Last weekend I took Madison, my 11 year old daughter to the lease for youth weekend to try and get her first deer. We had a small 5pt buck come in and she looked him over, but decided not to shoot. As he left I could tell she regretted it and it bothered her all week. Thursday she asked when I was going hunting again with a certain look in her eye. I told her Saturday was opening day and asked if she wanted to go. Immediatley she said yes!
Saturday morning we were running a little late, but managed to get in the stand just before the feeder went off. We sat for awhile without seeing anything so I gave her my can call to try out in order to keep her interest up. More time passes with no deer seen, thinking she might be getting bored I asked her if she wanted to get down and do some walking. She said ok, but maybe we should try calling them again. I took out the can and a grunt call and asked if she wanted to be the buck or doe? She took the can and let out a couple of bleats. I followed up with some grunts and started putting it away not expecting anything to respond. Less than a minute later a buck walks in and stops at 50 yards looking for the source. Madison looks at him and says "I'm going to shoot him Daddy". I get the gun up and set her in my lap to get a better angle from the shooting rail. I feel her shaking and see the barrel going in circles as she's trying to steady the gun. I tell her to calm down and take some deep breaths. During this the buck has moved a little closer and is now quartering towards us. I whisper to her that she needs to put it in the shoulder now. Suddenly the .270 (with reduced recoil loads) roars to life and the 7pt buck is down! After several "Oh my gosh's" we high five and hug.
She spent the rest of the day with a smile that would not go away, fishing with her Papa and giving Vernon a hard time...I'm very proud of her and wanted to share.
Saturday morning we were running a little late, but managed to get in the stand just before the feeder went off. We sat for awhile without seeing anything so I gave her my can call to try out in order to keep her interest up. More time passes with no deer seen, thinking she might be getting bored I asked her if she wanted to get down and do some walking. She said ok, but maybe we should try calling them again. I took out the can and a grunt call and asked if she wanted to be the buck or doe? She took the can and let out a couple of bleats. I followed up with some grunts and started putting it away not expecting anything to respond. Less than a minute later a buck walks in and stops at 50 yards looking for the source. Madison looks at him and says "I'm going to shoot him Daddy". I get the gun up and set her in my lap to get a better angle from the shooting rail. I feel her shaking and see the barrel going in circles as she's trying to steady the gun. I tell her to calm down and take some deep breaths. During this the buck has moved a little closer and is now quartering towards us. I whisper to her that she needs to put it in the shoulder now. Suddenly the .270 (with reduced recoil loads) roars to life and the 7pt buck is down! After several "Oh my gosh's" we high five and hug.
She spent the rest of the day with a smile that would not go away, fishing with her Papa and giving Vernon a hard time...I'm very proud of her and wanted to share.
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