I was happy to mentor a new hunter this year, 2019. Beginning in June, we visited the range every 2-3 weeks, shooting from a number of different positions (bench, seated, offhand, seated with sticks, kneeling, prone). I had her read the WDFW regulations, especially focused on big game rules, and Dr. Louis Terkla's excellent book on blacktailed deer hunting (relevant to any species of deer). We discussed conservation, hunting and gun safety, the aim point on a deer from several angles, deer biology, and deer hunting strategies. We hit the woods a few times with a cardboard target of a deer outline so she could focus on shooting an unmarked vital zone center. At last, she was ready, and early season rolled around.
Early season was a good "shake-down", as my mentee learned a lot about good deer "setups", wind direction, and deer behavior. We saw a lot of whitetails, more than in most years, but a shot opportunity did not present itself, and we had to wait for late season. We went out several times, but my mentee had to learn a bit about sitting for hours in the cold waiting for deer to not materialize. Finally, on this Saturday, December 7th, we were set up where a farm field and a brushy hawthorn draw came together, on a known deer route. Around 3:50 PM, a few whitetailed does fed towards us along the edge. I whispered for her to wait for that broadside shot. The lead doe finally turned broadside, feeding at 35 yards, and my new hunter pulled the trigger. It was a double-lung shot, but the doe made it 150 yards without shedding a drop of blood (rare, in my experience!). We did recover the deer with much gratitude.
My new hunter comes from Eastern families with deep rural roots, but which had lost their hunting heritage. I am proud to have helped her on her journey to reclaim this connection to the land, and I know she will be a good steward of the hunting tradition!
