Posted By: ThreePeppers
15 yr old Daughter's First Hunt - Long Read, Pic Heavy - 11/05/15 03:53 PM
Took my daughter Jordan out hunting for the first time ever last weekend. I've been taking her brother since he was 5 but she never really showed any interest until this year. We sat in the blind Sat afternoon and had 8 does/fawns come in right as scheduled. Saw one old gal that I've identified on trail cam by a scar on her hip and gave Jordan the go ahead on her. She said she wanted to wait for a buck knowing there were some good culls that need to be taken out there. I had two in mind that I've posted on the forum and said "fine, your choice" so we waited. Well, no bucks showed that evening so it was dinner at DQ and back to the hotel for some college football. Next morning we got up at 5am (somehow I got screwed with the time change) and headed for the ranch.
Not much going on as we waited for the feeder to go off when I see a buck coming from the south just before 7:00 heading straight for the feeder. I immediately see big forks on each side and can tell he's well past his ears. The green light is officially turned on. I have pics of 8 different bucks hitting this feeder over the last 2 months and this is not one of them but I can tell he's a good management buck. I assume he's going to jump the panel into the feeder pen but instead just looks in there and seeing it's empty continues around the backside. There he starts working over a scrape that's been growing right on the edge of a draw. After doing his business in the scrape he disappeared from sight and I was cussing myself for not stopping him when I had the chance. Then suddenly he comes up out of the draw heading towards us and I tell Jordan to get her gun up and get ready. The buck proceeds to head straight for a corn pile that I had poured out the night before and 4 does had lingered over for quite some time. I gave a couple of quick grunts and he stopped perfectly broadside at about 60 yds.
As I'm waiting for the boom suddenly Jordan says "can I shoot?" I say "yes, of course, shoot!" Without hesitation she pulled the trigger and I saw the buck jump straight up and kick his back legs out. I knew he was done. He started back into the draw but before he could make it up the other side he stumbled and fell over. High five and hugs were quickly exchanged. When we got to the deer I complimented her on the well placed shot and she said "well I put it right behind the shoulder like you told me". Just like a woman! The bullet made a clean pass through from left to right and broke one rib on each side while shredding the heart.
Howa 1500 Ranchhand in 7mm-08 in Muddy Girl Camo. Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x50 and Hornady 139 gr American Whitetail ammo.
17-7/8" inside spread. Don't know what he weighed but it was too much for us to get him on the cargo carrier without gutting. For reference is a 5'9" basketball player, hence the groovy neon green shorts.
Not much going on as we waited for the feeder to go off when I see a buck coming from the south just before 7:00 heading straight for the feeder. I immediately see big forks on each side and can tell he's well past his ears. The green light is officially turned on. I have pics of 8 different bucks hitting this feeder over the last 2 months and this is not one of them but I can tell he's a good management buck. I assume he's going to jump the panel into the feeder pen but instead just looks in there and seeing it's empty continues around the backside. There he starts working over a scrape that's been growing right on the edge of a draw. After doing his business in the scrape he disappeared from sight and I was cussing myself for not stopping him when I had the chance. Then suddenly he comes up out of the draw heading towards us and I tell Jordan to get her gun up and get ready. The buck proceeds to head straight for a corn pile that I had poured out the night before and 4 does had lingered over for quite some time. I gave a couple of quick grunts and he stopped perfectly broadside at about 60 yds.
As I'm waiting for the boom suddenly Jordan says "can I shoot?" I say "yes, of course, shoot!" Without hesitation she pulled the trigger and I saw the buck jump straight up and kick his back legs out. I knew he was done. He started back into the draw but before he could make it up the other side he stumbled and fell over. High five and hugs were quickly exchanged. When we got to the deer I complimented her on the well placed shot and she said "well I put it right behind the shoulder like you told me". Just like a woman! The bullet made a clean pass through from left to right and broke one rib on each side while shredding the heart.
Howa 1500 Ranchhand in 7mm-08 in Muddy Girl Camo. Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x50 and Hornady 139 gr American Whitetail ammo.
17-7/8" inside spread. Don't know what he weighed but it was too much for us to get him on the cargo carrier without gutting. For reference is a 5'9" basketball player, hence the groovy neon green shorts.