My older daughter will be 14 on the 23rd and she wanted to see what hunting was all about.  My whitetail (rifle) season began on Nov 15 so this weekend was our first chance.  We were out Saturday morning and evening but never had a real chance.  Today, Nov 18, we went out in the morning and we spotted a buck on the prowl.  My daughter asked if he was big, and I had to say he was OK but nothing special.  Who cares, this was her first hunt.  I saw he was patrolling and I know the area well so we were able to get in front of him.  We watched him come towards us and I was able to put him down in his tracks.  My daughter helped me load him and later helped me skin him,  and she wants to be a hunter herself next year.  Her first hunt was more impressive than my first.  I was happy with a fawn, but she helped take a 4x5 buck probably in the 120's, maybe 130.  I will score him later.  I tried to load a field photo but it did not seem to be working.

All you proud parents know what this means to me.  I just wanted to share the moment.

Frozen Dog,
I Totally know how you feel!!! My granddaughter turned 17 on the 14th of this month. She only got to hunt yesterday and today because of school. She saw two Sat. but they were running and wouldn't stop. But, she got her first deer when she was 14 yrs. also and one each year after that. Last year was a 9pt. buck, so Naturally I has to get it mounted. So yeh, Buddy I know how proud you are. We still have Black Powder season coming up, so she still has a chance to fill her tag.
Does your daughter have to go through a Hunter ED. Course?

I know the feeling, too. Travis was 10 when he killed his first doe with rifle, and then 11 when he got his first one while dog hunting. He doesn't like to sit with the rifle, but is always willing to go dog hunting...........he'll be 16 in January.

Yes she needs to take a course. Here we call it Firearms Safety. I'm already looking forward to next season!

Congratulations. yeah, next season should be pretty special for ya.

I recently completed the on-line Hunter Safety Course, just so I could have the certificate (I was entered in several contests for hunt giveaways and many of the states require it). It was a simple course, but each segment has a test and I found that sometimes the answers provided by the course were incorrect. Then in the final test, there were questions that had totally different answers than the previous chapter quizzes. I still believe the course is not necessary, but since it's law, I presume it's just another source of income for the state DNRs and their agencies. I believe the best teacher is a parent, grandparent, or mentor since there isn't anything about hunting in the course. It's all basic firearm safety and common sense. There were also too many chapters on archery and black powder that wouldn't apply in every state or locale. I was expecting some true hunting information in a course titled "Hunter Safety". It should be titled "Weapon Safety", instead!!!!!!

FD: The posting image problem seems to come up frequently so I put up a thread with "how to"

http://www.huntingclub.com/connect/...aft/193685

rthomas4,
Here in Mo., if you were born before a certain date, (I think 1967) you don't have to take a Hunter Safety Course. I sat through it because I didn't want my granddaughter to go through something I wasn't willing to do. 'course she scored 100% on the final test, and I missed one question!!!! I still hear about that. Except for the Technical stuff, she already knew the Safety Rules. I had been taking her hunting with me since the was 6 yrs. old. In the early years she slept while I waited for the deer.
I wouldn't trade memories like that for all the tea in China. But, yeh, I agree with you about the Conservgation Depts. motives. I know some OLD hunters that think Deer Season is an excuse for getting away from home to Play Poker, get Drunk, shoot at anything that moves or makes a noise. I don't hunt on Public land much for that reason. These guys should have to be "educated".

NY does have an online course but you still have to show up at a "Field Day" in person to get a cert.

Iowa also requires a hunter safety course for anyone born after 1967, so I didn't have to take it. However, I also took the course 6 years ago while accompanying my first daughter. I enjoyed the time we spent together dioing this, and one other dad and I both got 100% on the test. Amy also did well on her test and passed the course. My yonuger daughter, Josie also took the course, but it was while she was at college, two hours away, so I didn't get to go along with her. I greatly enjoyed hunting with both of my girls.