My daughter has been real fortunate in her hunting career when it comes to getting a good deer. Her personal best was a 147" 12 point on opening weekend last year. But everything changed Sunday morning. She just got into town for Christmas break and was excited about going hunting. We had a state championship to win Friday night (way to go Ennis Lions) so we didn't get to leave for the lease till Saturday morning. Not much to look at Saturday evening. Sunday morning there was a nice big 8 with about a 20" spread in the feeder pen that I though she was going to take, but she hesitated and I could tell she didn't want that deer. About 5 minutes later a very good 12 showed up with a hot doe. This deer would easily score in the 160's and looked to be mature. She could not get a good shot and the longer she looked at him the more nervous she became. The doe started to leave and he was going with her. He disappeared into some brush but he had to cross a clearing to get to where the doe was. I told my daughter to get ready and I would stop him in the clearing. Well he did offer her a good shot and she completely missed. The buck just stood there with no reaction then ran off after the doe. Of course we looked for blood but found nothing. Good thing is that he is alive and well. Bad thing was the heart break and the tears and now a long time for reflection and what if's.

As I gave her a big hug I told her welcome to the club.

You're a good Dad. These things happen. It's all part of the hunting experience.

If we always had success, not sure it would be much fun.

Good job Dad, if you've never missed you've either not shot enough or never shot at something big enough to get your heart going...

I don't care how old someone is, but when the really big Un steps into the open, the hand will shake and sometimes the eyes are on the antlers when they should be on the crosshairs. Never seems to happen like that when the spike steps out.

Sounds like you are a very good dad. And tell her it's easier to be in the club of folks that have missed than it is to be in the 'never ever missed' club. I was never in the 'never ever missed' club. Missed the first one I ever shot at. I guess I was maybe 13 years old.

Anyone that can watch a 160's deer and not get the shakes need to take up knitting as their sport.

To be honest with Yall I was having a hard time holding the binos steady while we waited for a good shot. The fever got me pretty good to and I wasn't the one pulling the trigger. Great times though.

Sounds like good times. Funny how the fever can get ya.
Did she get to fire rifle (trigger-time/ targets) any recently (before getting in blind); that can help sometimes.

Years ago I took a favorite cousin's kid hunting for his first deer. He was maybe 11 or so. He knew how to shoot so all the basics had been worked on. Got up in the tall blind and before long, here's a 4 point at about 60 yards. Kid was too short to sit on the stool and shoot, so I got him up on one of my knees, which put him at about the right height. I helped him get the rifle in position and he put the scope on the deer. He got to shaking so bad that the gun muzzle was going in a circle. I took the gun back and held it till he quit vibrating. Ok...gave him the gun again. Vibrating again. Took about 3 tries till he settled down and made the shot. Years later, when he was a young man, he remembered how exciting that was and how much fun he had. Good memories...

I would like to give a try for a few years. Just to be sure.