Jaycie's First Big Game Hunt.

[cramerhunts]

After drawing the Jr. Only hunt for down south my 10 year old daughter, Jaycie, and I started making some plans. We had planned on hunting with my dad who unfortunately was in the hospital during the hunt, we had planned to spend countless hours shooting her Remington Model 7 243 (thanks again Tyler) but we got busy and only sighted it in, we planned on scouting every weekend before the hunt but only got to spend one weekend scouting. Now what we did plan on that actually happened is we planned on Hector (Chef) giving us a hand for a couple days which turned out to be a huge factor in her success and I can't thank him enough.

 

We left the Valley late Thursday night after Jaycie's softball game (she had no problem missing school but would not miss her game) and got to my folks house around 11 PM. I quickly got her settled in bed and I prepared our gear for the early morning. We awoke to the sun trying to peak out but I wasn't worried, after all there was only 150 tags for six units, I didn't need to worry about other hunters, right? On our way in to where I wanted to set up to glass we found out that my assumptions were wrong as three other trucks were making their way right to where we wanted to be. Oh well, said Jaycie, let's just go further down where you spotted the deer from last weekend. So that's what we did and as soon as I got the tripod set up we spotted the two groups of bucks that I had scouted the weekend prior. The upper group fed all the way up towards where the other two hunters were and we watched as the young men were able to make a stalk and get with in range of the unsuspecting bucks. We watched as they took their shots and the group bounded off. OK our turn, we gathered our gear and started our stalk on the other group which had bedded in the flat below us. We got to 320 yards and set up her rifle on the tripod and claw and waited. The bucks soon got up and started feeding and Jaycie immediately picked out the 5x4 and told me she was on him. I told her to hold on the third hash mark and let him have it when she was ready but she told me that she had to let a 3x3 clear before she could shoot. At that time I noticed all of the bucks were looking intently at something out in front of them and as I panned to the right my heart sank as I saw the other hunters set up and aiming right at the same group of bucks. Right about then the shooting started and the chaos started, with out a clear shot we grabbed our gear and circled around to where I thought the bucks would come through a saddle but we obviously weren't the only ones with that plan as another couple of shots rang out. That was enough for me so we headed to the truck to find somewhere a little quieter.

 

Here is a couple pictures of the 5x4 and some of the bucks that Jaycie passed on waiting for a clear shot at the big one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After regrouping we decided to spend the rest of the day looking at other areas, we saw a lot of deer and Jaycie passed up a spike and a small forkie but couldn't find anything she wanted to pursue. That night Hector joined us and we relived the day. Jaycie was very positive and upbeat and went to bed dreaming of big bucks. Hector and I talked about how she didn't want to shoot a small buck and would rather go home without one if she had too. Even though this is not what we expected it was her decision and her tag and we told her she was the boss

 

The next day was a blast looking over a lot of deer but again nothing Jaycie wanted to go after. All three of us were constantly laughing at each other and really enjoying ourselves.

 

 

 

 

 

That afternoon we decided to go back and look for the group of bucks from opening morning. We were unable to locate any of them but we did put a nice wide 2x2 to bed. After another short night we were back at our glassing point the next morning and after Jaycie took a short nap we decided to make a stalk on a buck that Hector and I had watched bed.

 

 

 

 

After getting winded by the buck we headed back to the truck to head to town to get some lunch, all the while joking with each other and having a great time. Jaycie told Hector that she was happy the buck spooked because he was too small any way. Hector then talked to Jaycie about the possibility of not getting a buck if she was going to hold out for a big one and she reassured us both that she was fine with that and having a lot of fun anyway.

 

That afternoon we headed out to a spot that I used to hunt quite a bit with my bow and got the optics set up. We immediately spotted numerous does and fawns but no bucks. I was just getting ready to suggest we head on down the road when I looked at a far off ridge and noticed a lone buck feeding. Hector took a quick look and asked how we could close the gap, I knew of a road that would put us close to the ridge so we loaded up and started the loop around to where we needed to be. We stopped and got the tripod at the right level for a standing shot as the grass was really high and Hector slid into the driver's seat so I could slip out with Jaycie when we got close. Jaycie kept asking us how many points the buck had and how big he was so we took a quick look and that's when we figured out that there wasn't one buck but three and one was BIG. So off we went....Jaycie and I slid out and Hector took the truck around to where he could glass back and watch the action. Jaycie and I snuck through the mesquite trees until we ran out of cover. I ranged the bucks at 305 yards and settled her rifle in the Claw. Right about then Jaycie looked through the scope and informed me she wanted the one in the middle I could barely talk and couldn't keep from shaking as I asked if she thought she could make the shot, she calmly looked at me with a surprised look, put her ear plugs in and asked if I was ready and if she could shoot. I said when ever you're ready baby and she put the bullet right behind the shoulder. Hector text me and said that she got one in him and the buck was down! When we all got back together I couldn't believe how calm Jaycie was and what a mess Hector and I were. All it took was Jaycie to get her hands on the buck though and she couldn't settle down, I don't think she realized until that moment what she had just done. After some quick pictures we took care of the buck and got him back to the truck about 30 minutes after dark. I spent the next few hours skinning and caping the buck and poor Hector spent his next three hours driving back home so that he could work the next day. We dropped the cape and horns off with Scottyboy to do another one of his awesome shoulder mounts the next day and made our way back to the Valley. We are all still on cloud 9 and couldn't be more proud of our little hunter. It was amazing how her attitude always stayed positive and she never had a doubt that she would get her big buck. Hector put together a great video of the hunt and I can't thank him enough for all of his help and companionship during Jaycie's first hunt.

