Ok, here is the deal. On my lease out in Palo Pinto, the family that I lease from live on the property, in the old hunting cabin/house that has been converted. The dad has never hunted before, and really does not know much about deer hunting period. So far this season, I have taken a decent doe on opening day, and a decent buck this past weekend, so there are deer to be had at this place. Now, they have a 15 yr old daughter that is really interested in hunting and taking her first deer. Both of the parents have asked me to take her and help teach her to hunt, and she is very excited about it. Since I have taken my buck for the season, I am more than happy to teach her, and hopefully get her as addicted to hunting as I am.
Here lies the problem however. The dad bought her one of those Rossi youth rifle/shotgun combos, the breach kind, where you swap out the barrel, single shot. The one he bought her however, only has the .22 and .410 barrels for it. I have never even considered shooting at a deer with a .410, even with a slug. Has anyone ever hunted deer with a .410? I personally don't think its a good idea myself, and have offered to let her used either my 30-30, or even my 30-06, but therein lies another issue, as the daughter seems to be a little hesitant using "a big gun" like those, and has never shot anything bigger than the .22 or 410. Any suggestions guys? I am planning on taking her out on Saturday, so there really wont be much time to get her accustomed to the "big gun" as she puts it, but I know my rifles are deadly accurate, and she would have a better chance at taking a deer with either rifle as opposed to that 410.
Also, she keeps saying she really wants to get a buck, and yesterday one of the guys on the lease said he spotted a nice 9-point at his stand, and said I should take her to his stand to hunt. Another question is, do you think if all we see are does, that we should take one just so she can take her 1st deer, or would you suggest waiting out and attempt to get the buck. My thinking is that if she gets a doe, at least she will be hooked, and can always go back for the buck later.
I will admit I am a bit excited to take/teach her to hunt,as it feels kinda nice being asked but at the same time I want her to have an enjoyable time. Any advice on any and all of these issues would be appreciated.
thanks guy

I hunted with a .410 with slugs when I was young, it just has to be a closer shot!!! Before hunting, whatever she is going to hunt with she has to get used to so let her shoot all the guns and see what she's more comfortable with!!! It would do no good at all if she's afraid to shoot the "big" guns!!!

Why not let her use one of yours. 410 is not deer material in my opion and a wounded animal is the last thing she would want to remember.

Get her out with a 243 or like caliber and explain why you are doing this(the humane factor). BTW everyone of those Rossis' I have ever seen were trash.

If you have a good Recoil pad on the 30-30 then use it, IMO the '06 is better suited for somone who has hunted for awhile. After all you do not want the scope to dot her eyes, as far as usine the 410 I would not. This is her FIRST TIME to hunt so I would try to put the odds in her favor. Good Luck

do have anyone around you that can load up some 110 gr ,30-30's in a light load. Let her try that and I think she will find out that its not any worse than the 410. I think she will like it. The down side is , you may loose your 30-30

That is great that you are taking her out and really great of the other hunter to let her take a deer from his stand

A .410 can take down a deer, but with a first time hunter and the limitations of the effective range of the gun, I believe that I would attempt to get her used to a "big" gun. There are many options and girls much younger shoot guns that are much bigger. The problem is that most people fear the unknown more than anything, and "big" guns are unknown to her.

Is this weekend the only weekend that she can go or do you have the option to take her more than once? If she is going to be able to go more and you have the time, it might be a good idea to take her out and sit for the weekend. Let her see some deer and experience more than just the hunt. Let her shoot some different guns. Make sure you get her ear plugs, I have found that the noise seems to bother them more than anything. I really think that once she gets used to a bigger gun, she will be more comfortable and will have no issue using it.

Good Luck

My Dad started my deer hunting experience when I was eleven with a .410.

Patience is one of the lessons of hunting, I'd vote for waiting for the buck.

Thank you Tatsun for your willingness to teach a young lady how to hunt. Good Luck!

Has she shot or practiced with 410 slugs?

Will she have the chance to shoot the 30-30? See if you can find some of the Remington Managed Recoil 30-30 ammo. Good stuff for young people!

It's good to get young people out hunting but it's important they can shoot.

