John O Report post Posted January 26, 2014 My two older boys are 17 and 14, and we have had some amazing experiences hunting over the last 6 years. My oldest daughter Aubrey turned 11 this year, and I decided that I would buy her a rifle and teach her how to shoot. So I picked up a youth .243, and we went to work decorating the scope and stock with a pink camo wrap. The finished product was a youth Marlin X7 with a Pentax Gameseeker scope, which shot just over 0.5 MOA with barnes TSX 85 grain bullets. We spent a few sessions blowing up water bottles, and talking about good technique and safety. Her younger sister Hailey came along, but was fine sticking with the bolt action 22. Some great times with the girls. Aubrey decided she would like to try hunting, but just javelina at first. So we launched into the online hunter safety lessons, and went up to Phoenix for the field day. We spent a lot of hours preparing and Aubrey did well on her test and had a great time. In preparation for our hunt we talked a lot about what she could expect, and how the area we would be going required a lot of hiking and was pretty rough. She was up for the challenge and excited to give it a shot. Finally our day came, and we loaded up and headed out hoping the area we had hunted in previous years would produce again. Her older brother Ryan had a tag too, but Jake couldn't make it because of school and basketball commitments. We woke up early and got all geared up and were off. We got up high, and after about an hour I was able to spot a herd of about 8 pigs. We had to peel of the opposite side of the ridge we were on, and worked our way down the very rocky steep slope towards the herd. The sticker grass was long, up to our thighs at times, and made moving quickly a challenge. We finally made our way to just over a hundred yards from them, and I got both kids set up for the shot. Ryan knew Aubrey had first shot and he was as excited for her to get one as I was. The grass was too long for prone, so she sat down, and I adjusted the bi-pod to the correct height. We took plenty of time to make sure she was steady, and I flipped off the safety and told her to squeeze it slow, just like we had practiced in the front room a few nights before with snap caps. The rifle went off, and the pig was down. The rest of the herd scattered up the hill, and Ryan wasn't able to get a shot off. Just then, another javelina appeared a few yards from the one Aubrey shot, so I told Ryan to come join us and to hurry. He came down, and got set up and made the shot. What an awesome morning!! We took some photos and got them quartered out for the long hike back up over the red bluff ridge and to our car. We made it back to the place just before dark, and topped the day off with a round of beef and javelina tacos. It was great to share some more great memories with my kids, and I'm really proud of how well Aubrey did on her first hunt. ***Update*** Time warp a month, and we're back to try and make it 3 for 3 with a tag in hand for my oldest son Jake. He had to skip the youth hunt because of basketball, but he drew a general rifle tag. Even though Ryan didn't have a tag he wanted to come along to support Jake and share in the awesome memories. On day one we got up high and glassed up our favorite herd, but after dropping down off the hill they gave us the slip. We hiked and glassed for the rest of the day with no luck, so we headed back for a hot shower, tacos, and a perfect dessert of red velvet cake and coconut cream pie. We rolled out early the next day, and got up high again. Fortunately I spotted the herd again, but a big group of mule deer seemed to keep them moving more than I would have liked. We peeled off the ridge again, and were able to make our way down to set up for a shot. The herd had moved into an area with tall grass, and the only place we could set up was a shot right at 400 yards. I got Jake steady on them, and moved back behind my 15's, and told him I was ready. He fired off a shot which hit a little back, but I saw the pig bed and not get up. We hiked over and after a finishing shot we had accomplished our goal for filling all 3 tags. I can't express how proud I am of my children for hunting hard and sticking with it. I'm especially proud of Ryan for coming along to support his brother and helping out. We topped off the day by heading into town for a bacon cheese with green chili burger and fries. So far this has been a year of very special memories for us in the outdoors. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Sniper Report post Posted January 26, 2014 Priceless. Congrats on a hugely successful hunt. Making memories you will never forget. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daryl_s Report post Posted January 26, 2014 Great job Aubrey and Ryan!!!!! Thank you for sharing your hunt pictures and story with us. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azslim Report post Posted January 26, 2014 had a lot of memorable hunting trips with my daughters, enjoy your time with them, you will miss it when it's gone Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
out2hunt Report post Posted January 26, 2014 Great story and wonderful pics of the adventure! Congrats to the whole lot of ya! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted January 26, 2014 Way to go Aubrey and Ryan. Cant wait to get my daughter out there with me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dustin25 Report post Posted January 26, 2014 Good looking pigs, nicely done kids! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
desertbowhunter Report post Posted January 26, 2014 Great job!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1stcoues75 Report post Posted January 26, 2014 Awesome job, congratulations to you and your kids Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted January 26, 2014 That was a very well put together account of how it should be done and my congratulations to you on getting the kids involved in hunting. You should be proud as I'm sure you are. Congratulations to both Aubrey and Ryan. Great pictures and thanks for sharing. TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adicted Report post Posted January 26, 2014 Thats awesome. Good memories Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZHUNTER05 Report post Posted January 26, 2014 Very cool, congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScottAdams Report post Posted January 27, 2014 Great story John. Glad to have you out at the house, as always. Two down, one to go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couestracker Report post Posted January 27, 2014 What a fantastic hunt and an awesome family. It's wonderful that you all hunt together. Congratulations to you all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stanley Report post Posted January 27, 2014 VERY, VERY, VERY awesome and cool!!!!!!!!!!! Those who know me a little, know my passion! THIS, my friends, is what it is all about!! Family, friends, and hunting! There is absolutely no greater reward for you OR them, IMO! Kudos to you! Thanks so much for getting your kids out there and for sharing with the site! S. PS: Love the 'top to bottom' write-up! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
