My daughter got to my house about 7:00 this morning and we headed down to the deer lease 40 miles down towards Jacksonville.

It's mighty hot in South Georgia this time of the year, so when we got there, I turned on the A/C in the trailer, gave her a good book and a cup of coffee, then got an ATV going that'd been sitting for several months (It finally cranked after a little cussing and a booster battery).

I putted down a woods road for a bit and then crossed a dry ditch and went into an oak hammock. Every 250 or so yards, I put out an orange clay pigeon on an old stump or against a dead tree (and because I'm old as crap and my mind is about gone, marked each one on my GPS).

I set up 16 clays in a big loop that ended back about 200 yards from the camp. For safety, I left a note on the check-out board about what we'd be doing, but no one else is stupid enough to be out in 100 degree heat in the swamp. Their loss.

I returned to the trailer and Emmy and I were off, on foot, to practice for her first buffalo hunt. We wore what we will be taking to Zimbabwe, same boots, same shirts, hats, ammo belts, binocs, etc. except for the rifle.

Instead, she toted a .22 rimfire CZ 452 with a 1.5-5 Leupold that I'd sighted it in 1/2" high at 50 yards with CCI Stingers. We'll work up to the .375 later. She's shot it, and well, but 5 or 6 times a session is all she can do before flinching... I want to avoid that becoming a habit.

What fun.

We slipped along as if we were P.H. and client. We went through the whole scenario. I carried a Stoney Point Tripod already extended for her height.

We'd walk and glass. Even though I put out the damn things, Emmy'd usually spot the orange target around 100 to 120 yards away. We'd pretend "nayati" and try to get behind a live oak or some palmetto bushes and do a bent-over stalk to ease out to a clear shooting path at 40 to 60 yards. I'd then set up the sticks and Emmy would try to shoot within 5 to 10 seconds of my moving away and whispered "Shoot him." (Actually, it's going to be a her, since this will be a cow hunt).

We had a couple of doubles, too, so she could practice working the bolt and getting back on target to simulate a wounded buff that needed a follow up.

Emmy is a dang fine shot and I expected her to do well. She did. Sweaty and tired after a three mile loop amongst the cottonmouths and boar hogs, she "killed" 15 of the 16 clays. Her miss was only an inch or so with her follow up busting it about 3 seconds later. I couldn't have done so well.

One day this week I'll fill a half dozen balloons with water and hang them from limbs and we'll do the same type thing with her .375 H&H. Instant gratification and confidence building, I hope. I expect that an explosion of water will also take her mind off the recoil.

I'm a proud Daddy and I think I've got a buffalo hunter going with me to Matetsi in 17 days!

Can't wait!!!!!

We hope to catch it all on tape, to show ya'll and to watch in my dotage when I'm too old to go... like 105 or something.

Sounds like a great exercise, and even better yet a great time with your daughter.

Your PH will certainly be happy with a client like that. Sounds like a great practice regime.

quote:

(and because I'm old as crap and my mind is about gone, ).

Nonsense!

Sounds like very functional drills. I hope you guys have all the luck.

Ernest, you need a monocle and a pith helmet while you're playing safari..."Bully good shot, Emmy!"

I'll be doing the same with my grandson in another couple of years. Until then, he is the game control officer keeping the squirrels out of his Grand Ma's garden with his Red Ryder

Have a great time Judge and Emmy. We look forward to hearing more afterwards.

I have been doing similar practice with my Son Tait this weekend. We leave this coming Saturday the 9th for the Omay.

By now we have frightened all the deer and turkey out of my woods with our war games. The buffalo rifles are already sighted in, practiced with, loaded for, cleaned and in the Tuff Pak.

Now we are shooting scoped sighted 22s off sticks with emphasis on reloading instantly after the first shot then taking a fast 2d shot - sometimes the second shot is off sticks and sometimes we pull off and shoot freehand.

I have been trying to bug him while he is on the sticks like the PHs usually do ("Do you see him? He is the second from the left - no I mean the second from the right - shoot - no wait...)

Wish it was cooler and there were less ticks and chiggers but the good part is that he will (hopefully) find Africa's climate to be a lot better than his "basic training" here.

JudgeG;

You can even make drills and practice sound like exciting adventures!!!

We are taking our 14 yr. old great/grand nephew hunting this summer (Texas)...we just got back from a session at Gunsite with him. We should have used the .22, as you did, shooting a .308 almost pounded his bony frame.

I can't wait to hear how it all goes in Zimbabwe.

Best regards, D. Nelson

Great practice JudgeG, I am sure she will do fine when the time comes. I really enjoyed the practice sessions with "Hunter's Wife to be" prior to our hunt with CM Safaris.Towards the end of our preparations I actually started believing I was the PH\,that bubble burst about 2 hrs. in the jess in the Dande LOL,thankfully Mr. Tabor was glad to play the role as PH.

Sounds like a grat way to practice. I think I'll begin something similar with Pam. Give our best to Emmy and we wish her the best of luck.

Emmy, "Make the shot" Just like you have been taught.

Mike

Way to go Judge! How old is the young lady?
A teenager, in her twenties? I know the older
she gets the more she'll realize what a won-
derful trip you two will have had together!

The practice plan sounds great. Please tell Emmy we are confident she will do just fine when the time comes to make the shot.

Looking forward to a report on all the action. Wish you both a safe and successful adventure!

Good stuff Judge. Sounds like you are going to have fun.


Re the "and a booster battery", small flexi solar panels are quite cheap now and I know farmers over here use them by putting them on tractors that are left in paddocks so that the battery trickle charges up all the time so next time they use it, it has a fully charged battery.

Hope that helps.

.

quote:

Originally posted by Palmer:
I have been trying to bug him while he is on the sticks like the PHs usually do ("Do you see him? He is the second from the left - no I mean the second from the right - shoot - no wait...)

Darn funny and extremely true. Way to go on adding that last touch of reality.

JudgeG - Only a loving father would sweat it out like that for his little girl. I know exactly where you're coming from. Do take a shotgun along for those damn cottonmouths. I hate 'em with a passion.

Judge,

I am already looking forward to the the hunt repost.

Have a great trip .

Hartley

YU DUN GUD, Bro !
Whack a bigazz cow with 44" spread, Emmy!

Should be a great hunt.Looking forward to the report.