babablacktail
11-13-2005, 01:18 PM
This is my daughters 1st year as an active hunter (13yrs old). While she lacks my total love for hunting she is a willing but occassional hunting partner.
She is hunting with my crossbow and it is a bit heavy for her to just aim and shoot so we have to pick a spot and sit and wait. She has practiced in the back yard lots and can consistantly group her bolts in a 4 inch square around the bulls eye at 40 yds. Better than me or her dad.
We were coming home from a short hunt when we saw a large buck cross the road behind our house. I asked her if she wanted to go in after it and got a smile and a nod. So we pulled over, had a very brief talk about quiet quiet quiet and literaly crawled in after it. Took about 10 min to find him and he was bout 100yds away eating. I cocked the bow for her and away we went. Well she (we) managed to sneak up to about 50yds away, got herself set-up and waited for a good shot. Then he moved away from us and we had to do this again. Told her that if he turns broadside and we get close enough to let fly. Managed to get within 40 yds this time and we were starting to loose the light. Maddi had a bead in him through the scope and we waited. I asked here what he is doing and she said "he's chewing mom". By this time I could hardly see him but she had him in the scope and could see him clearly. I could tell that he was standing facing us and was considering having her take the shot at his upper chest before we lost all our light. If anybody could make that shot it would be her. So I was just about to tell her to take the shot and she says to me " Mommy - I'm shaking". Buck fever strikes. Changed my mind about the head on shot instantly
So - in the end she didn't take a shot. We finally lost him in the poor light of the forest. She says he just disappeared. When we got back to the road I told her how well she did and (with a big grin on my face)said "GOOD HUNTING Maddi". She really didn't understand why it was a good hunt cause she didn't get the animal. I told her it was because she handled herself, her weapon, and the situation like a pro. Everytime we moved the safety went on and as soon as she was set for a shot the safety went off. She never lost sight of him while hunting. She moved slowly and silently when she had to and didn't even think twice about how many bugs and slugs she was squishing in the process. Total crawl time - about 45 minutes and she said it felt like 5 minutes. My how time flys when your having fun.
I am so proud of her I could just bust. This was the 1st time she had a deer in her sights. She says she now understands why I get so excited even if I do not get an animal. I love the hunt and maybe in time so will she.
She is hunting with my crossbow and it is a bit heavy for her to just aim and shoot so we have to pick a spot and sit and wait. She has practiced in the back yard lots and can consistantly group her bolts in a 4 inch square around the bulls eye at 40 yds. Better than me or her dad.
We were coming home from a short hunt when we saw a large buck cross the road behind our house. I asked her if she wanted to go in after it and got a smile and a nod. So we pulled over, had a very brief talk about quiet quiet quiet and literaly crawled in after it. Took about 10 min to find him and he was bout 100yds away eating. I cocked the bow for her and away we went. Well she (we) managed to sneak up to about 50yds away, got herself set-up and waited for a good shot. Then he moved away from us and we had to do this again. Told her that if he turns broadside and we get close enough to let fly. Managed to get within 40 yds this time and we were starting to loose the light. Maddi had a bead in him through the scope and we waited. I asked here what he is doing and she said "he's chewing mom". By this time I could hardly see him but she had him in the scope and could see him clearly. I could tell that he was standing facing us and was considering having her take the shot at his upper chest before we lost all our light. If anybody could make that shot it would be her. So I was just about to tell her to take the shot and she says to me " Mommy - I'm shaking". Buck fever strikes. Changed my mind about the head on shot instantly
So - in the end she didn't take a shot. We finally lost him in the poor light of the forest. She says he just disappeared. When we got back to the road I told her how well she did and (with a big grin on my face)said "GOOD HUNTING Maddi". She really didn't understand why it was a good hunt cause she didn't get the animal. I told her it was because she handled herself, her weapon, and the situation like a pro. Everytime we moved the safety went on and as soon as she was set for a shot the safety went off. She never lost sight of him while hunting. She moved slowly and silently when she had to and didn't even think twice about how many bugs and slugs she was squishing in the process. Total crawl time - about 45 minutes and she said it felt like 5 minutes. My how time flys when your having fun.
I am so proud of her I could just bust. This was the 1st time she had a deer in her sights. She says she now understands why I get so excited even if I do not get an animal. I love the hunt and maybe in time so will she.