I have enjoyed reading other's posts regarding kids and there hunting success. Now I can share mine.

My daughter shot her first deer. It was a learning experience for both of us. I think I learned the most. She moved too much and spooked a some deer she thought she was going to shoot "for sure." She was only going to shoot a buck, "because does make more deer," but after she had a close encounter and learned the hard way to move slowly and quietly- she really just wanted to get any deer. The first night we hunted she missed a doe just before dark and she was pretty bummed out, also the gun slipped off her shouder on to her bicep and when she shot the second time it hurt her arm and she was crying. Oh, and did I mention the first shot was off into outer space because she neglected to take off the safety and was getting so frazzled she thought there was something wrong with the gun, by the time she sorted it out--BANG, way over the doe. Always have the muzzle of the gun pointed in a safe direction. The perfect first hunting trip in my opinion, hunting teach us a great deal, and my thoughts were, yeah we get to keep hunting.

The next afternoon we went out again, we did not hunt in the morning because my daughter had a slumber party to attend after our previous evening hunt. Slumber parties are important to 10 year old girls by the way. We got out a little late as we had to stop a pick up snacks, gotta have snacks. Any way we arrive at our hunting spot and get settled into the blind. The first thing we did was practice some of the aiming out the windows at the various angles and made the required adjustments to get her comfortable.

We were hunting out of an elevated blind a friend of mine has on his property and it was the perfect set up for a first timer.


We were sitting for a little over an hour and Sophie say, "Let's play cards." We get ready to deal the cards on the 5 gallon bucket between us and I decide to look over my shoulder one more time and standing about 20 yards away is a deer. We immediately go into chinese fire drill mode as our card table was also what Sophie was going to sit on and I was sitting in front of the window she was going to shoot out of. We moved slowly and as quietly as we could to get in position. She got calmed down and started to say something about the trigger and I said "just squeeze it," she did, it worked.

The smile says it all.
Congrats to the young lady.

Fantastic. Alot of good lessons jn that first day that she will keep. Also great that you were willing to play cards and not be all hardcore about it. The goal is time in the woods with her, and whatever it takes..good for you both

Congrats to Sophie! Nothing better than hunting with your kids! Well, except maybe sitting beside them when they clobber a bruiser like that! I bet she is hooked for life!

Z

Congrats. Thanks for sharing.

Congratulations to the young hunter!!
Tell her nice Buck and good shootin'.
Congrats to you too dad, sometimes it's difficult to put a Deer and a kid and a bullet all together at the same time and make it happen good job.
You and your daughter are making memories and giving her an appreciation for the outdoors and it's rewards.

Congratulations to you both!!!

Thank you for all the kind words.

It is a memory I will never forget, and I hope Sophie feels the same. I tried to make it as fun as possible and most importantly remain calm. There are so many things we take for granted when it comes to shooting and hunting for many many years. I'm learning to be a better parent. She learned that taking a life is not to be taken lightly. After the deer was down she said she was excited, "but I also feel kind of sad." I was glad to hear that.

I don't know if she is hooked on hunting or not but and but I plan to keep up my end.

She was using a Savage 11 hunter youth left-handed in 243 win.by the way.I got the scope gun package. This is an amazingly accurate gun. I reloaded a reduced load for practicing that has 4 holes touching at 75yrds and her hunting load was 90 gr ballistic tip "hunting" bullet sub moa.

The shot ended up being about 50yrds, destroyed the heart ran about 50 yards.

Have a great day.

Awesome! Big congrats to the newest hunter! I have a feeling there will be a few more deer in her future!!

Sounds like a perfect shot!

Congrats again!!

Great job, Dad! Tell your daughter congratulations!

Congratulations to both your daughter and you.

What part of north west Nebraska are you in. I hunted in the Pine Ridge area twice out from Crawford/Fort Robinson, beautiful country and really good deer, both white tails and mulies.

Being trying to get my act together and make at least one more trip up there before I get too old. Really enjoyed hunting the Soldier Creek Wilderness area. Caught some really nice brook trout on one of the hunts.

Excellent!

Fantastic! Congrats to you and Sophie!

The patience and persistence paid off.

JPK

Congratulations to you and your daughter. Being with my sons for their first deer is one of the best memories of them growing up that I have. And don't worry about her not being thrilled with future trophies after shooting such a monster her first time out. My oldest shot one like that when he was 13 (his second deer) and he still gets pretty excited about putting does in the freezer.

Great job Dad !
I have a young lady coming on her first deer hunt this weekend. I hope she is as successful as Sophie !

You always remember your firsts ! Great job.

Just fantastic!!!! and very nice buck to boot

What a nice buck! Please tell Sophie I said she should stick with hunting forever!

Hunting deer with your daughter, it doesn't really get any better than that!

To both of you: a big

outstanding

Fantastic and a very nice deer.

My Daughter shot her first deer sitting in my lap........we both treasure that memory.


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Well done young lady.

Tell the young lady congrats!!! on a fine buck. My daughter started deer hunting at 9 and is now 21. She still loves to go deer hunting, of course she no longer sits in the double person stand with me. She has her own stand set-up now. I can say I miss it.
Enjoy the one on one time with her, it passes way to quick.

Congrats to the both of you and that's great to see! Helluva nice deer, too. I always love to see kids being brought up learning the proper way to be a sportsman(woman!).