Joe Kauffman Report post Posted March 12, 2012 My 10 year old daughter drew her first big game tag this year, general javelina, and needless to say my family was pretty stoked to finally see her be able to go after a big game animal for herself. She's spent plenty of time in the field with my wife, son and I and has been counting the years since she was 5 and old enough to understand how the legal hunting process works. Being that this was a hunt and she's an excellent student I offered to let her miss school on Friday so we could head up Thursday afternoon to get setup and do some glassing before the hunt started Friday morning and wouldn't you know it....she was very willing! We got camp setup in time Thursday to spent some time glassing some areas not far from camp and although we glassed up a few deer, there were no stink pigs out and about. The wind was fairly bad so we hoped this was just keeping them down and out a bit and that Friday morning would be better. We headed out early the next morning and spent the day hiking, glassing and talking about all the important things a young hunter wonders about and it made me appreciate finally having her old enough to experience this for herself. After the morning hunt, I knew stink pig or no stink pig, this weekend will be one we'll never forget. After a bit of lunch (and an hour of beauty sleep for Allison ) we headed out for the afternoon hunt, focusing on some slopes adjacent several nice draws with a water tank close by. We had spotted quite a bit of fresh sign that morning and knew they were in there somewhere. Mother nature wasn't on our side and the wind picked up about the time we setup the glasses and besides a few deer there wasn't much moving. We decided to head back to camp and give us about an hour of shooting light to glass some of the draws leading away from the mountain we were camped on in hopes to spot some pigs hanging out towards the bottom. As soon as we got back to camp I set up the binos and immediately spotted some deer about a mile out. About that time my brother pulled up with my son and nephew who were planning on spending the remainder of the weekend with us. I told him I had deer and he setup his binos and picked them up pretty quickly. Lucky for us he hadn't tightened his tripod completely so the binos drifted downward just a bit when he looked away to talk to me. When he looked back through them they had dropped to be looking at a ridge about 400 yards out and he immediately starting excitedly whispering that he had pigs close. My son, brother and nephew stayed back watching it all unfold through the binos as Allison and I put her first big game stalk on the 2 pigs we had seen. After about 30 minutes we rounded a juniper tree to find one broad side at about 60 yards! There wasn't much time for a steady setup but I knew from all the practicing we have done that she'd be able to make an off hand shot with the 22-250 she's come to love. The first shot smacked him good and I think would have done him in but since he was still on his feet she wanted to shoot him again. The second shot fell perfect and he walked just a few feet and expired in a thicket of brush. After a quick phone call to Mom and some adrenaline filled tears, her brother gladly carried our her first stink pig on one shoulder while holding her hand the entire way out with the other. We had an amazing family weekend and I'm glad my brother and nephew were able to join us. We spent the rest of the weekend hiking and varmint calling and enjoying the outdoors. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John O Report post Posted March 12, 2012 Great job!! Good family times, and great memories. Enjoy the tender cuts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stanley Report post Posted March 12, 2012 VERY, VERY AWESOME!!!!! Congrats to Allison! There is absolutely nothing like hunting with kids! Thanks much for sharing the story with this site! S. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chef Report post Posted March 12, 2012 That was a great read. Congratulations to your daughter. You must be very proud. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Kauffman Report post Posted March 13, 2012 Thanks guys, it was an amazing trip and a memory that will last a lifetime. My son was 10 four years ago when he shot his first javi and I remember it like it was yesterday. He's the adventurous one of the family and, after skinning it for his sister, cut out the perfect backstraps and we season and roasted them in small pieces over the campfire about 2 hours after she shot it. It took a long time but being up until 2am with my brother and the kids, enjoying the outdoors and fresh meat was the icing on the cake. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted March 13, 2012 Nicely done, Allison and Joe! Huge congrats on a first pig and an awesome family outing. Thanks for taking us along! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted March 13, 2012 Huge Congratulations and great job Allison! Great job to you as well Joe, amazing how time has flown by! Congrats again and thanks for sharing, JIM> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
out2hunt Report post Posted March 14, 2012 Big congrats to the whole crew on showing Allison the beauty of mother nature!!! Great Job on your first big game animal Allison! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted March 14, 2012 Way to go Allison! That is a great family trip! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
