Don't Be Surprised...!

[Mule_Deer_Crazy]

When my seven year old daughter registered for Hunter Ed in January the gal told me, "Don't be surprised when she don't pass the test at the end of the week?" I thought to myself, "Don't be surprised when she does pass the test at the end of the week, she's been studying every night for the past month!" Turned out it was a good thing we put all the time in, but pass it she did!

Took her up to NE WA where she could shoot anything. At eight they ain't got much attention span! Besides that, we pretty much needed to get set up and have one come to us. After bugging me for a half an hour to toss some trail mix out in front of us because the deer would like to eat it, I impatiently told her to go ahead! I kid you not, the trail mix hadn't even hit the ground yet when this little doe stepped out! Samantha turned to me and said, "I told you it would work!!!" Obviously cause and effect, who could argue with that (especially with an 8 year old)?

Well, mid-afternoon on Saturday this little doe stepped out at 150 yards and started feeding. At about 130 Samantha decided she was ready to take a crack at her. She missed and the doe took off running right at us. Samantha whispers, "I'm scared, she's going to run over us!" I assure her the doe doesn't even know we're there and to be ready when she stops for another shot.

Well, she stops at 60 yards and Samantha puts one right through the heart and off-side shoulder. Needless to say she pretty much went down in a heap. I told her she did perfect and she just exclaimed, "I feel so excited I could just scream!"

So if you put the time in with them don't be surprised..., they just might succeed!

Enjoy!

 

[kipper]

That is awesome!Nice to see she enjoys the outdoors. Tell her congrats! Way to go and keep it up!

 

[sremim]

I think those are the best pictures I've ever seen on this website. Awesome.

 

[caelkhnter]

I just love these stories about sharing the hunting experience with our youth! Great job and Congrats to your daughter.

 

[muleyman]

Congrats to you and your daughter! I can't wait until my kids are old enough to hunt.

muleyman

 

[Slide]

Congrats. to both of you as a father of two little boys I can say my hat is off to you for taking the time and not being selfish. It is obvious you have spent alot of time with her and you should be very proud of yourself dad, cause you did it. When those little ones succeed, personally it's better then anything I could have ever done. Glad to see you taking the time to pass it on.

Tell your daughter congrats. and I hope her success continues.
You both have alot to be proud of.

 

[MuskegMan]

Tell your daughter GOOD JOB!!!

You need to find a frame pack that fits her better.

I took Basic Hunter Safety with my boy (even tho Alaska doesn't require it or Safety orange - go figure) He scored 1 better than me too! He was almost 11 at that time.


MM

 

[ridgerunner]

Thanks for posting a great story, your daughter did real well. I look forward to taking my kids out hunting with me in another 5-6 years hopefully.

 

[AZbowhntr]

That is great. I am going to have to get my daughter up here to check out this thread. She is 9 and likes going quail hunting with me. Congrats to you and your daughter. It looks like she was having a blast.

 

[NMHUNTNUTT1]

Thats absolutely AWESOME! Congrats to you and your little girl, big time! I hope to enjoy that same feelings in 07...Again congrats and even more , thanks for sharing....

 

[HEEFMAN]

Good job by both dad and daughter. Nice BullPac, by the way. It can handle a little more weight.

 

[MULEYJUNKY]

Now there's a girl that isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. Great job, congrats to you both.



Bag 'em, Tag 'em, and Drag 'em!!

 

[bigbull1]

Priceless!

Way to go daughter and pops...The start of many wonderful memories.

Ed

 

[Mule_Deer_Crazy]

Thanks for the nice comments, I really enjoyed it! I hope you all have a fun season this year too. If you want to get a deer throw some trailmix out!

Samantha

 

[polarbear]

LAST EDITED ON Oct-17-06 AT 05:50PM (MST)[p]Good job!!!! Awesome feeling isnt it Dad? Nothing better than that! My 6 & 9 year old girls are coyote shooting fools but havent gone through hunters safety yet to step up the big game. Hopefully next year.

Eric

 

[WAmuleyHunter]

Sam!!!

Awesome story, and pictures!! Congrats to the little lady, all that work on passing the test and then putting it all together. I know she is excited but i bet you cant contain your self. Congrats to you two.!!!

Garrett

 

[couesbitten]

Awesome story! Great pictures. Her smile speaks volumes for what she's experiencing. Congratulations to both of you, it's a great thing when these events can be shared. Scott/couesbitten

 

[Phantom Hunter]

Congrats to your daughter. Brings back memories of when my daugher was that age and shot her first deer ( a 140 whitetail!!!) Keep her hunting till boys become more interesting. I didn't get to hunt with my daughter for two or three years during high school. Now she is in college and we have a late season doe hunt planned, cant' wait.

