This is a testament to the trials and tribulations of learning to hunt by yourself. My daughter is sitting on her own this year and really enjoying it. I thought she’d be scared, but she has no problems driving off by herself and sitting until way after I’m back at the house. Before, she went, but I think it was more to get some alone time with old dad then any particular love of hunting. Now, however, it’s consuming her.
In truth, I’m enjoying it as well. Not only do I get to actually hunt, we talk about hunting and deer more than ever. When we are in the stands, texts fly back and forth over everything from deer behavior to aging to shot selection to Taylor Swift. I can barely put the phone down before she’s texting me about something else. It’s proof that teenagers experience life via an iPhone.
Last weekend, it was hot in the afternoon and foggy in the mornings. Although we saw a lot of deer, all the mature ones were laying low. Finally, right before sunset, she texts me that a mature 8 I wanted to take out was at her feeder. I debated because it was getting late and she had school the next day, but gave in and told her to whack him if she could. About 2 seconds later, I heard the distinctive thump of a suppressed hit and knew I was about to get out to work.
She had no problem with the 140 yard shot and he was dead right there. The only problem is that someone (could’ve been me… I can’t keep up with all the texting) had gotten confused about what “mature” 8 was there. It wasn’t exactly the deer I thought, and was a little younger than what we kill. But, it still wasn’t a bad deer to take, being a high and tight 8 that we tend to be overrun with.
She was a little nervous about it but I assured her that everything was fine… he wasn’t one of the young studs, and that, even if it was, if she was happy with it who cares anyway. We are out there to have fun and enjoy it!
The deer I thought she was shooting…
The deer she shot…
Now it’s one to her next target…
In truth, I’m enjoying it as well. Not only do I get to actually hunt, we talk about hunting and deer more than ever. When we are in the stands, texts fly back and forth over everything from deer behavior to aging to shot selection to Taylor Swift. I can barely put the phone down before she’s texting me about something else. It’s proof that teenagers experience life via an iPhone.
Last weekend, it was hot in the afternoon and foggy in the mornings. Although we saw a lot of deer, all the mature ones were laying low. Finally, right before sunset, she texts me that a mature 8 I wanted to take out was at her feeder. I debated because it was getting late and she had school the next day, but gave in and told her to whack him if she could. About 2 seconds later, I heard the distinctive thump of a suppressed hit and knew I was about to get out to work.
She had no problem with the 140 yard shot and he was dead right there. The only problem is that someone (could’ve been me… I can’t keep up with all the texting) had gotten confused about what “mature” 8 was there. It wasn’t exactly the deer I thought, and was a little younger than what we kill. But, it still wasn’t a bad deer to take, being a high and tight 8 that we tend to be overrun with.
She was a little nervous about it but I assured her that everything was fine… he wasn’t one of the young studs, and that, even if it was, if she was happy with it who cares anyway. We are out there to have fun and enjoy it!
The deer I thought she was shooting…
The deer she shot…
Now it’s one to her next target…
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