11 Year Old's Quest For Her First Elk

[hoghntr]

Very good read.

[Big Browns]

Cant wait to see her behind a monster Bull! Great job Dad!!!!!!!! She will remember this Adventure for the rest of her life!

[lancetkenyon]

Been up scouting a few more times with no photos, but hard at work. Seem some nice bulls.

 

This weekend is reserved for getting ready for my deer hunt on Oct. 24th, which my daughter will be tagging along on for the first 3 days. Hope to let her see how it might be on her hunt. Planning on some serious hiking, glassing, and hopefully shooting.

[lancetkenyon]

My daughter is stoked for this weekend. Which is a good sign, since it is not even her hunt!!! She is already planning with her teachers to get homework to take with her on her elk hunt. Two of her teachers have husbands and/or kids that will be up elk hunting too, so they are very understanding. One even told her she would not have to make up missed work, but my daughter, being a straight A and responsible student, told her teacher she would rather still do the work to make sure her grades stay strong. What a kid!

 

I am a very lucky dad, as my daughter loves spending time in the outdoors with me, but is responsible enough to know that her school is her job for the time being.

[IA Born]

I don't know how I missed this thread, but what a great read so far! I kept a similar journal on a hunting forum back home (Iowawhitetail) for my daughter's elk and deer hunt out here. She will read this down the road and appreciate everything you have documented for her. This. Is. AWESOME!! Good luck on your hunt and her hunt!

[lancetkenyon]

Had a good time on my deer hunt getting her some insight as to what to expect. I just hope we can get into the elk like we did the deer. Getting closer, less than a month away!

[lancetkenyon]

Got out to the range today to practice some more long range shooting, making the closer shots seem easy.

 

She was shooting my .223 mostly, for practice. She was hitting 90% of her shots at 700+ yards, even with the serious winds we had this morning. Those swirling winds sure can push a 69gr SMK around at those distances. Anything under 700 was pretty much on target. From 200 to 848, with a total of 90 rounds shot by her today, I think she had a total of 4 missed shots, 2 @ 717, and 2 @ 848, all due to wind calls.

 

She also shot the .250 Ackley 9 times. From 585 all the way to 850. All first round hits.

 

Then on to the .270. I think I am going to leave it at home, and have her shoot my .300RUM. We will take the .25-06 as a backup gun. I just cannot get the .270 shooting how I want. It is living on borrowed time to get a re-barrel and some action work after hunting season is over. Get it re-chambered and worked to make it accurate. Probably go with a .280 AI.

 

She also shot my .300RUM 3 times, and had a second round hit @ 1017 yards (wind got her by about 6" the first shot), and a first round hit at 1118 yards. Plus I verified drops at 600, 717, 850, and 1118. All first round hits. I know she would rather shoot something with less recoil, but she made her 3 shots count at long range, and when shooting at game, I am sure she won't even feel the recoil (it has a muzzle brake).

 

Early on in the morning.

 

Shooting at 717

 

Busy shooting while all the guys are too busy talking

 

Targets at 411 (lowest right of cactus), 520 (above 411), 545 (center of photo), 585 (top left just right of cactus), 717 (bottom of wash on right), and 848 (top of ridge center) that she was shooting at for the photo

 

848 yard target through 15X binos

[WampusCat]

Great thread, dont know how I missed it. I look forward to experiencing all this with my son in a few years. Great job dad. Good luck to you and your shooter. I'll be rooting for her.

[lancetkenyon]

One last trip to the range this morning to get as much LR practice as possible. My brother made a big mistake and challenged my daughter to a shooting match. She whipped him handily. He wanted to "warm up" at close range, but we went straight to 820 yards with the .223s. He went 0 for 10 with his cold bore missing by about 10', Taylor went 7 for 10, with her cold bore missing by about 2" on an 8" gong. I think she shot around 60 shots with the .223 today. She also shot my .25-06 Ackley, and made first round hits at 820 and 1008 yards. Went 2 for 3 @ 1008, with her miss being about 2" left due to swirling winds. I think she is ready in the shooting part of the upcoming hunt. Now I just have to put her on a bull.

 

Going over turret manipulation again. She has it down, all I do is call the drops now.

 

Just chilling.

 

Multiple spotters while shooting at 1008 yards

 

My brother called this his "Top Shot" photo

 

My brother has a pretty good sense of humor. He can also take being beaten by a 12 year old girl like a man.

[lancetkenyon]

Came home and spent about 4 hours finishing our packing. All camo/clothes are bagged, all optics cleaned, all batteries changed, all packs loaded with essentials, all knives sharpened or fresh blades installed, sleeping bags rolled, cooking and eating stuff boxed, and toiletries packed, truck is all checked.

 

This is going to be a long two days until we leave!!!

 

It is amazing how fast the stuff piles up when you pack for just about any and all weather conditions imaginable.

 

[bonecollector]

This thread is simply awesome! Cant wait to see the trophy soon.

[lancetkenyon]

I am going to try a video log of the hunt as well, with a lot of commentary. Anyone know how to edit this stuff? I can take good photos, but I have never edited video.

[AZHog]

Love thiss thread! Looking forward to hearing about the hunt and kill!

[lancetkenyon]

I am dying here at work. That is all.

[218buck]

Good luck to you and your daughter look forward to hearing how you do, my daughter has her first elk hunt this Friday as well she is really hoping for a six point I will be meat hunting hopefully the elk gods will be smiling on us.