One Nation, Under God

Granddaughter and I come up empty

For the second year in a row I took my oldest granddaughter deer hunting.

And for the second year in a row we came up empty.

I hope she’s not too discouraged.

If she is, she didn’t let on. In fact she was a real trooper.

We hiked a good five miles through rough Breaks country trailing deer that never seemed to stop. She came close to squeezing the trigger, but wasn’t comfortable with the shot.

We crossed the same half-mile coulee three times, climbed a couple of steep ridges, and when we decided to call it a day, found we were still a mile from the truck.

She never complained, packed her rifle most of the way, and kept pace with me. I couldn’t have been prouder.

On the other hand, I’m disappointed we didn’t fill her tag. And for that, I’m a little torn.

I could have taken her to a spot on the edge of town where I know there’s a little mule deer buck. We could have set her up right out of the truck, walked no more than 100 yards, done the deed and been back at the house for a late breakfast.

But that’s not how I hunt, and I didn’t want her first buck to come that way. As much as anything, I guess I wanted her to put in the miles in one of my favorite places, and feel that rush of excitement that comes when a buck finally appears in range.

Now, maybe it’s time for her to shoot a deer.

Just like catch and release probably isn’t the best way to get a kid hooked on fishing, a long hike through rough country with nothing to show for the effort but sore feet may not be the best way to get a 13-year-old girl hooked on hunting.

Had we been successful, I’m sure I’d feel differently, but it might not make much difference to her.

Back at the house, she showed me a picture on her phone of a classmate who’d shot a dandy whitetail buck that morning. While she was happy for her friend, the picture just made me feel guilty.

I’d like her first deer to be a big one, shot in wild country, following a long stalk. She probably would be happy with that little muley on the edge of town.

Poor child. She’s stuck with me as a grandfather.

Parker Heinlein is at

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