a Saturday that year and you were 5 days old. The woman you called mommy for three years (Angela Paulk Kite) picked you up from the hospital because it was either she get you or you would have been turned over to the State. This woman you called mommy had a heart of gold and wanted to give you a great start at life. To be honest, I wasn't too thrilled when she brought you home. We already had children and they were well up in their teenage years. Starting over with a baby in my late 40's wasn't something I had ever planned on. The woman you called mommy for your first 3 years told me it was only for 45 days. Why 45 days? Well, your birth mother was a drug addict and your birth father was an alcoholic. The State said if they tested clean after 45 days they could get you back. Seeing how you called me daddy and the woman who brought you home mommy for 3 years, you can determine they didn't.

You and I "bonded" your first few hours here over a dirty diaper, lol. Somehow changing your diaper after being out of practice for 15 years let me know you were meant to be where you were, at that time. After the 45 day mark it was either give you to the State or apply for Guardianship. We were granted Temporary Guardianship. And just a little note as to why we called you CJ...we couldn't pronounce your real name, Maniju Cesar Rodriguez, so we used the initials of your birth mother and father. C J.

You wasn't an easy baby to love. You were born with 5 different drugs in your body. I'm sure my wife will always have the papers if you're ever curious as to what all drugs were found.

And as you can imagine, a baby born with drugs must go through withdrawals. And you did. It nearly took its toll on you and us as well. You would sleep no more than 2 hours at a time and scream for 3 hours. Nothing we could do would console you. Certain drugs to help you couldn't be used because it would just feed the addiction that your birth mother supplied you with. But, as you should know, we never quit trying to ease your suffering.

You got real sick at almost 2 months and ended up in the Children's Hospital in Macon. I stayed home here and the woman you called mommy stayed with you up there. Now she did this while still working. The "brother" you would eventually call "Bwen" (Brennan) drove up as soon as he got out of school for Christmas break his Senior year, and stayed with you either until he had to go back to school or you got to come home. We were thinking we would be spending Christmas with you in Macon, but you were released a few days before.

Over the next several months you got better, but still wouldn't sleep more than 2-3 hours at a time.

I should point out during this time that your birth parents wanted contact with you and the woman you called mommy obliged them with your presence. Neither had a drivers license so she would drive you to see them. Sorry to say, half the time they were too high or drunk to even answer the door.

When you were almost 6 months they wanted you to spend the night with them, because all of a sudden they wanted you. Well, against our better judgement and maybe because we were sleep deprived, we allowed it. The woman you called mommy for three years carried you to their residence on a Friday evening and we were going to pick you up on Sunday afternoon. They couldn't even make it 12 hours before they called and said to come get you and never bring you back. You was a handful, lol.

Somewhere along the 7 month stage you quit screaming and would actually sleep four to sometimes six hours at a time. You started to show emotion. That's also about the time the court battles started. It wasn't about us or you. It was a battle between your birth parents as to who got custody of you. It was so screwed up the judge was even confused as to what they wanted.

Needless to say you continued staying with us. You made your first trip to the beach at 9 months old. You hated the sand but loved the water. You had been introduced to our friends and everyone just called you CJ Kite. You even started standing while we were at the beach.

You continued to grow and even started showing more emotion. You had your one year old party at our house with a big water slide. Think that was more Bubba Bwens girlfriends idea than yours. But, you did seem to enjoy it.

You were really opening up and had grown accustomed to bubba Zac carrying you to the sitter in the mornings and picking you up in the evenings. You had a very special relationship with Zac. So much so that some people started even thinking maybe you were actually Zac's child. That CJ, is serious love when people start thinking that. The relationship that you and Zac had was almost father and son like more than brothers. He loved you more than anything.

Over the next year and until now you continued to open up and show more and more emotion! You learned to talk and walk and melt the hearts of all those who got to know you.

Bubba Bwens girlfriend became his fiancé and her family took you in just like we did...you were family. There's so many people to mention that helped us out so much with you it would take an extra three paragraphs to list them. Just know you were loved by all, and still are to the day you read this.

Now this info will hopefully shed a little light on your personality or maybe some troubles you might encounter or have encountered in life. You were diagnosed with Aspergers and ADHD. Your little mind would never shut down which made sleep about impossible. You had a fascination with wheels and tractors. Don't ask me why. The only tractors you were around were on the plantation Mr.Craig and Mrs.Allison manage - that's Brennan's fiancé KK stepdad and mom. I'm sure I've mentioned this already, but you was extremely smart. Some things were difficult for you but you could watch someone do something then duplicate it.

Now what has prompted this letter is the fact the courts have decided that you belong with your birth parents more than you belong with us. For your first three years of life we are all you've known. Apparently that doesn't count in the courts eyes. I do want you to know we did EVERYTHING within our legal power that could possibly be done in order to keep and raise you.

