Last spring we put in for the antlerless youth permit in 218. After seeing so many youth hunters out there, i thought it might take another year, to our suprise, she was a lucky one! We knew it would be a deer season she(and myself) would never forget!
We started out hunting high the first weekend, so high, we started getting into wolves the opening morning. She was content on sitting it out, and waiting for a nice buck, or a fat doe. After Sunday, we had seen nothing for our hard work in the woods. Alot of hiking, and one doe at camp. This was a learning lesson for me as well! As i filled her pockets up with candy bars, water, and granolla bars, i let her post up on a ridge by herself(i was only a couple hundred yards away). As i returned, i noticed her looking for trash that was sunbleached, old beer cans, and wrappers, and she was picking it up, and putting it into her pack as she found it! At this point, i knew i had a hunting partner for life! She noticed how much respect i had for this area, and she wanted to contribute! She was disapointed for not seeing a decent deer, with a decent shot.
The next weekend came and we were on the road by noon Friday. We got a motel room this weekend because we knew it would be a lower elevation. After check inn, we hit the hills. We found a nice spot i had always seen deer in the area. We hiked out quite a ways(going downhill, more, and more), then we posted up on the top of a ridge where we could seea vast open area(all down hill). As i posted her up, she was content on finding a deer on the ridge. I worked my way over to the edge of the hill. I spotted 6 doe, and went to get her. When we both made our way to get a better look at them, we knew everything was in place, and ready, ,,except time was winding down, as the sun was starting to drop. I asked her if she wanted to end her hunt tonight, or try for another, she was ready to tag out!
250 yards downhill with a .270 is a shot for first timmers, i understand. We had practiced long shots, as well as short shots this year. It all payed off when she touched off, hitting the doe in the hind leggs, just above the knees. The deer went down, as i told her to cycle another shell in the rifle, the deer tryed to stand up, she hitt her again, this one hit her in the spine, dropping her instantly. When i asked how it felt, she said she started to shake. That was the reason she made a poor first shot. I told her it dropped, it wasnt going anywhere, unlike some i have seen!
After our victory dance, she got her pic taken, and then the work began! She had no problem getting dirty, and wanting to experience all it had to offer! The sun was falling fast by now, and we had to wait to pac out til morning. Set the deer up in a good spot, and returned the next morning.
As i was packing out the halves(did i mention it was a NASTY pac out), she would look for trash on the ground, and pick it up.
We went for a drive to skin out the deer. As we drove down the road, we noticed 3 does along the road. I told her, if we were smart, we would have shot one of those, but it would not have been a GREAT first hunt.She said she would rather have walked, and taken our time. I told her, she just wanted to see her dad winded for once!
I am very proud, to have a hunting partner for life that respects all that goes with it!!
