This year was my two oldest daughter's first season to carry a rifle.
I bought them a BOG POD Deathgrip and cut down an extra Tikka T3 stock for my 8 Twist 223 to make it easier for them to get behind the scope. Handloaded 55 gr Barnes TTSX and a bunch of practice on a steel plate out to 300 yards and we were ready to go.
Early youth season - middle daughter scores on a doe:
Proud Dad:
My oldest daughter nicked a little buck with the 6x45. We looked for blood for over an hour and didn't find any. I have him on camera 6 weeks later and he's none the worse for wear.
Flash forward to opening weekend. I was able to hunt for a couple of days myself. I hadn't taken any with a bow as I was focusing on mature bucks and trying not to pressure our little place too much. A few weeks ago I had a big buck at 5 yards and my stand squeaked and popped as I went to draw. SEE YA LATER! The culprit:
I need to redo all my stands this offseason. Luckily that was the backup strap...
Sunday morning of opening weekend this guy came in and I decided to take him.
My girls came up and met me in OK last Monday. I got us in the blind a little after 2:30 on Monday afternoon. It just felt right.
This guy rolled in at 2:40 and oldest (now wanting to shoot the 223) put a perfect high shoulder shot on him as he was quartering to us. No tracking job necessary.
Not bad for a 5 min wait in the blind without even having coveralls on yet!
I shot a doe that evening at 215 yards with the 223. No tracking job necessary. I love the 55 TTSX in a fast twist 223.
We slept in Tuesday morning and went out for an evening hunt. Nothing moving until really late. Looking for a buck for middle daughter.
We got up last Wednesday morning. Little girls do not like early, cold hunts! I made them go anyways. 10 minutes into shooting light I see a little buck walking across the food plot. We get the BOG POD Deathgrip situated better and she dropped him. I had her put in an extra for good measure.