My now 10 year old girl, Nikki, has been hunting with me for 2 seasons now. She has been very patient and was finally rewarded on the first NC youth hunting day. We had trail cam photos of a nice 9 pointer that she had set her sights on. After much archery practice, she still wasn't able to draw the legal draw weight so we started practicing with my AR. She was a great shot and could group 3 shots at 1 1/2' at 100 yards so we went in search of the 9pointer on youth day. She patiently watched 6 does and 2 small bucks feed in a 3 acre food plot we had planted with rain steady falling. At about 6pm, the buck walked out at 300 yards away. We waited patiently as he grazed closer and closer but he would never get closer than 150 yards. I asked if she felt confident in the shot and she said yes. She waited for the buck to turn broadside and put a great shot on him. The rain gates opened just after the shot and washed away the blood trail but we finally recovered the deer about 10 pm with the help of friends and family. I couldn't have been prouder and she couldn't have been more excited! I have a hunting partner for life.
