My Daughter’s First Elk

[WSMNUT]

We was invited to Oregon on a Roosevelt Cow Elk Hunt by some close friends/customers that I’ve built many rifles for in Western Oregon. We were treated like royalty from the time we landed in Oregon when Josh picked us up. Within about 20 minutes on day one Josh, Joe and Eric had us on the elk and my 12 year old shot her first elk at 487 yards with a 6.5x55 Swede Ackley Improved that I built for her on a Tikka. But the fun didn’t stop there, Josh took us crab fishing on Coos Bay, she shot a fallow doe with Joe in Powers Oregon, and then Joe took us down the coast into California to see the red woods and we played cards, ate great food and stayed the night with @Bc'z and his lovely wife on our last night of the trip before we headed back to the airport. The only problem with the trip is that 5 days wasn’t long enough. Here’s a few pics.

Yeah we kind of cheated using the loader to help load the elk but I’m ok with that

 

[WSMNUT]

Here’s a few more pics

 

[338 dude]

Here’s a few more pics

Of course congratulations on your first elk just seeing you guys having such a great time and reading names that I see every day online I’m so jealous!

 

[Bc'z]

I'm going to add to Zack's story
I met Joe who is also a member here, when I introduced him to my wife Aryon his response was "I know her, she holds all the stocks for you. " We socialized a bit before he had to get back to Powers Oregon.
Kaitlyn is a blast to be around, she's truly a great young lady, and a fierce opponent in a game of Uno. Kaitlyn and Aryon teamed up on Zack and myself making for a great game.
As for my wifes hospitality her and Zack wasted no time in busting each other's ball's, it was like they had known each other all thier lives.
Truly a great time, definitely wished it could have lasted longer.

 

[Bill Norris]

Sounds like a barrel of fun. Congrats to the young Lady on her first Elk. I bet she had no issues with that custom build and accuracy.

 

[Kermit in Va.]

Nice...memories made

 

[Tucker65]

Nothing like having a front end loader around when you've got an elk on the ground. You guys must have been right down the coast from me up here in Astoria.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Plus you will both really remember the great trip every time you eat some more of that elk.

 

[WSMNUT]

Well there was a road grader too but he was helping where there was a slip in the road so we could get the truck around the bin. Once the road crew knew there was an elk downed by a 12 year old girl you would have thought they had shot the elk they got so excited. We were hunting just east of Coquille in Fairview.

 

[Fern]

something about a young hunter gets the veterans excited.
my friends daughter just started hunting last year and she enjoys it as much as we do.
we have a yearly dive opener we meet up for and I let her use my youth 11-87 and after couple shots she got the lead figured out and was knocking them down. We started passing on shots so they would go to her and cheering her on

 

[OKyote73]

Awesome!! Love when kids are involved, seems a rarity these days. Good on you dad

 

[Dub]

Fantastic in every way!

 

[Coonman300]

That’s awesome!! Congrats to both of you! Did she shoot the elk using that tripod? What a trip for y’all...memories will last a lifetime!

 

[Ranger188]

From what Zack has said, she's a great shot.
You'd better worry about her kicking your a$$ in future competitions!!

 

[Bill Score]

Good shooting Kid!

 

[WSMNUT]

That’s awesome!! Congrats to both of you! Did she shoot the elk using that tripod? What a trip for y’all...memories will last a lifetime!

Yes, that’s not her first animal harvested off of that Bog Death Grip Tripod. If you’ve never had one or used one, you should seriously consider getting one. I bought it on sale a couple of years ago and took it on a hog hunt and was hooked ever since. She couldn’t have placed the shots any better on the elk if she walked up to it at point blank range. They’re truly great to shoot off of. I wouldn’t normally have or ask anyone to take that kind of shot on an elk or any animal unless I felt very confident in their abilities. Kaitlyn has shot a lot of 600 yard matches and usually finishes in the top 3-4 shooters and she listens really well as you talk through the shots with her.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the interaction we had during the shot. Her first shot went right down Broadway, the cow froze and just started wobbling, she turned her butt to us and as everyone was telling her to put a second shot in it she asked me where at and I told her to wait until she got the right shot. As the cow turned she talked through where the shot needed to go to make sure the shot went through the vitals. She took the second shot and the cow fell to the ground. I’m Very proud of what she did

 

[Coonman300]

Outstanding! We need more kids like her...great job dad!

 

[Hntndad]

Outstanding! We need more kids like her...great job dad!

I agree. If we had more dad’s like Zack, we would have more kids like Kaitlyn..

 

[Hntndad]

From what Zack has said, she's a great shot.
You'd better worry about her kicking your a$$ in future competitions!!

Haha.. she’s kicked my ass in PAST competitions! Girls can shoot!

 

[hpshooter]

Yes, that’s not her first animal harvested off of that Bog Death Grip Tripod. If you’ve never had one or used one, you should seriously consider getting one. I bought it on sale a couple of years ago and took it on a hog hunt and was hooked ever since. She couldn’t have placed the shots any better on the elk if she walked up to it at point blank range. They’re truly great to shoot off of. I wouldn’t normally have or ask anyone to take that kind of shot on an elk or any animal unless I felt very confident in their abilities. Kaitlyn has shot a lot of 600 yard matches and usually finishes in the top 3-4 shooters and she listens really well as you talk through the shots with her.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the interaction we had during the shot. Her first shot went right down Broadway, the cow froze and just started wobbling, she turned her butt to us and as everyone was telling her to put a second shot in it she asked me where at and I told her to wait until she got the right shot. As the cow turned she talked through where the shot needed to go to make sure the shot went through the vitals. She took the second shot and the cow fell to the ground. I’m Very proud of what she did

A trip neither of you will ever forget. Being a dad is the most important job I ever had. Looks like you are doing a great job !