Not good day

[passing-thru]

This is not a success story. Nor a what a great first day. In fact one of worst in hunting carerr. This is the first year my daughter, now 14, has lived with me full time. Shes accompanied me several times in past on bow trips and varmin and small game outings, but has never actually hunted with me where she was also hunting. She passed her hunter safety this year and was primed for her first "hunt". Several trips to range to make herself proficient with the youth model 243 we got for her birthday in Jan. It is to be great day for all, even if we don't get anything we are in field together. Last night brother in law gets called to work and calls to see if I'll take my two nephews too ( twin 15 year old boys) Sure I say, would be pleasure. So bright and early this morning we head for area I had seen a couple of decent bucks in. I get all three kids set up before sun rises and explain to them that they will probably see others hunting area and stress importance of being sure of target. Sun comes up and we see a few does and a spike  in bottom of small draw, but no legal deer (3 point area). About noon rain starts and we decide to head home. On way out we see several crows near where we parked. Upon investigation we discover the gut shot carcass of a buck, only head missing . I'm pissed, daughter is crying and boys want to know who would do something like this. I had no answer. What kinda person would? Well boys decide they want to go home. I tell them that's fine I understand. When we got to area where I got service I call WDFW and tell them what I had found. They don't have officer in area, but take report, name, location, and contact info. I drop boys off at home and head for my house. Daughter has been very quiet since incident and I ask her if she is OK, she looks at me and says to me "I don't ever want to hunt again" I'm stunned, not know how to reply. I tell her that's her choose , but, to think about it and not to let the actions of some *censored* ruin this for her. We pull up in from of house and she looks at me and states. "They already did" and simply walks away. ANY THATS HOW MY OPENING MORNING WENT, HOPE EVERYONE HAD BETTER OPENING DAY THEN MINE

[andrew_12gauge]

horrible way for your daughters hunting career to start hopefully she can overcome those emotions and continue at it with ya

[Sportfury]

That is awful. Give her some time to calm down and let her emotions go down. I wouldn't try pressing anything on her right away. Make sure she is around positive people, such as all the good people on the board here at hunt-wa. It is a good place to get your emotions out and get postive feedback. Keep us updated.

Chris

[Little Dave]

It's too bad the day played out that way for you.  Good for her having such a strong emotion and understanding of the waste.  You taught her well.  Long term, I'm sure she'll remember more the amount of time you shared building up to this day.

[swanny]

Sorry to hear about the incident. That is horrible that someone would do that and that you and your daughter had to witness it.

Remember though, it is possible that the sight of a dead animal in general is what sways her decision to not hunt again. Be supportive if so. Hopefully she comes back around and is willing to give it another shot.

[klickman]

Reason number 2,000,000 that all poachers should be hung by their nuts.   I sure hope she comes around to huntinmg in the future.  I have a 1 1/2 yr old and I look forward to the day I can take her out with me.  It breaks my hear to hear a story like this. 

KLICKMAN

[runamuk]

That stinks.....but there is some hope....having been an emotional teenage girl before  all is not lost.  Give her some space but try to gently find out what bothered her about the scene.......maybe even encourage her to read some of the posts on the ladies forum here about their hunts......if she was excited to do it before there was a reason and if she can find that reason, a good hunt will likely make her feel better. 

A scene like that makes me think some people are just plain worthless scum who put trophy over ethics and decency, there is no respect for life at all and there is the waste of meat and a life......

I so hope you can get her through this she sounds like a sensitive kid who would be a benefit to the hunting community.....we need people who care let her know that.

[jae]

very sorry to here that.

[shoot-em-dead]

I hope she'll overcome her emotions and not let the vermin that did this ruin the years of joy she could find from being in the feild.

[BLKBEARKLR]

What a crappy way to start out her hunting career. Just time and space will hopefully overcome this mishap.

[CoryTDF]

I hate stupid people that is terrible. I hope for both of your sakes your daughter comes around and you two can go enjoy a hunt without something like this.

To bad it was not a picture of the poacher with his head cut off!

[runningboard]

boy that is too bad that she wants to quit, but like others have said. just give her some space and time and keep being a good role model and hopefully she'll pull out of it. how were the boys feeling about it all?
shows good sportmanship by all of them that it affected them so, means they care about the animals they pursue and that they will be good ethical hunters in the future. good job dad & uncle.

[ratherhunt]

This is a really sad post, some idiot messed up hunting for you and your daughter. I have 3 daughters and I am on my last one trying to get her to go hunting so I know how you feel but she might change her mind and still be a hunter. Good Luck

[MichaelJ]

That pisses me off!  Very sorry to hear that, make sure an emphasize later to her that those people were not HUNTING... They are scum and that it made you sad and angry just the same as it did her...  But also remember she's a 14 year old girl and emotions are hell... I grew up with two older sisters one of which is extremely emotional and one of my best friends so I remember a lot of what she was like during those years... 

Michael