Our earliest memory of our daughter Hannah being fired up about hunting was when she was 2 years old. Since that time, her desire to hunt has only become stronger. She started shooting at age 6 and quickly developed strong shooting skills. Just before turning 7 she started shooting one of my ARs and handled it very well. For her 7th birthday earlier this month I build her an AR of her own. She is VERY proud of it and loves to tell people all about it.

Immediately after her birthday we started hunting. The AR 15 is a great platform for kids with the adjustable stock, soft recoil, safety on both sides, and great accuracy. The first 2 trips out we got skunked. In the areas I created for my kids to hunt it seems like the wind tends to swirl and the pigs can catch our scent much of the time. On our 3rd trip yesterday evening, the wind was swirling again and I thought we might be out of luck.

As I hear the pigs coming through the woods I have Hannah get ready. Just 30 yards or so inside the thick woods the larger pigs stop and start squealing and grunting. They winded us and would not come in. The smaller pigs stayed on the trail and went straight into the opening. We had 7 or 8 in front of us at 50 yards.

Unlike paper targets and water jugs, pigs tend to move constantly. This was a new element for her to work through so the shot did not come quickly. As she worked through it some of them smelled us and took off for the woods. Now, there are only 2 left.

They moved constantly but finally lined up broadside long enough for her to get through a smooth trigger squeeze. She put a 55 grain Barnes TSX right through the black pig's heart. Perfect shot!

All hell broke loose on #2. For safety I only loaded 1 round in her AR so I can immediately pick up any stragglers. I have an AR in the ladder stand with me as well and my job is to now hit the small pig hauling azz through 2-3 foot tall grass. On top of that, the shooting rail is high enough for a 7 year old so I am freehanding it with no rest. I was not leading enough, then leading too much, then found balance sending one right behind the ear. It was only a few seconds but we both found it very exciting!

Please join me in congratulating and welcoming my youngest child Hannah as our newest hunter. Her first successful hunt came 24 days after her 7th birthday.

Very cool! My 6 1/2 year old has been bugging me to let her shoot a deer this next year1

That is awesome. Congrats to that little girl and dad.

What a great story.. BUT if you continue hunting with her, she obviously needs her own AR in the color of her choosing  LOL


Brian

That is awesome! Way to go Hannah!

Very cool! Good on both of ya>

Awesome!

Great job Hannah



not bad Daddy


 

I may be misinterpreting, but that IS her own AR and that IS the color of her choosing. Her brother's is all black, all of mine and the wife's are all black, and her sister's has OD green furniture.

Words can't describe how awesome that is.  

Outstanding!

Gig 'em,

backbencher

impressive sir!

need to SBR that puppy and slap a can on it!

Congratulations!!!!!!  That is great to start them early.  Got a 45 year jump on me.  Didn't get my first pig till I was 52  Keep her in the field.

you are correct.. Reading is fundamental on my part.. I was expecting pink or purple to be her color

Congrats.  You will never forget anything your kids take while you are in the field with them.

that is awesome! great job dad

Still debating the SBR route but you can see from the AAC Brakeout on there she is ready for a can. We have been pending several cans since February including a couple of AAC M4-2000s. We hope to have them in September.

Thanks for all of the positive comments. She is enjoying reading them as well.

Way to go, Hannah!!!    Good shot!!  

congrats i still have not got my first pig kill. They are very hard to find in california public land.

Hannah!!!!!!!!!!!!  

You have my vote for father of the year award.

I was reading through these again with Hannah and she had a comment for yours specifically.

Hannah: "That's why we live in Texas!"

It was just so matter of fact that I had to share. LOL

Great job Hannah and congrats dad!!!  I know you're proud!
 

That rocks!
 

Very cool!  Congrats to you both!

Congrats on your first pig!Perfect size for a whole hog cookout!

Way to go!  I showed your post/picture to my daughter and she was excited for you Hannah!  

Way to go Hannah! I'm very jealous of both your rifle and your pig!

Pisssst Hanna,  listen up.....cute girls with AR's NEVER have to pay for their own ammo.   When dad quits buying, there will be plenty of hairly leg boys ready to step in..

Good job Hanna, You put to shame a lot of grown men I've guided.

If that is not an incentive for Dad to keep buying ammo I don't know what is!

Miss Hanna...little girl , your dad can bring you hunting with me anytime.

I'm glad you enjoyed your hunt.

congrats Hanna! You beat me by 18yrs on your first hog. I hope to have my sone hunting with me at your age. I have no doubt it will be one of my proudest moments in his life.

That is awesome. Nice rifle, there are definitely worse ways to spoil a kid.. haha

Great job to both of you.

Absolutely.  

Good job Dad.

Awesome!