This probably belongs in the hunting report section of this website but I'm SO proud as I'm writing this that I just HAVE to post it over here...

When my daughter turned 9 her answer to my question on what she wanted for her B/day was clear and simple... "Daddy I want to hunt - like you..."

Now how can a daddy say no to a pretty little girl like my Ashley...

So the "big day" arrived on April 8th, 2006 when I took her hunting with a .223 - intention being of getting her an Impala...

But on that particular day - even though she had proved herself over and over again on the shooting range with the .223 as she had proved herself shooting her air rifle in the garden - her hunting skills proved not to be on par with her shooting skills and even though we managed to get within shooting distance of a nice ram she got just a little too excited at the wrong time - thereby spooking the Impala and we didn't get her impala that day...

This year however; things were different...

We were sitting outside on the veranda just before sunset when I heard some kudu barking not far from the house...

Ashley looked at me and I looked at her... And as we still had some daylight left I said to her: "Go get the 30-06 and be quick about it..."

So the 2 of us set off - in the direction of the river to where I knew the kudu were heading... We hadn't walked for longer than 20 minutes before I saw some horns glistening from behind a tree in last light. So after a careful approach that felt like hours but in fact didn't last longer than about 5 minutes we managed to get close enough to the bull that was standing less than 20 yards from us...

The bull's body was hidden behind the tree so a "safe" body shot was out of the question. The only part that was clearly visible from behind the tree was its head... So I set up the shooting sticks and told her to wait until we got a clear shot...

Then the bull turned its head, now looking directly at us and Ashley whispered: "Daddy I've got him... I can shoot him between the eyes!"

For a second I hesitated - having an intense dislike in people with no hunting experience wanting to attempt brain shots...

But, for some reason or another - on this particular evening - maybe because I was more excited than her and maybe because I SO badly wanted her to get her first "real" African animal I whispered back: "Well... then take him" as I shouldered my Ruger for sake of insurance...

Then the shot rang out and the kudu disappeared from my view... I couldn't wait for Sabina to get to us with the camera and truck after calling her in on the radio...

The results can be seen in the pictures below:


Ashley and Sabina with the kudu (no - my wife does not smoke but yes that is a cigar in her fingers - I insisted that she brings one to celebrate the occasion and NO - I did not let my daughter smoke it either...)


Ashley with her first "real" African animal - a 52" kudu bull. (The tarp was used to get the kudu back home - it was NOT shot in the garden)


A proud father and Hendrik - one of my trackers busy recovering the kudu.

Thanks for sharing - the picture of her smile is absolutely priceless!

Made my day!

David

That's great. Her smile says it all. A lucky girl to have a dad like you! Thanks for sharing.

Congratulation to the huntress and her father for doing a fine job of raising a girl the right way!

Congrats, her smile is almost as big as yours. One proud dad you must be.

Congratulations to Dad and the hunter. A memory she will carry with her for the rest of her life.

I am sure everyone on AR is as proud of her as her Dad. Give her our best.

Congrats! What a proud moment.

Congratulations to the young lady! I've got a young granddaughter that wants to go hunting with me. She will see this this weekend. Her mom (non-hunter) will go hmph, but her father (my son) will urge her on.

Walk proudly. You deserve it.

What wonderful smiles all the way around ... Congrats on a GREAT memory!

Excellent. What more could you ask for.

That's really great! Beautiful kudu and a great shot. Congratulations!

I am glad that you posted it here. What a great first kudu! Congratulations to the entire family, especially to Ashley. It looks like your days of solo hunts are over with.

This made my day! Congratulations to young Lady Ashley on her fine kudu bull!

Well done Chris, good to see the young folk in the field!

Very nice Chris! I need to show this to my daughter who is not so sure about Dad's pastime.

You can tell Ashley I'm extremely jealous of her kudu! As others have stated before, the smiles in all the pictures say it all!

Congrats again Miss Ashley!

Congratulations to Ashley and you too Chris. A fine hunt and a great kudu!.

Thanks everyone for the kind words. When I told friends about her aspirations to hunt some said she was too young and not ready for such a big step... She certainly proved them wrong - not only with the way she handled herself in the field but also with the way she handled things after the hunt...

I am very proud of her indeed and her kudu will get an honorary place next to my first one in my trophy room... Only one problem though... hers is bigger than mine!

There's an article in the newest Guns and Ammo Magazine here in the States about Brittany Boddington and her "conversion" to hunting with her father Craig. Great article for those of you who can get a copy and read. I was able to meet Brittany, Craig and Brittany's friend, Ms. Miller, on their way back as we rode the 747 together, talked, saw their pictures and Brittany's excitement in becoming an African hunter. That was back in 2003. Same goes here, however, with Ashley's kudu. By the way Chris, does your lovely wife hunt too?

