Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on October 18, 2009, 04:12:50 PM
I tried to tell her she might not get through the class at her age and even if she did it wasn't necessarily a slam-dunk deal to go kill a deer. She would have none of that...! Passed the test by one point and was actually starting to get a group when shooting the .243... well this could work?
I take her out to sit in my buddy's tree stand for an evening hunt. We sit there for about 5 minutes and she informs me this could get pretty boring, pretty quickly, Dad! Sweetie, we haven't even been sitting here 5 whole minutes yet... I was starting to think this might be my shortest sit on a stand ever.
About 15 minutes into it I hear a snap to our left... followed by movement. Here comes a big spike about to feed out into our little opening. As he steps behind the last tree I tell her to get ready. She gets the gun up but anxiously whispers (sort of a muffled holler), "I can't see him?"
I tell her to be quiet and stay ready and when he steps out, get on him and I'll sqeak at him so he'll stop for you to take a shot. He walks right out and I sqeak at him and sure enough, he stops broadside at about 25 yards. I tell her to take the shot... hurry up, take the shot... he's not going to sit there forever - shoot him (you guys that have ever taken your wife or girlfriend or daughters hunting know exactly what I'm talking about)!
Well, he starts moving again before she gets a shot off. I squeak again and he stops again, still at 25 yards. I suggest she hurry up and take a shot before he crosses back into the brush and he's gone. Just when you think it's never going to come - Boom!
She hit him hard, but he hobbled off out of sight. Not sure what to expect, we waited for 15 minutes. I never knew how many times a kid could ask if it's been 15 minutes, over the course of 15 minutes... but she was finally able to where me down.
We went over to where she'd shot the deer and started following the tracks, but no blood. I had just lost the last track and was looking for another scuff in the leaves when on up ahead I see her deer piled up right in the middle of the trail. He had only gone about 25 yards after she hit him.
She was so excited. And I don't think there's one old lady at church that didn't have to experience my daughter with her dead deer picture - traumatized the whole congregation. That girl is like a half crazed Mississippi squirrel all by herself!
Enjoy!
Post by: Gutpile on October 18, 2009, 04:17:35 PM
NICE!!!
Post by: scoyoc5 on October 18, 2009, 04:18:27 PM
Post by: bighorns2bushytails on October 18, 2009, 04:30:00 PM
--bh2bt
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on October 18, 2009, 07:15:50 PM
Post by: Hoythunter on October 18, 2009, 07:18:36 PM
Post by: Huntbear on October 18, 2009, 07:21:51 PM
Post by: agchawk on October 18, 2009, 07:26:21 PM
Post by: GoldTip on October 18, 2009, 07:41:11 PM
Post by: Forrestrover on October 18, 2009, 09:38:21 PM
Post by: nw_bowhunter on October 18, 2009, 09:51:22 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 18, 2009, 09:53:03 PM
Post by: Schmalzfam on October 18, 2009, 09:57:46 PM
Post by: Aneoakleaf on October 18, 2009, 10:06:08 PM
Good job on taking her threw the whole experiance! YOU GET THE DAD AWARD! :IBCOOL:
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on October 18, 2009, 10:13:25 PM
Post by: runamuk on October 19, 2009, 05:08:06 AM
Post by: ing on October 19, 2009, 06:40:05 AM
Post by: klickman on October 19, 2009, 05:48:12 PM
KLICKMAN
Post by: boneaddict on October 19, 2009, 06:04:53 PM
Post by: BENCHLEG on October 19, 2009, 06:09:50 PM
Post by: PolarBear on October 19, 2009, 06:11:57 PM
Post by: NWBREW on October 19, 2009, 06:43:11 PM
Post by: scree on October 19, 2009, 06:48:31 PM
Post by: markts on October 19, 2009, 06:52:41 PM
Post by: Alaska316 on October 19, 2009, 07:01:45 PM
Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on October 19, 2009, 10:23:44 PM
Although I will admit, for those of you trying to decide when to take your youngin' through the course, that 7/8 is probably pushing it, especially if you don't spend a bunch of extra time with them. Both my daughters took the course at that age and we studied the book inside and out every night for several weeks before taking the course and they both passed by only one point... but, I wouldn't trade it for the world!
A couple of instructors even said they thought kids should have to wait til they're at least 12 before they could take hunter ed. and/or hunt. I figured if my girls weren't hunting with me by 10 years old, they wouldn't even be interested by the time they were 12! And several of my buddies daughters have proved that (i.e. they really wanted to go hunting with dad when they were 6-10, but by the time they got around to getting them in hunter ed. at 12-14 they weren't interested anymore).
For those of you in that position, I'd rather be a little too early than a little too late!
Good Luck!!!
Post by: Fishhog on October 19, 2009, 10:58:25 PM
Post by: PA BEN on October 20, 2009, 06:33:47 AM
Post by: addicted on October 20, 2009, 06:43:33 AM
Post by: jollyskwala on October 20, 2009, 07:26:37 AM
Post by: Machias on October 20, 2009, 08:12:26 AM
Post by: Fishhog on October 20, 2009, 08:21:34 AM
Post by: couesbitten on October 20, 2009, 08:28:35 AM
Post by: strutnrut1984 on October 20, 2009, 10:29:41 AM
Post by: KimberRich on October 20, 2009, 11:18:22 AM
Post by: klindstr on October 20, 2009, 06:37:44 PM