First thing I would do is get some target practice in with all the guns. Let her get used to shooting period before just hunting. Just because is it sighted in she hasn't shot yours and she could pull the trigger instead of squeezing it and might miss.

Since she has shot the 410 plenty and is used to it, what I think I will do is just take her out this weekend, and let her sit with the 410, but take some time after the morning hunt on Sunday, and set up some targets and let her practice with the 30-30. We will be able to hunt more this season, so next time she will have shot the "big" gun, and be used to it.
I will try to pick up some of the Remington Managed Recoil 30-30 ammo that was mentioned. Anyone know where to find it at? Do they by chance sell it at Academy?

Take her and her dad and kill 2 birds with one stone. As far as the .410 I personally don't think it has the punch for killing deer, but I'm sure people have and do use it. I would focus on her shooting something that will kill a deer first before worrying about hunting them.

Reduced recoil 30-06 rounds can be purchased and are good out to about 200 yds but have little recoil, probably less than the 410 slug in a lite weight Rossi. Rem. Cor-loc's brand. Good hearing protection will lessen the recoil considerably!!

I used a 223. when I was younger and i dropped a doe at 161 yards with it... So that what I would use.

Couple other ideas- Rossi has a 243 bbl that will fit that gun. Her dad should be happy to 'complete the set' on 'her' Rossi if you help them find the bbl.
Her first deer? Put her on a spike or doe; let her work up to a racked deer (leave her something to look fwd to).

You guys know, I just had another idea, thanks to 007hunters son, I also have an AR in .223. That may be the best option. Will have to see about it, and make sure that the appearance of it does not intimidate her.

I think she needs to go practice first and foremost! Make sure she is comfortable shoting etc.. I wouldn't waste my time on the Rossi stuff, as I have had nothing but bad luck. Look and see if there is "managed recoil load" for your 30-30 and let her practice with that.
my two cents. good luck!

All sounds great, but this day in age I'd make sure and have a third person out there with us....hate to say it but always cya

Good luck and I would use the at or reduced loads in 06 or 30/30, I hunted on lease year before Kacee started hunting and had another guy on the lease that wanted his son to take his first buck, and his 16yr old daughter went with me and guess who shot my .300 win mag and took a deer . So the 06 with reduced recoil loads and little practice should be no issue for 15yr old

Unfortunately that is good advice.

Take her dad along. It would be good for him to see her first buck and maybe he'll catch the fever.

I dropped my first two does with a .410 when I was 10 at about 30yrds I've learned that the .410 is the straightest shooting slug gun just set her up close tell her were to aim and let her be comfortable with her gun as long as your comfortable with her shot placement give it a try she'll get one and show her a good time good luck

I agree with the idea of reduced recoil loads for the 30/30 or '06. These rounds will have plenty of power to do the job and some left over. I also think it would be a good idea if she took a doe or spike for her first deer. Too many kids kill a 130" 10pt as their first and are disappointed next year when they don't kill something bigger.

Oh, and friends or not, don't take that girl anywhere alone. It is a CYA type of deal, the world is full of people who will do anything for money. You simply never know.

I agree with the CYA, way too risky,that hunting trip could turn into a life changer pretty easy.

Let her use whatever gun "she" is comfortable. And as for the CYA I totally agree with everyone else. Take another person with ya, preferably dad. Cooped up in a small box with a 15 yr old girl could get tricky. If you were to accidentally touch her it could get bad in a hurry

Thanks guys, all appreciated. As far as the CYA goes, I can also understand all of your concerns. The parents are the ones that actually asked me to take her first, and then she asked as well. The dad works alot, and his hours make it kind of hard to be able to take him along.
They are good friends, and view me as family, and I am comfortable taking her and not having to worry about something dumb or accusations like that whatsoever. Now if they were just acquitances, i would definatly have 2nd thoughts and videotaping the entire hunt just to CYA.
Her dad was actually off yesterday afternoon, and they sat in one of the stands, and she spotted a 6 point and her dad took the shot instead of letting her and completely missed, so now she is kinda bummed out. I am taking her out Saturday, just hope we see something.