Daughter #2 (11yrs) got her first animal with a rifle this past Sunday. Turns out there is a guy that runs a game preserve and brings in various exotic rams that is only 2hrs away. He had donated a $1,500 youth ram hunt to our SCI Chapter (Red River Valley) banquet live/online auction first weekend of March. I didn't bid on it because I was busy running something at the banquet. When Shane checked in afterwards with me he gave me a very reduced price on 1 he had to get rid of beings he will be getting some more soon. Worked out perfect for a little congratulations surprise for the daughter passing hunter safety the week before and to get her some experience after her miss on her first deer this past fall on last day of season and not getting another opportunity.
Yes this was a high fence hunt but it was not sit in a blind and shoot off a feeder. Ram was actually hard to get hidden from and at 1 point was only 10yds from us. At supper close range 3 times before we could get out of its sight enough to hide again in the tree edge. It was coming by at a good clip at about 40yds, I did a bahh and it stopped, she made a great shot and it stiffened up, beings it stayed standing I had her hit it again and it was over. After gun was on safe she was hust shaking and I asked if she was excited, she said "no I'm terrified" and then I'm thinking I just scared my daughter but then everything sunk in, we hugged (I might have got a little teary) smiled, unloaded the gun and met Shane (owner) at the ram. She eventually stopped shaking and as the pictures show became very happy with herself, she wants to go back even. Ram was broken down ad meat taken home, haven't taste tested yet and we stopped to drop off the head for a euro mount with a gal that the outfitters knows.
In 1 week spring turkey opens and both daughter's have tags for home. 2 weeks we take our father daughter's turkey hunting trip to western ND and all 3 of us have tags there. I have been very blessed with daughter's that have found a love of the outdoors and hunting.
Sorry for the long post
Thank you to Shane with Rams on the Ridge. If you are within a few hours from Alexandria MN and want to get kids out or looking for something for adult kids check him out.
One last thing, we used a 6.5 Grendel with 123gr ELD-M on a handload I developed and the night before Claire helped load them, she did the powder fill and bullet seating
