VonFatman
11-26-2004, 07:18
My step-daughter, Lara, age 18, shot her first and second deer during our early "Urban Season" (October 8th thru October 11th).
Opening Day we climbed into one of my stands (5' x 5' x 14' platform stands). At 7:20am the deer began to move in. Five deer, four yearling with a single adult doe. She was pumped up and it took a bit of calming to get her breathing steady, but at 7:35am the adult doe was about 30-40 steps and was giving us a perfect broadside shot. Lara lined up...nothing. I whispered, "you don't have to shoot...just watch if you want". "No, I want to shoot, I can't get my finger to move". "OK, take your time, but if you do want to shoot, she's giving you a perfect shot". "I know, I'll try again"
The deer takes a couple steps and begins to enter the brush. I whistle and froze her in her tracks. "OK Lara, there's your shot". "I know, my finger still won't move". "That's OK, you want to just watch this time?". NO! (whispered NO) I can do it".
The doe begins to move again. I whistled again. The doe froze reluctantly. "OK Lara, if you want this doe, it's time to do it...I'm OK either way, you choose"
BOOM!
She whacked the ol' doe at 35 steps with my son's Savage Model 110. A .243 caliber rifle with a Simmon's scope. A $350 Wal-mart special gun that must be the best "value" hunting package out there!
After the shot, the ol' doe ran into the woods about 50 yards and fell over "graveyard dead".
She drove the bullet through the heart and one of the lungs. It was dead before it ever bolted.
Lara was terrific when cleaning the doe too! I can honestly say she was the best help I've ever had during field dressing. She anticipated my needs and worked the deer into position each step of the process. After the deer was gut'd, she took time to inspect each organ and took delight in the huge wholes in the heart and lung. Lara's interest in medicine was obvious.
The second doe went down at about 5pm from 75 yards. She dropped it in it's tracks.
She'd never shot or touched a gun until I started dating her mom 2.5 years ago. It's wonderful to see young people find hunting. Lara also LOVES to heat up the barrel on my AR-15...and she does quite well with it too!
That gun has been used on so many deer, I've lost count. What a great "new shooter's" gun. I may buy her one next Christmas.
Bob
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/53781bobandlara1.jpg
Opening Day we climbed into one of my stands (5' x 5' x 14' platform stands). At 7:20am the deer began to move in. Five deer, four yearling with a single adult doe. She was pumped up and it took a bit of calming to get her breathing steady, but at 7:35am the adult doe was about 30-40 steps and was giving us a perfect broadside shot. Lara lined up...nothing. I whispered, "you don't have to shoot...just watch if you want". "No, I want to shoot, I can't get my finger to move". "OK, take your time, but if you do want to shoot, she's giving you a perfect shot". "I know, I'll try again"
The deer takes a couple steps and begins to enter the brush. I whistle and froze her in her tracks. "OK Lara, there's your shot". "I know, my finger still won't move". "That's OK, you want to just watch this time?". NO! (whispered NO) I can do it".
The doe begins to move again. I whistled again. The doe froze reluctantly. "OK Lara, if you want this doe, it's time to do it...I'm OK either way, you choose"
BOOM!
She whacked the ol' doe at 35 steps with my son's Savage Model 110. A .243 caliber rifle with a Simmon's scope. A $350 Wal-mart special gun that must be the best "value" hunting package out there!
After the shot, the ol' doe ran into the woods about 50 yards and fell over "graveyard dead".
She drove the bullet through the heart and one of the lungs. It was dead before it ever bolted.
Lara was terrific when cleaning the doe too! I can honestly say she was the best help I've ever had during field dressing. She anticipated my needs and worked the deer into position each step of the process. After the deer was gut'd, she took time to inspect each organ and took delight in the huge wholes in the heart and lung. Lara's interest in medicine was obvious.
The second doe went down at about 5pm from 75 yards. She dropped it in it's tracks.
She'd never shot or touched a gun until I started dating her mom 2.5 years ago. It's wonderful to see young people find hunting. Lara also LOVES to heat up the barrel on my AR-15...and she does quite well with it too!
That gun has been used on so many deer, I've lost count. What a great "new shooter's" gun. I may buy her one next Christmas.
Bob
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/53781bobandlara1.jpg