Splendid Chris, that is what it's all about. Congratulations to Ashley.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
By the way Chris, does your lovely wife hunt too?

Afraid not... she loves all animals except ticks - which she really enjoys killing and spiders - which she is terrified of!!! But fortunately she does not have a problem with hunting or else our marriage would have been doomed...

She even allowed us to hunt on "her" part of the farm on this special occasion...

Congrats to the Happy Father and the little hunter.

Thats a special moment.

Hope there will be many more for you to share.

Gerhard

I know it seems it just can't get any better but it will and enjoy every moment! You just got to love moments like these. You are a lucky man and she is a lucky girl to have a father like you, congrats!!!

quote:

Originally posted by ChrisTroskie:
She even allowed us to hunt on "her" part of the farm on this special occasion...

I seem to remember a story about a bushbuck or some such on your wife's part of the property that you wanted?

Congrats to Ashley. Well done.

Chris, congrats to Ashley and I hope she dined on tenderloins?
David

Bryan you're right... In fact I saw Oddyseus (or another ram that was in similar class) again today and was very tempted to take him... especially since Bina is presently in Spain and I'm thus home alone... BUT with Ashley's kudu in the freezer there's simply no space for anything more so he is still running around... Maybe some other time...

Chris, I hesitate to give you advice on that particular bushbuck as you have to answer to Mrs. Troskie. Believe me, she would find out!

I hope to get to see your place one of these times. It sounds very nice.

Congrats Chris, I hope you are saving me one of those for when I make it your way sometime in the next few years. That must be great to see her get that one.

Nice going Chris!
It is always great to see the youngsters getting involved, please pass on congrats.

John

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:
Chris, I hesitate to give you advice on that particular bushbuck as you have to answer to Mrs. Troskie. Believe me, she would find out!

Well... I won't tell if you won't... But you're right of course - she WILL find out have to admit it sure was tempting...

quote:

Originally posted by nube:
Congrats Chris, I hope you are saving me one of those for when I make it your way sometime in the next few years. That must be great to see her get that one.

No worries Phil, there are lots around and should be for some years... Should I tie one up for you so long?

Ashley,

Awesome, you are now a hunter...


Mike

quote:

Originally posted by ChrisTroskie:

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:
Chris, I hesitate to give you advice on that particular bushbuck as you have to answer to Mrs. Troskie. Believe me, she would find out!

Well... I won't tell if you won't... But you're right of course - she WILL find out have to admit it sure was tempting...

My dear husband, don't even think about it as you will definitiv, be a dead man when I get back home!

Rut-roh! Think of it this way Chris; who needs a crusty ol' 20 inch Bushbuck anyway?
Welcome to our little piece of the planet Sabina!
Cheers,
David

Now how did that happen? I had nothing to do with it!

It's great to see more females enjoying this sport!

And Sabina, you husband is a lucky man!

I am not sure, if Chris is a "lucky man", as I told him, if there is any dead bushbuck in the freezer, he will have to eat the next 2 month bushbuck-soup, bushbuck-icecreme, Bushbuck-souflee, Bushbuck-mousse, Paella de Bushbuck etc, etc. I have millions of ideas how to prepare my special friend Oddyseus for my lovely husband! And sorry for reading this hunting forum being not a huntress ... b u t I really do love everything about hunting. AND I KNEW, Oddyseus is not exact safe during my visit in Spain. So - I had to look a little, little bit, what Mr.Troskie is doing all day long..... Promise, will never ever disturb this Hunter-bussiness! I am only THE COOK!
Warm regards
Sabina

Sabina: Congratulations on joining with us here on AR. And, we are glad that you are watching what Mr. Troskie is doing and saying. In the end, we know that he will do the right things with you around.

congratulations on a wonderful memory. Keep the pictures handy. When Ashley becomes a teenager you will be able to use them to either A. embarrass her by showing them to her friends, or B. intimidate her boyfriends. Also, if she goes through that vegetarian stage, the pictures will be priceless.

Congratulations.

TerryR

Ashley, well done!!!!

Chris, I know exactly how you feel!!!

Dulcinea

OK, so I almost got caught out there... phew!!!

Thanks again for all the posts, thanks Bill Gates, HP, IBM, Apple and the US Army for (almost) letting me put my foot in it and thanks my Bina for giving Ash and me the opportunity to get that kudu. (BTW It's time to come home now!!!)