Teaching them the way!! My Daughters first hunt
I have been talking about taking my daughter (Tahlia) out hunting for the last 6 months or so, she was as keen as since about 4 years old but those little legs just didn't have the endurance so she got told by dad how about when your 5 you can go for your first hunt.
Now busy life and way to many hobbies my daughter is now 5 and a half and keen as mustard to come out with dad.
A call made to the station owner and a bit of prep talk during the week and we are on our way "the first hunting trip with dad"
she was so excited i couldn't get a word in the whole way down, apparently ladies have to get out a lot more words that fellas and i sure heard a few that trip :)
We parked up at spot X and headed up to a nice viewing face where i know there are a few deer hanging around, with a few stops, the odd lollie for motivation and a lot more words we got to the top of the hill. Binos up and "you beauty" 6 deer on the side of the hill (just to far away 700yards) a plan was hatched to get closer, some more snacks for energy and we were away again.
Halfway up the hill i felt a stiff breeze on my back and think o crap i thats not good!!! We marched up the hill, only to get to the top with no deer to be seen.
This is where i had to give the "this is hunting and ya can't get a deer every time" speech. She was ok with it and we took in some awesome views on the side of the hill while we sat down and ate yet more snacks. On the way down we spotted a couple of deer under spotlight (maxtoch) but they were too far away, the little legs were getting tired and to be fair so were mine.
Dinner had, camp set up, and off to bed at 11pm, Tahlia's famous last words were "don't worry dad we will get a deer tomorrow" haha no pressure aye!! lights were out as soon as the head hit the pillow.
4.50am Alarm and she was up and about ready to go. I somehow managed to burn the porridge and Tahlia sure let me know it tasted Burnt (mum wouldn't have done that) haha whoops!! Snacks topped up and off to viewing point X.
4 deer were spotted as the sun came up and it was awesome letting her find the deer herself in the binos, we ran through another plan to get closer, surely this time we should be good. After a bit of a walk again we come round the corner to were the deer were before and they had gone again, and I'm thinking to myself what the heck is going on!! Keeping our chins up we stalked round the edge of the hill 4 deer pop out and are moving rather quickly. Im guessing they saw movement and got a scare, they ran out of view so we bolted around the side of the hill hoping like heck that they would stop and feed before the headed into the bush.
Easing our way over the crest of the hill and i spot them all feeding BINGO!! I set the rifle up ranged them at 343yards and gave the binos to Tahlia to be chief spotter. In all the haste i forgot to video it but can't change that now. I set up for the shot and just before i shoot i get this DAD pssst DAD..........are you going to shoot it or what?? haha I took a breathe and sent the pill flying, perfect lung heart shot the deer bolted 10m then flopped over dead as!! whaaahoooo!! I turn around to the biggest smile i have seen in a long time. Hi-fives all round!! I had to hold her back otherwise there would have been a lot of falls as we made our way down to the deer. Tahlia wasn't real keen on the gutting side of "shooting a deer" but I'm sure she will be in there doing it in no time. After all the adrenaline and excitement had worn off and the huffing and puffing of carrying a deer out came to an end, i got to teach her how we skin the deer and get it ready to be taken to the butchers so it can end up on the BBQ and in our tummies.
All packed up and time to head home we had 2 very happy people in the truck and one very proud Dad, one thing that was slightly different is there weren't a lot of words coming from the back seat on the way home as i think the 6hrs sleep and a lot of walking took its toll :). All in all it was an awesome experience, something very special and i will remember it forever, as I'm sure she will.
hope this encourages dads to get their kids out there and enjoy doing what you love with them.
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