My daughter's first deer!

I shot my first deer when I was thirteen years old. To this day I will never forget that moment. It is a memory that will last my lifetime. My dad had taken me out and put me in a stand by myself. I had never been deer hunting before and the first one I saw I shot and killed him. I would like to thank my dad for getting me involved early in the outdoors. Now that I am a father of two girls, it was time for me to get my girls involved. My oldest, which is now twelve years old, got to go on her first hunt last year during the youth firearm season. She did not get one last year so she was determined to get her first this time around. My friend had gotten my muzzleloader sighted in for her and she was excited. I told her it was dead on out to one hundred yards so if we saw one she could get a shot. Saturday morning I woke early and got her out of bed. We drove to the hunting spot and sat in the truck until it was time to walk to where we would set up. Now with girls there has to be a little more finesse used than with boys. I have to hear about things like what do we do if she gets cold, we run into a sticker bush, and other things like that. I told Emily not to worry and that I will take care of everything. All she would have to do is pull the trigger. Daylight broke and we watched a few does feeding across the fence on another property. After they went on I figured it was time to make a move. As we walked toward another field to check I spotted a deer looking at us. It was about sixty or so yards away facing us. I told Emily it was now or never and she better shoot quick before the deer runs off. I helped her steady the heavy gun as she got the crosshairs settled on his chest. “When you’re on him, squeeze the trigger.” I whispered. The smoke filled the air as I caught a glimpse of the deer running off. “ I think you missed.” I said. “ No dad I know I hit it. I had the crosshairs right on him.’ She replied. We walked over to where the deer was standing and Emily looked down and said,” See, there is blood. I told you.” We started looking for a blood trail and she was finding it better than me. I told her to stay on it and I would look around. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a small buck lying in the tall grass. I was twenty yards from him and he was sitting there staring at me. I asked Emily if she had shot a buck. She was convinced it was a doe and said that was not hers. The buck finally got up and ran off. We walked around for a bit when I finally decided to go and look where the deer was bedded down. Sure enough there was blood and a lot of it. We started trailing him when we found him only thirty yards away from where we had jumped him. I told her to wait until he expired before coming and looking at him. She was crying and excited all at the same time. She called her mom to tell her what she got. The buck was a small three pointer but had several brow tines and small kickers which made him a nine pointer. Of course I had to field dress and drag him out by myself but that was a small price to pay for the joy she got in harvesting her first deer. She is already looking forward to going again and I think she will now be hooked on deer hunting just like I was after my dad took me. Congratulations Emily. I am so proud of you.