So last year my youngest daughter at age 10 hunted all of 6 minutes before tagging out on a whitetail doe during modern firearm. So I was really looking forward to this hunting season and hopefully spending more time in the woods together.
I got her the multiseason tag thinking she might even get to 40 pounds of draw on her bow but she didn't make that. That gave us the muzzleloader season and
@Sabotloader had given me information two years ago about using a .45 caliber bullet in a .50 caliber sabot. It was a great setup that we had dialed in.
Opening day we say a nice 3pt that looked almost like a whitetail rack but we just couldn't get close enough for a shot. While trying to get closer we stumbled onto a really nice 4x5 but he decided to walk before she pulled the trigger. It takes a little longer for kids to get the sites steady. She was disappointed but I told her there would be more opportunities.
The next weekend we went back to the first spot that we had seen the three point and sure enough there were deer moving around in the basin below. We hiked down in and got to 40 yards of 4 does multiple times but no buck in sight. As we followed them out into the next opening they picked up three more does, still no buck. They headed over the ridge and as we started after them she asked why we were following does. I told her you never know when they will pick up a buck or one will pop out of the brush and just appear.
Not 45 seconds after I said that I looked to the right of where the deer had been and saw the three point from the weekend before, there were three other deer with him, heads down and feeding. After closer inspection I could see that there was nice 4x5 closer to us, a small two point and one doe. The doe and 2pt had spotted us but the 4x5 was just feeding. He was the closest but still 200 yards out.
We put a tree in between us and him and started uphill towards him. I was trying to move fast and as I felt my heart rate increase I stopped and we took a break to make sure she would be steady for the shot if we got one. We continued up the hill and I was giving her last minute pointers about making a steady shot and that we only had one shot with a muzzleloader.
When we got to the last tree we took a break before stepping out to take the shot. She was as cool as could be, she got set up on the sticks, I held the sticks and wrapped my arm around her to help steady her. I said whenever your ready. The buck was still feeding. She pull the trigger, BOOM, cloud of smoke and the buck was just standing there head up looking around. I told her to hold the gun and sticks while I surveyed the buck with my binos. Nothing, no mark at all and he just started to walk away.
I quickly reloaded as he and the other deer fed over the next ridge. We followed and on the way to the horizon we went over shot placement again and how it was important to be steady on the shot. As we crested the small rise to my amazement the deer were there just feeding. No way does this happen but it was so I had her get on the sticks again. Whenever your ready, BOOM, cloud of smoke and two deer running but they stop. The buck never moved, he just went back to feeding.
Now I am reloading as fast as I can and she is asking how many more bullets we have. I say one after this one so make it a good shot. Standing right next to her with all the smoke I have no idea where she is hitting so all I can say is shoot steady.
BOOM, third time is a charm and he hunches up, head stretches out and he runs about 20 yards down hill and stops behind a deadfall. I tell her to watch him as I reload faster than I ever had before in my life. Just as I look up I see him tip over backwards all four legs straight up in the air. A great big hug, kiss and all kinds of congratulations. She never got frustrated, she never gave up and in the end got the job done.
She made sure it was dead, got the tag on and then lots more hugs and praise for a job well done. She helped break it down and was busy returning texts as the phone started blowing up after the BBD text went out. She was such a good sport that she even strapped on mom's Bullpac and helped carry out the trophy.
She is super excited to get to put a deer on the wall, she already has a spot picked out on "dad's wall". It is already at the taxidermist and we will be having
@bugs n bones do a euro mount so we can have it on the wall until Rick
@cedarriver can get to the shoulder mount.
