Was fortunate to get to spend opening day and the week that follows up at camp with the family. Lucked up the 1st evening sit. Had my oldest daughter,Avery in the shooting house with me,and was trying to get her first deer. She's 8 years old ,and had been practicing with a scoped pellet rifle and also a scoped 22. I hadn't taken her to the range yet with the rem 700 youth 243 that's been in the family the past 15 years. We ended up having 2 really nice 3 yr olds come out, and I urged her to attempt a shot at 175 yards,even though we had set the limit at 125 going into the hunt; think I was more excited than she was. She refused and I told her there was no harm in letting the bucks walk. About 15 min later,the 8 I eventually shot walked out with ears pinned back and side stepped right in between the 2 bucks we had been watching. Based off his body,I could immediately tell he was an older buck. I grabbed my rifle and settled the crosshairs on the first lethal shot he presented,right through the base of neck. Dropped in his tracks at 190 yards. We were both ecstatic in the shooting house.
The 2 bucks we watched (3yr olds)



The older 8 that I shot:




He only weighed 170,but think it was due to him being an extremely short deer



The next evening,I took my wife and both daughters to a bigger shooting house we have in the club still with the hopes of getting Avery her first deer. Ended up having one of my target bucks walk out in broad daylight and eat on a greenfield for 30 min. Avery told me she just couldn't get comfortable with the scope,and we gave the buck a pass. I told my dad to go there the next evening and try and kill him. Plan worked to a T and he dropped him. Turned out to be his heaviest buck ever in 60 years of hunting at 218lb.

On the hoof

After passing on all the bucks she had the opportunity to shoot,I asked my daughter what the real issue was
She told me she was afraid of the gun,which I totally understood,as she had only used the 22 prior
I took her down to the range the next day,and here was her 1st 2 shots at 75 yards




Needless to say,we didn't see another buck while the hunting together in the evenings the remainder of the week but still had a great time and will be ready for her to bust a buck next trip.

Also managed to take out a few hogs and yotes this trip as well. We were blessed with a great trip

Congrats on a great week - memories Forever

Quite a trip, thanks for sharing and congratulations!

That’s awesome bud

Fun times!

Great week - congrats - lifetime memories

Good week of hunting there. Congratulations

Looks like a very successful opener. Thanks for sharing.

Congrats

Great trip! Congrats

Good week, congrats

Looks like a fun week. Congrats

Good trip and memories for life. That’s a fat rascal your dad killed

I'd say that's a pretty impressive week. Great shot of your little girl and the target. She's a good shot!

No doubt

Thanks fellas!!

Awesome 👍

That’s what it’s all about! Congrats on a lifetime of memories made!