 

Sorry for the long read but once I got going all of the emotions came back and I couldn't leave anything out.

And Finally here is her first buck, a super 5x5 desert muley.

 

 

 

 

 

Here is her set up.

 

 

 

And the bucks right before Jaycie shot.

 

 

And Finally the best for last, the video that Hector put together.

 

http://youtu.be/q0Z5v1lwBXU

 

In case the link above does not work you can access it with the next link.

 

[stanley]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Good for Jaycie!! Great story!

 

There is absolutely NOTHING like hunting with kids!

 

S.

 

[Will K]

Way to go on a very nice buck.

[AZP&Y]

It was amazing how her attitude always stayed positive and she never had a doubt that she would get her big buck.

 

 

 

WOW ! Very nice shooting Jaycie and way to get your daughter out in the field, PHIL! That is one incredible first deer!

 

Attitude is everthing in life and on the hunt! I would have thought with only 150 tags in all those units you wouldn't barely see another hunter, but It's nice how you adapted and worked through the challenge.

 

Nice story-

 

AzP&Y

Doug

[Elkaddict]

Congrats Jaycie!! Beautiful buck!!

[elkhutnaz]

way to go!! looks like the kidos are knocking down some big deer,,

[Chef]

First off I want to praise Jaycie again on her TOAD of a buck!

!! CONGRATULATIONS JAYCIE !!

I can't thank Phil enough for inviting me on his daughters' first ever hunting excursion.

I really get a kick out of watching her and seeing how much she looks up to Phil.

Needless to say, she wants to be just like Daddy!

 

Jaycie was such a trooper and she was always up beat and just loved being out there!

We would see all types of grasshoppers, flowers, "Whayda" bushes, and I even let her look

at the full moon through my binos. It was awesome to see our world the way only a

little girl was seeing it for the first time. She thought everything was sooo cool!

 

She was so eager to learn about hunting and she was very inquisitive of everything

Phil and I were doing. I also gotta say, she spots deer better than some grownups I know.

I would spot a buck and as I was explaining to Phil the location to look, she would blurt out

"I got it!"

 

As you watch the footage of the buck on the hoof, you'll notice how shaky the camera is.

I only salvaged two photos out of all ten I took, and only a small snippet from the almost

two minutes of footage I filmed, of the bucks on that hillside. I had a serious case of buck fever!

To restate what Phil said, we were both shaking so bad as she was as calm as a cucumber!

As I watched everything unfold, everything that could go wrong was tossing around in my head.

 

In this case, everything went perfect...textbook perfect.

 

A very special buck for a very special young lady.

Again, thank you for letting me be part of it.

[Knifeboy]

What a great read, and fantastic photos to boot.

 

Tell Jaycie congratulations on a monster first buck. Its amazing how calm the youth seem to be when they are shooting big game; and how anxious adults get. I have been told that youth (especialy girls) are much better shots than adults when put in a situation where they have to make a shot on a great animal.

 

I was glad to hear Chef got to make it out with you, I have been on several hunting trips with him, and its always very entertaining having him along.

[jgabler]

That's a big congrats to her and the both of you as well.

[peloncillo]

That is a great buck, Congratulations Jaycie. Way to get it done. You are definetly Phil's daughter because he likes to pass up bucks most of us would shoot in an instant. Again way to go and you can't go wrong hunting with Chef either.

 

Keven

[Pine Donkey]

Jaycee, that is a great hunt! What a great buck!

[coueshunter]

Jaycee, what a fantastic job you did. Figures you would hold it together over your dad and chef......LOL.....congratulations, that is a great great buck and the memories you all have can never be bought........Now take your dad out and get him on one as big as yours........LOL.......Allen Taylor.......

[Shawn]

Congrats! Great buck and pics!

[Chef]

You are definetly Phil's daughter because he likes to pass up bucks most of us would shoot in an instant

 

TRUTH!

[lucky2hunt]

GIRLS RULE!!!!!!!!!

Way to go Jaycie, great shot on an awesome buck!