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View Full Version : A new deer Huntress!



taylorce1
11-25-2012, 12:31 PM
I posted this first over on Accurate Reloading (http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3411043/m/9001093281) because that is where my hungint buddies hang out. However a Stevens 200 was used, and I'm so proud of my little girl that I have to spread the word!


Originally posted by taylorce1:
I thought I'd do a spin off of graybird's post since he is pretty involved in this one as well.

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/taylorce1/pa030720.jpg
I met this little lady when I started to date her mother in 2008 and she was five years old at the time. A little desperate for attention from a male role model so I've tried to do the best I could. I let her steal my rangefinder and tag along on her first pronghorn hunt when she was six.

Next I bought her a little pink rifle and started teaching her to shoot.
http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/taylorce1/pinkrifle.jpg
She spent quite a bit of time shooting that little pink rifle with Snellstrom's youngest son, and on her own when we could get to the range. Graybird bought her a nice hot pink soft case that she is pretty proud of as well.

When she was seven she had to miss out on our annual pronghorn hunting because of a broken leg. However when she was eight she made it and wasn't afraid to give me a hand holding the pronghorn while I did the field dressing. Shortly after that hunt she said she wanted to go hunting.

So I did what any good stepfather would do. I made a deal with her to make her earn a hunting trip. I told her if she kept her grades up and passed Hunters Ed, I'd find a hunt for her. Well she kept her end of the bargain straight A's and passed Hunters Ed on the first try. I had been talking with Graybird about somewhere I could take her to hunt, since Colorado says they have to be 12 to hunt big game. He offered up his Dad's place in OK to Snellstrom's boy and my daughter to hunt white tail.

So I spent most of the year leading up to this hunt getting my daughter to shoot a larger rifle than her little pink crickett. We had a few set backs as report, even with ear plugs inside of muffs seemed to bother her. So good ol' step dad loaded up "magic bullets" for his daughter and got her worked up to full power .223 loads for a Steven's 200 I had the stock cut down to fit her.

This past pronghorn season we didn't see any pronghorn worth shooting but since my wife and I allowed her to skip a day of school with "hunters flu", we shot some prairie dogs with Ted Thorn. She had been worried about making a poor shot on a deer and wounding one as we got closer to her hunting, shooting prairie dogs was a big confidence booster.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/20121010_141542.jpg

Anyway we got to Graybird's hunting site on Monday evening too late to hunt but she sure was excited to get her first Deer tag at "the Walmart". We would spend the next day sitting overlooking a canyon for deer in the morning, chasing squirrels mid day and sitting in a hunting blind that afternoon.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/1353622878.jpg

Unfortunately we never connected with a deer that first day, she never felt right about taking a shot. I told her I was proud of her for not shooting when she felt she didn't have the shot, and it was no big deal if she didn't shoot a deer at all. I had to leave her in the capable hands of Graybird to get her on deer, because I had been called to report back to work in TX on Wednesday.

I was getting a little worked up waiting around all day to get some news to find out if I was going to have a deer huntress on my hands. About 6pm Graybird sent me this picture.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/1353558358.jpg

Success a "Huntress" is born! Graybird said she made a perfect shot into the pocket of the deer's shoulder at 120 yards. Her second shot was a little far back but the deer was at 140+ yards by the time she shot again. According to the report I got the second shot wasn't needed at all as the first destroyed the lungs completely.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/1353633185.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/1353633217.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/taylorce1/1353633199.jpg

I owe Graybird and Snellstrom a great deal for helping my daughters journey to become a "Huntress" a success. I couldn't be more proud of my little girl, and a little sad I wasn't there to witness this milestone in person.

brtelec
11-25-2012, 02:42 PM
I find posts like this very uplifting. My daughters all shoot and my granddaughters will start as soon as they are old enough. Good for you and good for her. This is the most important thing we can do to ensure our future rights. We must make sure our children and grandchildren are shooters and understand how unique we are as a nation to have the rights we currently have.

Tx308
11-25-2012, 03:37 PM
It doesn't get any better than that. Congratulations to her, and a good job to you for stepping up for her.
Thanks for sharing.

Sent by high speed racing turtle via Tapatalk2.

taylorce1
11-25-2012, 08:18 PM
This is what my buddy had to say.


I am so proud of this little girl you don't understand!!!

When the doe and fawn entered the field, I asked her which deer she wanted to shoot. Naturally, she chose the big one.

So, I had her get on the gun and look at the deer for minute. I asked her if she could see both deer and how was the picture. "It's perfect, I can see her perfect."

"Ok, let's take a couple deep breathes and just look at her for a second."

"Can you still see her and are the crosshairs where they need to be?"

"Yes, I can still see her perfect."

"Ok, I'm going to take the gun off safety and take the shot when you're ready."

A perfect textbook lung shot just behind the shoulder halfway up. I had her shoot again, but it wasn't required.

I could read the happiness and satisfaction on her face that the deer didn't suffer because of her excellent shots.

I gave her a big hug, some high fives and a couple fist bumps along with talking about the excellent exicutuion.

A HAPPY Day indeed for both of us!

Congrats again, and "Show me that pretty smile!"

Graybird

WhiteFeather
11-25-2012, 08:47 PM
Congratulations on a job well done. It' good to see the next generation taking up the sport.

pappy83
11-25-2012, 09:58 PM
Thats great I enjoy hunting with my daughter and son also. Kids are the future of shooting and its great seeing people getting them involved.