I've had many good hunts but the best would have to be my daughters first and second deer.


Her mother and I are divorced. It was a bitter divorce which found me in a court battle just to get visitation. My daughter had been through alot but weathered the storm.

I picked her up for my scheduled visitation. Luckily we had a few hours to get out for PA's youth antlerless season.


For her first deer, we waited at the edge of a field.I packed in a fold up camping table and a back pack full of sand bags. We waited in a ground blind built by the property owner. It was nothing more than piled up limbs and branches. I set up the table and bagswhile she situated her .243.

We talked quietly and waited. We watched a flock of turkeys cross the field. I was sitting on the ground while she sat on a milk crate. Suddenly, shwe whispered, "There's some deer".

I looked up but only saw one. I watched through binoculars and instructed her on what to do.

The deer was broadside and feeding. I whispered,"That's a good shot, Tara. Go ahead and shoot."

" No, I have to wait", she said.

" That's a good shot, go ahead", I repeated.

" No, I have to wait", she said again.

I watched and waited. Finally she shot.

At the shot, the doe ran along the edge of the field and then went in the woods. I was dissapointed.

I told her, " I think you missed it, Honey."

" No, I got it"

" I think you missed"

" No, I got it"

" How do you know?", I ask.

" Because it is laying in the field kicking"

I pulled down the binoculars and looked where she was looking. Sureenough, there was a deer in the field kicking its back legs.

I was watching the wrong deer and missed getting to see her get it.

It was a button buckand I was proud of her.

My baby was a deer hunter.