Phantom Hunter

 

[NDBadlandsbucks]

Great story, but the pictures are even better, her smile says a lot. She sure jumps right in to help. Congrats to her, and to you too.

Keep the Sun at Your Back and the Wind in Your Face

 

[elkhuntr]

Sam, Tell your daughter congrats on the doe.I hope to someday enjoy the same thing.
Elkhuntr

 

[muleloper]

Those pictures bring a big smile to my face. Congrats to you and your daughter.

 

[redrabbit]

Inspiring story, great pics, and you can see the excitement and joy in Samantha's face. Congrats to her and you.

Doug~RR

 

[Hunterted]

Maybe it's becuase I have a eight year old daughter, who knows butTHAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST POST OF THE YEAR.

 

[TripleK]

WTG Samantha! She even packed it out. Good shot, girl and way to work hard to pass the test.

 

[xpdsniper]

What they said! Best pics on the board.
Congratulations Samantha!

 

[tylercreek2]

perfect

 

[manny15]

totally kool!!!

 

[cohntr6]

The story and sequence of pictures is the best!! I have a 6 year old daughter and will be showing this to her as soon as she gets home from school!
'SPEECH, SPEECH, SPEECH'!!!!!
I must aggree with the others, best post ever on MM!!!!
Congrats to you and your daughter!
Jeff

 

[huntin100]

Nice Job Samantha!! You have a good dad that will take you hunting.

 

[GumbyFish]

Well done Samantha I love the skinnin pics. I did not get of of my daughter Carly's deer. Well done Dad I know how proud you feel. Oh and I might have to try the trail mix thing myself.

 

[bcmulie]

I agree with what other's have said - this is one of the best posts I've ever seen on MM. First thing I will do when I get home tonight is show this to my eldest daughter, who will turn six in January. Congratulations to both father and daughter. That's what it's all about.

bcmulie

 

[Muleyslyr]

That's amazing!! Way to go to both of you. Gotta be a proud moment for ya.

 

[cohntr6]

MDC,
My daughter enjoyed the pictures.
I love how involved she was with the skinning and packing out of the deer (even though it looks like you could have thrown that little doe over your shoulder and walked out with it).

What caliber gun was she using and how well does it fit your daughter?
My daughter is tiny (30 pounds at 6 1/2 yrs old-1st grade) so I worry about finding a youth size gun that will then have to be cut down even more to fit her.
Thanks for the great post.
Jeff

 

[MBM]

Very Nice!!! Great job Smantha and Dad. My daughter just turned 4 and I can't wait till she is old enough to go hunting.

Mark

 

[Mule_Deer_Crazy]

She's been shooting a Remington Model 700 .243, not a youth model. I looked at a youth model and it was only about an inch shorter than a regular one so I reasoned that she'd outgrow it so quick I'd just get her started on a regular one. Once you cut them down you can't go back, so...?

Anyways, with a little practice she was shooting it just fine. The interesting thing is most people tend to shoot high, but she took to shooting low in the chest cavity from the start. A big help was getting a paper deer target so she could visually process shot placement - seemed to make all the difference in the world?

If she's anything like her momma, she'll be shooting my .300 Win. Mag. in a couple years anyways! The wife can't hit nothing with it, but she really likes the kick... go figure?

It will be intersting to see how into it she gets. If she really gets into hunting, she sure has a big head start! It was fun either way. I'd recommend everybody teach and take a kid hunting, it will give you a whole new perspective on the sport!

 

[Mule_Deer_Crazy]

Can't hit nothing with it?? Seems to me, that I'v dropped every deer and elk I've shot at with just one bullet! My story-telling husband, as I recall, needed every last bullet in the gun to bring home the meat this last season!!

 

[predator]

LOL!! Awesome, I'd say just by the fact she's already doing a fine job of cleaning her doe, that she had a really great mentor.

Methinks you are in BIG trouble with that girl! She's gonna make you hunt everything. She's gonna plead with you like I did my Dad when the weather gets so nasty hunting is a chore....and I bet you'll cave in just like mine and take me anyway.

Thanks for sharing such a great story.

 

[BCBOY]

AWESOME!!!! That right there is what it's all about. It doesn't get any better than that!
http://sdana.photosite.com/DanasHuntingPics/

 

[Cozmo8]

I have a friend whose daughter was asked to take the next hunter safety course because the current one was full. It was mainly because big game violators required by law to take it had filled it up. He refused, she took the course and was the only one to get a 100% on the test. She was 12 years old at the time.

Fantastic outing for you and what a great idea to have her help with the packing. She has just learned the entire hunting experience and will remember it for years. Someday when you are old and gray you will be reliving it with your grandchildren. Absolutely Cool.