Mooselette Wants a Deer

I’d just made it home from the hospital a few weeks ago, and I was weak enough to feel super-glued to my recliner. Moose and Mooselette stopped over to see how I was doing. I was so happy to see my most honorable #1 Granddaughter. With Chemo Camp I’d been missing her since May.

We got to talking about plans for the upcoming fall, and I repeated my vow that I wanted to be in my stand for the Rifle Opener. I asked her what her plans were; did she want to take a deer this year? She answered in the affirmative. As I recounted to her later, this news was taken like an electric shock. I’ve been waiting since 2015 and the release of her first ultrasound for this news. As is, she’ll be the same age as her father on her first hunt.

I don’t know how, but I made it down to the Shamanic Secret Underground Reloading Facility with her and we started going through the rack of deer rifles, looking for something appropriate. The old stand-by Marlin 336 was still there. It was the piece Daddy Moose carried with him on his first deer hunt in 2002. The last time it was afield was Angus’ first hunt in 2009.

We brought it up and started examining it in detail. Yes, the stock fit her, but she was going to need some work on the cheek weld. I decided it needed some updating. Besides a cheek pad, I resolved to mount a more appropriate scope. I had a Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5X32 that would be ideal for the job.

Besides picking a rifle, we also had to start thinking about Hunter Education. Moose and I have been working with her since she could walk. However, the Commonwealth of Kentucky will not let a youngster take the test until Age 12. Even without a pink Hunter Ed card, she still needs a good foundation before going afield; both Moose and Angus had their cards before age 10, but that was before KY changed the rules. I pulled some books down off the shelf and gave her some reading assignments. The real fun will come when I can start hitting her with some practical thought problems. Both Mooseboy and Angus used to love working their way through the trick questions.

As to available loads for Mooselette’s 30-30, I found after examining the larder that I’ve half a dozen different loads all ready to go. We’ll see which ones work with her and the rifle and go from there.

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