The "experts" tell us you will adjust over time and possibly not even remember us. That alone breaks my heart. What the "experts" can't tell us is how we are supposed to deal with the void in our hearts of you being gone. For three years you have been our life. Some thought we were crazy and at times I might agree with them. But we considered you our son and tried in every way possible to keep you. You will never be forgotten

I will post this on FaceBook and update our lives every year on your birthday, in hopes someone see's it and can get it to you somehow. I know the woman you called mommy for three years would love to hear from you! When we would ask you, "Where's momma?" You would put your hand over your heart and tap your chest saying, "Right here."

I will love and miss you always son...

From the man you called Daddy for three years,

Mark A Kite
 
hm1996 said:
That's so hard to read, Mark. So happy for you that things have finally turned out as they should have. God bless you and your family. 🙏
Click to expand...
Agree, Clarence. Not ashamed to say that hit me pretty hard and got my eyes a bit teared up. It hits pretty close to home for me.

Mark, I too am so happy for your family that things have turned out as they have. Just sharing CJ’s hunts with us is awesome. To know the whole backstory brings things to another level. It’s very obvious how much family means to you with the posts you make. You’re a good man, with a beautiful family. You are blessed sir! CJ is where he belongs. No doubt about that.
 
To brighten the story…this was Adoption Day!!

FullSizeRender.jpeg


Funny story…when adopting, the child basically get a whole new identity. My wife and I are listed as Mother and Father on a new birth certificate and a new SS card is issued.
The issue was the name!! He’d been called CJ his entire life and thankfully we live in a small town and the schools listed him as CJ Kite despite his original birth certificate name.
Prior to adopting we knew we needed a name for C and J. I came up with Connor and we petitioned my family for help with the J.
My brother called from Washington and said “Justice” I said what does that mean? He said “Justice was served!” I sat there a minute and said yes it was. He said “Connor Justice” CJ, dummy!!! So hence the name Connor Justice Kite!!
Also cool thing about a small town is his Pre-K and Kindergarten teacher came to his adoption! The Judge said he’d never seen such a packed courtroom for an adoption. My family along with parents and bothers along with my wife’s parents and my now DIL parents and siblings and both sides of their grandparents, lol. And even better, half the Sheriffs Dept along with the Sheriff and Police Chief was there…both of the Depts had shown up on character witness day prior to TPR being granted and us as legal guardians. The Judge noticed commotion in the halls and asked the Bailiff to check it out and he reported both Departments in their entirety were here for us. He asked to arrest us or speak in favor of, lol. He stuck his head out the door and confirmed for our behalf. The judge said duly noted, now get back to protecting the town and County.
 
Well, the wait is over!! I did learn something though, communication is key when hunting with kids…

All this time I’ve been looking at rack size and he’d been looking at body size.

We saw this deer a long ways off and luckily we had time to play musical chairs again despite a spike about 50yds away. This buck ran a doe up in some thick stuff and we could catch glimpses every now and then.

I kept praying please come out before dark, please!! Well, another spike came down the cut and all of a sudden he looked to his right and here comes this doe with the buck in hot pursuit. I saw nice G2’s and asked CJ if that’s the buck he wanted. He said yes so I told him to stay on him in the scope and I’d stop him and “if” he wanted him to take him. I could see as he got closer that we’d passed much bigger bucks rack size, but he said this buck is bigger than the one I want.

Luckily the doe ran our way and at about 80yds I meyed at him and on the third try while getting louder each time, he finally stopped and CJ shot. Watching through optics I knew it was a good shot as he turned to go back the way he’d come. He made it about 75yds and that was it!

CJ had that tower stand rocking as he started shaking! He racked a shell so quick it surprised me, lol. He stayed on the deer the entire time although if a follow up shot was needed he couldn’t have hit a barn door, lol.

We had a tree marked and he was the first down the ladder and halfway to the deer before my feet hit the deck, lol. We got to the spot and it was thick, I was looking one direction when CJ went the other and found him. That was the moment everyone that takes someone else hunting lives for…he broke down. I gave him a hug and he said this is the biggest buck I’ve ever shot. That deers neck was bigger than his waist, lol. He hasn’t quit talking about it since we’ve been home!

IMG_2614.jpeg
 
That is a fine buck, and an absolutely beautiful picture, Mark! Congratulations, CJ! Well done. I think my smile might be bigger than yours!

FWIW... Going after body size over rack size is how trophies are judged in the big woods of the northeast. The Adirondack Mountains of New York, The big woods of New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. It has historically been all about tracking them in snow and the weight. 200 lbs dressed is a common benchmark of a true trophy in those parts. I would encourage anyone to watch some of the tracking videos on youtube from guys like Hal Blood, or Joe Dinitto (who actually lives less than 2 miles from me) Jeff Doyle or Adam Lamson and Izaak Young for example. These guys are hardcore to say the least.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top